Submitted by Yardbroom
I was fascinated but yet discomforted, by a story on another Blog, about “allegations” of rudeness by an immigration officer, to a young lady on her return to Barbados. The story in summary, is that the young lady on arrival at Grantley Adams Airport from America was spoken to rudely – she said without justification – by an immigration officer.
The essential feature of her story being, that she was asked to wait in a room, until certain investigations the officer thought necessary were made. After some time had elapsed, she refused to do so, and a verbal confrontation ensued. The “allegation” is that in this exchange she was rudely spoken to.
If I accept that on her recall of the confrontation, there is a prima facie reason for complaint to the authorities to investigate the matter, it would therefore be necessary to hear the immigration officer’s side of the story. What was particularly alarming, was this young lady “allegedly” – and I have her word for that- solicited a telephone call to be made through her connections, to the Attorney General on her behalf and a complaint was made. The tenure of her report indicated that the Attorney General sprung into action on her behalf.
The complainant cannot see the contradiction in her position as she infers “societal attitudes” in Barbados – where she now resides – have contributed to her distress. She therefore brought the matter to a wider public, so that these issues can be addressed, particularly as Barbados is a tourist destination. Some have said that this occurrence at the airport, would not have happened in America – obviously they have not travelled.
May I ask a rather pertinent question would she, her friends or connections been able to make a telephone call to the Attorney General in America because they were detained for a short time, or even spoken to rudely by an immigration officer at JFK Airport.
If it is that those with connections, believe that they have an unfettered right of passage, without let or “necessary” hindrance, denied to ordinary citizens. And if that right is questioned even in a way deemed rude, they also have the right through connections to solicit the highest officers in the land by a telephone call. Something is very wrong in Barbados, that the traveller was white and the immigration officer black. . . is irrelevant to the basic principle here.
The principle here is the “alleged” use of connections to a public officer of high rank to intervene in what most would call a relatively minor matter. That that officer of high standing could be summoned by a telephone call is regrettable, in any country which treasures its values of fairness.
I have to add, I do not question the veracity of the young lady’s reports, however fairness dictates the full picture could only be ascertained with an input from the immigration officer. . . which is most unlikely. Fairness also dictates I should not believe the “allegation” that a public officer of the standing of the Attorney General of Barbados, was asked in a telephone call to intervene on behalf of a traveller because she was inconvenienced and spoken rudely to at Grantley Adams Airport. I have only stated what was reported by the individual involved, to my mind they are “allegations”.
@Yardbroom
Insightful observations as always.
She had recourse to the AG. What about those who don’t? Horror stories coming out of the Immigration Department for years. Here is an extract from a 2008 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Periodic Review, where the Global Afrikan Congress (GAC) of Barbados is complaining about the treatment of persons by our Immigration Department (unbelievable):
When I read what that white lady wrote on the other blog,I was also mystified that our new Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite could have intervened and demanded that the lady in question be put on a “cleared” list.
The white lady in question is of the view that she is god’s gift to Barbados because she has contacts all over the world and is writing & telling her contacts what a beautiful & lovely country Barbados is.
The alleged incident Mrs Jane Hoyos wrote about is trivial & petty to say the least and our Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite had no right to use his office to facilitate the smooth entry of Mrs Hoyos into Barbados.Mrs Hoyos like any other visitor or Barbadian must be subject to the procedure & policy that are in place at our ports of entry.No special privilege should be given to any person whatsoever.
After reading Mrs Hoyos story,I am of the opinion that she thought that she is one of the “privilege whites” living in Barbados because she is marry to the famous Hoyos clan and also her ethnicity exclude her from the regular procedures at our airport.Her attitude indicates that no lowly Black immigration officer should be making certain demands of her and that her entry into Barbados must be smooth & effortless.
Mrs Hoyos welcome to a new Barbados.Barbadians are no longer going to put people of your ethnicity & ilk on pedestals and view people like you as untouchables.
Mrs Hoyos has shown that she has little regard for our Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite because she has no qualms calling his name and letting the whole of Barbados & indeed the world to know that our Attorney General had sprung to her defence when she was in distress at our airport.She is not worry about the consequences to Adriel Brathwaite political carrer regarding his intervention in an issue that could have been & should have been handle at a much junior level.If I am not wrong but I think clause in the public service act forbid ministers of the crown to interfere in the daily operation of government departments.
It is very interesting that Mrs Hoyos is marry to one of the Hoyos’s who was part off the Hardwood Housing Project that led to the removal of the last administration.
The more things change the more there remain the same.
Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite has started his tenure as Attorney General on the wrong foot.He has allowed an egomaniac,white non-national to smear his reputation by involving himself unnecessary in a trivial matter.This Negroman is very annoy with his behavior.
Finally,I must say congratulations to my Black immigration officer for doing his job efficiently.I salute sir.
Sigh!!!
Maybe we are being too hard on Ms. Hoyos.
Barbados is a small place and we all know things get done based on relationships.
We have ordinary folk who walk through the airport everyday because of who they know.
Should we begrudge Hoyos the opportunity to leverage a relationship as a consequence of their station in life?
ROK wah you mean by that LOL! Expand!
But David, I don’t get nothing done based on anybody I know – none of my friends either!!!!
@JC
Maybe you too anti social?
Just playing with yuh
@JC
Not sure what you want me to expand on, the sigh?
@ ROK
Yes spooky I want you to expand on that sigh what are your thoughts!
@ David
Taking your teasing with a smile LOL!
You are going to laugh at me. That was because I had to write something to subscribe to comments on the thread. I hit the button without ticking the box the first time. LOL!
Nex’ time I in New York and dem detain me for three and a half hours like de las’ time without explanation in a room with about twenty people – half o’ dem like dem getting deported in front of me and me nervous wondering what I do – let muh see if I gine get help with my connections in New York…hmmm…call Maya Angelou, she did buy a few of me books to give way and beg for mercy? Ring Oprah ’cause she have one o’ me books too and aks she call Obama? Call de White House meself and aks for de Attorney General? Call de Jamaican High Commission and tell dem I wannah get out into de open air, or de Trinidad or Bajan one? But wait…not one of we cyan do dat in New York bo’…’cause dem have big sign saying “NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED” and judging from what I saw gine on in dat room, no way anybody gine breathe too hard far less aks for phone call! And remember too…New York is a tourist destination as well but wid de billions of peoples going through dat city, you tink one miserable old beast of an immigration officer knocking the shit outta one traveller, gine make a difference to their tourist arrivals…no sah!
Now, Barbados is different. We are a small country fighting up for a little piece of the tourism pot. We actually have started begging for it because we need it so much. So because immigration in one big-assed country like the USA is a beast, does not mean that ours on this little tiny speck on the planet, must be too. We rely on tourism (unfortunately) very heavily – and with that comes being ‘NISE’ at all times. And I say, after a long and miserable flight where one has had to probably deal with a million other awfully miserably people/customs/immigration…I think it just would be great for any traveller, whether a tourist or Bajan, resident or passing tru’, to be able to say : “Thank God for Barbados. Thank The Lord for Bim. It is here that I am welcomed with a smile and good manners.” Even if I get put in a room because my passport questionable.
Now a questionable passport is anudder ting. Surely immigration should also be able to use something called common sense to decide who should be put in a room for hours on end after a flight over a ‘questionable’ passport. In my lowly position of being just a normal (hmmm did I say dat? ’cause my father would have said dat was questionable!) person, I think if I was an immigration officer, most of the time, I would be able to tell who looking questionable or holding a questionable passport, don’t you? And it would not be about a person being black, shades of brown, white, or yellow, it would be about if you looking musty or you passport looking like it been through a rockstar’s after-concert party all on its own. Surely.
I know they must get tired of seeing so many people coming to Barbados either to holiday or to come home after enjoying themselves abroad, and they stuck in a box stamping passports, one after the other. Must be boring as hell. But that is a job and having accepted that as your job/career, surely part of the training must be “give of your best at all times. And for God’s sake smile!” I say this about every public service and/or private sector department of anything. When I used to work in the private sector, you know how many ugly bosses and customers with ingrant behaviour I had to deal with?…but aks any one of dem if dey see me behaving with attitude. Nevah! ‘Cause I got good basic training before I decided to go into that avenue of work. My job was to do my tasks well and be pleasant at the same time. A simple method that took nothing out of me and ensured a more pleasant behaviour from the other party when they realized that was all they were going to get was pleasantries and helpfulness.
I must admit to never having had trouble in Barbados (yet) or anywhere in the Caribbean, ooops! save once in Jah land where I could not remember the name of the street my friend lived in so was treated rudely but was given a phone call in the end that rectified matters – guess that guy was having a bad hair day. But I know lots of people who have been treated rather harshly for no reason, and that is what I think to be unfair. As I said, we put ourselves in the enviable position of being a great tourist destination, should it not start at immigration for ALL who come through our doors to the little rock?
And I will end this little diatribe by giving kudos to all those who work in immigration or customs or red caps who give of their best and make life easier for themselves and those who travel, ’cause I also know dat de travelling public can also be some o’ de most miserable people in de world. Bless. Always takes two to tango.
@Rosemary Parkinson: “…’cause I also know dat de travelling public can also be some o’ de most miserable people in de world. Bless. Always takes two to tango.
I second that.
My most intense experience in the “Great US of A” was being detained by four security officers. Three of them tore my baggage apart and applied every scanning option available to them (to my baggage; not me) while the forth stood four meters away from me with her hand on her unclipped (but un-drawn) gun. (She was obviously well trained — never stand closer to your target than they can move towards you before you can shoot them.)
For some reason, I always get the “Four S’s” (means: high risk) on my boarding pass when I travel to the US of A…
If you ever find yourself in this situation, my advise is to be polite, patient and obedient. They’re just trying to do their jobs; you’re (probably) just trying to travel. Fail to be polite, patient and obedient, and you’re likely to be detained for a longer stay. (Unless, of course, you “know” someone important.)
Meditation (or a good book) during the experience helps….
Rudeness by some Barbados Immigration Officers and other staff is not new. A cousin arriving back after a business trip to Guyana was confronted by “go over there!”, reply “Pardon?”, “go over there!”. When she got over there, the Officer of Guyanese extraction asked “What’s your story this time?”, reply “What do you mean what’s my story?, I’m Barbadian bred and born, so what would my story be?”.
Yet another lady recounted how roughly she had been spoken to – I wished I was there, I would have said “I know this lady, she’s honest, she didn’t steal your hoe”.
Dipper Barrow took people out of the plantation, but he wasn’t in charge long enough to take the plantation out of many.
Mr. Yardbroom,
I trust that you and yours are well. I bid you best wishes, sir.
In your first sentence, you mean “discomfited”, not “discomforted”. There is a difference, an important one. I trust that you will not take this clarification in any spirit other than the spirit in which it is meant. I hope that you would agree with me that it is better to know things than not to know things, that it’s better to be less ignorant today than one was yesterday.
It is somewhat odd and attention-calling that you refer to the subject of your submission, several times, as a “young lady”. Whence your inference as to her youth?
In your forth paragraph you assert that what you have deemed to call “the complainant” cannot see “the contradiction in her position” as she infers “societal attitudes” in Barbados. What is the difference, Mr. Yardbroom, between a “social attitude” and a “societal attitude”? Indeed, what is the difference between the two adjectives “social” and “societal”?
In your sixth paragraph you ask what you call “a rather pertinent question”. Here’s the question: “would she, her friends or connections [sic: have] been able to make a telephone call to the Attorney General in America because they were detained for a short time, or even spoken to rudely by an immigration officer at JFK Airport.”
The answer to this question, obviously, is yes. Quite apart from the fact that the answer to the question is obviously “yes”, it should be recalled that the United States is a continental country of 300 million people, and that if it opened its borders entirely a large part of Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa would become depopulated. Whereas Barbados, admirable though it may be as a nation state, is the size of a small, provincial town in Croatia.
In your seventh paragraph, you ponder whether “those with connections, believe that they have an unfettered right of passage.” I don’t know about that, and have no comment. What I do know is that it is an inherent feature of every pissant bureaucratic structure that pissants in uniforms get an anthill from which they can piss.
I have no idea how what you condescendingly call the “young lady” might pursue this matter. I don’t know the “young lady” and I don’t know the Barbadian customs officer. But I do know that if the alleged incident is correct, whether it happened in Barbados or London or New York or Miami or Toronto or Bangkok or anywhere, that customs officer would become my personal hobby. I would devote my days to him. I would call the attorney general in any country where I felt abused by a customs officer, without hesitation. So what? Is that “societal” attitudes in Barbados are against that?
@Not hard to understand…
I trust that you and yours understand the term “signal to noise”? In the telecoms industry, this is referred to as SNR.
Forward error correction is built into the human languages.
Thank you for taking your (no doubt, valuable (or, at least, expensive)) time to pedantically correct small errors in others’ comments grammar and spelling which were perfectly understandable to just about every single reader (receiver).
This helps clarify and expand the dialogue so very much…
(Just in case it isn’t explicit, my last sentence is intended to be disingenuous.)
@ Halsall
Typical whitey. Typical whitey huff-puff.
@Not hard to understand: “Typical whitey. Typical whitey huff-puff.
May I quote you on that?
Do not hesitate, Mr. Halsall, though the (c) of course is Mr. Roosevelt. O. King on Barbados Underground. If you quote it, he should get the credit.
@Nhtu… Interesting. And amusing…
Your true agenda has finally manifested and been shown.
Could you please provide evidence to support your claim against ROK. URLs are fine.
David: I have a great suggestion for you. Why don’t you link your site to Trip Advisor or Trip Central? That way potential white tourists could get first hand knowledge of the racist vitriol spewed in Barbados.
Why would any white tourist want to spend their hard earned money on a vaction in a country where they are not welcome?
And then came Mr. Halsall, saying:
“I trust that you and yours understand the term “signal to noise”? In the telecoms industry, this is referred to as SNR.”
Just to disentangle Mr. Halsall’s meager effort at humour takes time.
Mr. Halsall,
No. Your trust is misplaced, Christopher. Neither I nor mine understand the term “signal to noise”. This is obviously a total disaster and I am going to subject the whole family to re-education immediately.
Please write more sentences in which there are (too many) (brackets) and (parentheses) where you tell us, for ever and for ever and for ever that 2 x 2 = 4 (“read: four”).
Man, Chris, that whole “read-colon” schtick has kept us on freeking tenterhooks for years. It’s a total winner. Doesn’t make you look dense or witless at all, seriously.
@Duppy Lizard: “Why would any white tourist want to spend their hard earned money on a vaction in a country where they are not welcome?
If I may please share, as a “whitty” in Barbados.
I feel safer here in Barbados as someone with white skin than I do anywhere else in the Caribbean. Or Mexico. Or the “Great” US of A. (Or even Canada.)
Please don’t try to poison our tourism product “Duppy Lizard”.
We Bajans have a lot to be proud of.
Chris: Others do it very well for me – thank you.
@Nhtu: “Neither I nor mine understand the term “signal to noise”.
Wow. Really?
Sucks to be you (and yours).
That’s simple stuff.
Let me know when you’re ready for the deep stuff. Like, say, E=mc^2. (Or, maybe babysteps: F=ma.)
runitselectah | Pt. 1
► Super Morris – Under Mi Peter Green
@Duppy Lizard: “Others do it very well for me…”
Care to define the “others” who “do it very well for [you]“?
And Mr. Halsall came to say: “Please don’t try to poison our tourism product”.
And members of the BU Family came to say:
“The White stinking,disease filled Europeans must accept full responsibility for the chaos the world is in today.
“All Stinking Europeans could disappear of the earth.
“The elimination & extinction of sub-human,half make Europeans from this earth will undoubtedly bring about a more peaceful,stable & morally uplifting world.
“Here it is, a whitewoman, the bastion of racism.”
And, of course, there is much, much more.
And “Not hard to understand” came to confuse the discussion underway, because it was uncomfortable to many…
But then Kiki stepped in with some beautful music.
Nhtu couldn’t speak to the questions presented, but simply tried to distract…
Kiki knew what to do. And she did so…
She danced on music….
man some of you people are really disgusting. I agree that the woman’s reaction was a bit hysterical and her family shouldn’t have bothered the AG with this matter and certainly shouldn’t have published the fact that they did so. She should realise that immigration officers the world over are pricks and the best approach to take with them is polite respect. Complaints can be made when you get outside of their very limited sphere of power.
But without Tourism we are toast no matter how you slice it – unless you all want to give up on every imported item we have and see the Bajan dollar go the way of the Guyanese and Jamaican. This filthy racism from all shades needs to stop of we will scare these people away. And legitimate complaints, if this is indeed one, against people that interact with tourists in a significant way need to be taken seriously without this knee-jerk reaction of alleging racism.
And then came Mr. Halsall, having learned litotes but still to fully grasp apostrophe in its true sense referring to attention (Wikipedia might help you here, Mr. Halsall, if you’re the kind of person who needs Wikipedia), saying “Kiki knew what to do”.
That’s sad, of course.
Interesting is this: “Younger whites will have to shape up or ship out.”
And: “The white man is racists. He thinks, like the Jews”.
@ Yardbroom
Insightful observations as always.
@ Christopher Halsall
Care to define the “others” who “do it very well for [you]“?
Are you really serious???? Please doan mek muh laugh.
Hi, Not hard to understand- November 12, 2010 @ 1:56pm
You wrote quote: . . .”in your forth paragraph you assert”…
Forth: Formal or archaic, forward, out, or away: they put forth their conclusions; they set forth for the New World.
Fourth: Adjective
Four: noun, the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one(2) a numeral 4.
This is so “basic” – school boy – an error for one who tries to correct others, that I will not engage at that level. I did not read the rest of your “little” cameo.
However for future use, it should be: in your fourth paragraph you assert. Now that is much better, Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear.
And then Mr. Halsall cut to the chase and asked Mr. Nhtu what his agenda was.
Mr. Not Hard to Understand…
What do you want out of this exchange?
Not hard(?) to understand,
Good afternoon, ma’m,
In yours at 1:56, I trust you appreciate that there is a difdference between “FORTH” and “FOURTH”?
Just asking, of course.
When we point one finger…
Mr. Yarrdbroom says: “Now that is much better, Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear.”
Yes. That’s better, Mr. Yardbroom. Sorry about the typo. Sorry that the typo made you have to write such a lengthy post. But mostly: sorry about the typo. Really sorry. Really.
Please note that in my original submission I wrote:
“Something is very wrong in Barbados, that the traveller was white and the immigration officer black. . . is irrelevant to the basic principle here.”
Others may try to confuse, by introducing elements to serve their own purposes, but mature adults should guard against such mischief making.
@Yardbroom: “Others may try to confuse, by introducing elements to serve their own purposes, but mature adults should guard against such mischief making.
Sadly, more will introduce confusion than others telling the truth have time to guard against.
I have found that you can speak as honestly as you might — you will still find many willing to speak anonymously to try to bring you down.
This is where we find ourselves. Welcome to the future.
Have a nice time. Please turn out the lights when you are done….
This woman have some nerve. First she is angry because a black immigration officer tells her to sit her behind down and go to a waiting room. Then she has her family members called the AG and report the matter to him. What the hell was the AG thinking even to respond to her. Then she babbles it all over the internet for the world to read. She is one controlling freak. Speaking of nerve . She has RAW NERVE!.
As for The AG, He figures Different Strokes For Different Folks.
It would be interesting to find out the consideration the AG used to justify his intervention. This is examining the decision from a procedural viewpoint forgetting the individual.
And then came Mrs. ac, saying: “This woman have some nerve”.
No. This woman has some nerve. I have, you have, she has. Remember?
And then said Pine Hill Dairy to the “authorities”: we don’t care if our customers hate our products — protect us!
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/pine-hill-against-imports/
@Not hard to understand
You mangy dog. Don’t you have any visitors to your blog “Barbados blogwatch” ? You seem to be very lonely and need to mix with the BU family. You piece of smelly dog dirt go take a hike!
BTW. She had posted an article on her website about this matter. However it seems to have been removed.
@NHTU
This woman have some Nerve! Now put that in yu h craw! YUH idjiat!
While reading the story i came to different opinion to yardboom. Where was the NISE experience that we been drilling into our public servants ? Heck you don’t even need to be immigration to experience such bad service go to most government department and i sure we all experience similar things. Could this have been solved easier ? I sure her passport had many reentry into barbados stamp for resident . so why the chaos this time ? Why not simply look at the proof she had. As for her case how it was written gave no impression she solicited the called but it should have never had to reach the AGs level should have been complaint to the human resources department of customs first..
@ David
I seem to be having some problems getting my comments posted. Do you have any idea why?
@ David
But David wunna gettin’ on as if dis be the fus time somebody get a likke help out from a friend who happens to have a well placed position to help. Remember one Anna Nicole out in the Bahamas a likke while ago? And, I am quite sure there must be many, many other instances of well placed friends helping out from time to time. So, what’s the big crime committed here? Call the DPP and have it investigated, den.
@ Jack Bowman
Don’t you know when to cease and desist? You beginning to sound like a broken vinyl long playing record. Remember those?
My husband is a born and bred US citizen and a Vietnam Vet, since 9/11 whenever he visits his country the Great USA, he has been pulled aside questioned for several hours and then allowed to leave. He once asked why and was told to call a number that was given to him. He has never bothered however he has become used to this interrogation and laughs. One thing I wish for the Barbados immigration is to be a bit more polite and smile. I had to asked an officer what happened he looked so fierce? And how about a welcome back home to us locals. I was told by a smiling lady officer, that is how he looks all the time. I am not saying that there are not instances of of rude behaviour but in general there is room for improvement like in most government departments. If the lady was annoyed with our immigration officers try the UK. They are the rudest bunch of animals one could ever hope to meet.
The AG had no justification whatsoever to intervene. Firstly no crime was committed against her. The immigration officer followed procedure as permiitted as relevant to her matter. Telling her to sit her buttocks down in a waiting room is not a crime. Even if he had shouted it for the whole airport to hear. The AG should not have allowed himself to be drag into her personnel affairs. Isn’t homeland security important. That is what he should have told here . The law should not only be applied to a privilege few when others can’t get a simple answer!
@ David
Any particular reason why some of my posts seem to be disappearing when I hit the “submit” button?
@de hood
Seem like someone spying on yuh. Wonder who dat might be? Try refreshing your web page, at least some of your posts are coming through.
@de hood
Not sure why your comments going to spam but keep posting, BU will have to do a 911.
@ Islandgal246
Thanks IG246. Tried that already and that particular comment still disappears. If this was BFP I would have a good idea what was happening. Maybe I better get onto COP Gibbs and see if he could find dese spies.
Thanks a million, David. Will keep trying but I get a message saying. . . . . . . ” you seem to have said that already”. I hope I don’t end up having the same comment posted numerous times.
de hood
We (BU) plannin ta ban ya, dat’s why. LOLL
@ de Hood @ Bonny
LOLLLLL wunna does mek me laugh LOLLLLLL
@ BP
Hi Bon. Just as well. Maybe it’s time somebody did that anyway. I see you are still going strong and “firing” on all cylinders!
Still your ol Bruno.
David,
Have you found that comment in “de bucket” yet? When u find it u could always put it through. I hardly think it will vie for “state secret of the year. ”
islandgal
I’ve done quite a bit of travelling in my time and I don’t think that the Immigration Officers in England are as bad as the one I met in St. Vincent a few years aback. Sus Crois. They didn’t snatch my passport outta my hand n dat is all. Talk bout abrupt, uncouth n ugly wid um. Of course I din faget ta gih dem my ‘stink-look’. I woulda luv ta buse dem but ah might get lockup in Vincie town.
I find de American, Canadian n German Immigration to be very polite. I kno a few immigration officas hay so i nevva had a bad experience wid nun a dem.
Not hard to understand
why you doan go n play wid ya likkle blue ballz n leff Chris Halsall, ya parro.
@Bonny
LOLLLLL Imagine the headlines …”Bonny Peppa jailed in Vincy Land” Chile like yuh foot hot like mine. Wuh loss I uses to luv to travel, in fact I gine be going way next week fuh two weeks tah Florida. I may invite GP to have lunch wid me eff he promise to keep he mout shut. LOLLLLLLLL Eff he wud accept muh invitement. LOLLLLLLLLL
@ Bunny Peppa. If GP failed to take up your offer,remember the Zionman is open girl friend.
It’s obvious that government employees are protected from being disciplined. Sadly the union is not forthcoming with its members to call out the employee for obvious mistakes. Instead the union is being hypocritical by sending false signals so the same or another employee continues making the mistake again.
This and many other stories are unfortunate situations but it is clear the time has come that we adjust to the inappropriate behavior meted out not only by government employees but by the employees of private businesses as well.
Too often we overlook the problem or shut up about it knowing that more likely than not, nothing will change the uncouth behavior of many who we hold in high esteem.
Imo the service provided be it immigration and customs at the airport or other public places depend on the person on duty. Many of the immigration and customs personnel attitudes are open to interpretation sometimes leaving a lot to be desired. Most of the time they have a poker face. This presents an uneasy feeling to even ask a question, there is no time for small talk furthermore a friendly conversation, unless that officer knows you. To add to that they are on the defensive most of the time.
Many of us who travel for a living have noticed and may have experienced many of the negative traits taking place in this little land that are allowed to continue daily.
It baffles me why is it that even some in charge take pride insulting the intelligence of others especially to those who have no other choice but to depend on them. It is sickening. Some of the employees don’t seem to understand that poor service they dish out not only reflects on the business but also on the country. Employees in jobs who have to face the public daily should be retrained yearly.
Government places like the airport and seaport should have undetectable videos setup at each booth so that those in charge can see the type of service that is given to customers. A deterrent maybe, maybe not
Oh Shoite Zionman
ROFLMAO go back to infants and learn to read.
Bonny some loves yuh Bonny LOLLLLLLLLLLL and dem trying anyting and everting to get yuh. LOLLLLLLL
@Zionman
yuh hungry?
I have travelled to Barbados about 25 times in the last 10 years.
Everytime I went through immigration I had no problem.
I was polite to the officer and declare everything I have with me .If I get charged duty I pay it.
99% of people who have trouble with Barbados immigration officers are probably trying to avoid paying duty.
I have seen people with 4 large suitcases say they have nothing to declare.
Dearest Hants ,
we are talking bout IMMIGRATION and NOT CUSTOMS
You rite bonny LOL!!!
You rite islandgal LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Heah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Immigration officers have a duty to ensure that people enter Barbados legitimately.
Perhaps Hoyos should be given a diplomatic passport.This way she wouldn’t have to call the AG.
@ Jack Bowman/Nhtu
Maybe you are foreign to our idiosyncrasies here in Bim and do not really understand how we interact and speak with each other but we do manage to understand and respond to each other as necessary. Could I suggest most peaceably that if you cannot “tek de heet ta stay ta so and so outta de kitchen”.
@ David
Why are some of my comments still not being posted?
Zion 1971
LOLL. I kno dat you achin ta get ya strong, manly grip pun my tenda lil body but um is Islandgal dat you should be addressin bout de ‘dinna-date’ not me Honey-bee. LOLLL
islandgal
gih Zion a lil break. He probably sleepyyyyyyyyy n got me pun he mind.
Actually, I don’t care too much for travelling but at times I have to visit de family n de ‘outside-piece’. LOLLL. I like Germany best of all my travels. Girl, talk bout friendly. And de men are tall, hamsum n sexy. Not like de ones in Paris doe. Lawdddddddd mek peace. But ya kno how it is when ya travel wid de ‘significant otha’? All ya could do is leh de eyes do de wanderin n jus leh ya mind do de imaginin. I dunn befoe I gih you ideas.
Hants
People will be people no matter where you go, what work they do or their status. People will always have different characteristics. Some will be nice like you, sexy like me, ugly like GP and smart like ac etc. And therefore some will be unmannerly, some will be friendly while others like me, don’t give a shoite bout nutton. Dat includes immigration/customs officers.
not hard to understand
doan call my name or I gun put you in court. Jeff Cumbabatch, I lookin fa a lawya. A pest pesterin me all de friggin time.
@ Nhtu
Maybe you are foreign to our idiosyncrasies here in Bim and do not really understand how we interact and speak with each other but we do manage to understand and respond to each other as necessary. Could I suggest most peaceably that if you cannot “tek de heet ta stay ta so and so outta de kitchen”.
@Bonny
fuhget de lawya jus kick NHTU in de nuts. Dat would teach he a lesson . I planning on knockin he false teet out.
All very boring blogs tonight.
Personally as a so-called white Barbadian I have to admit that the comment about the intervention of the AG made me a tad uncomfortable. If you are foolish enough to call or the AG called then your a dam idiot for being foolish enough to publish that fact in a bragging kinda of way. The other comment I for offensive it the one about the “Hoyos Men” who don’t cool our or mek joke, they get action. Who the hell cares about the “Hoyos Men”? Can someone tell me whether their physical anatomy is different that mine, do the have two brains, more that two arm and legs or more that ten fingers and toes? The “Hoyos men” are like everyone else just trying to get thru life the best way possible, the are not Gods nor are they anymore important than the rest of bajans. Mrs. Hoyos seems like a spoilt child.
I have an idea, why don’t the Immigration Department put in a new specially dedicated line at the GAIA and call it “Hoyos Men & their wifes”?
@Bonny
Me neva went to Germany and I aint like dem Germans too much. But dem Frenchies Lawwwwd dem too sexy (de ones dat does bade). Had a likkle French boy friend and he did studying in Paris. I did plan to look he up when I got there but fuh de life of me I forget he address here in Barbados. Dat was de end ah dat. But yuh know 26+ years later on ah did meet a friend from Cayenne where he was from who knew him. Next ting yuh know ah gets a call from Cayenne but I was away. My other haf tek de call and give him muh number at de hotel where ah did staying. Well him did call muh. He did neva marry and ask muh if I was. I told him ah did divorced, he holler good BON but den ah tell him ah got a friend. He tell muh he coming to visit Barbados, ah tell him dat ah serious bout dis fella so doan come. Well de nex call ah get at de hotel was a marriage propsal from muh udder haf. He din’t waste nuh time. And de rest is histry……………..lolll. Ah does still wunder why de Frenchman neva married…….perhaps he did posing
Immigration Officers First and most mportant role is for the security of the Country. To us the public their demeanor comes across as being uncouthed and the reason for this is that they know people can be very cunning .In some way their demeanor is used effectively to curb some illegalities .
@Energizer
Welcome to Club Boring.HA! HA! HA!
However some how i agree with your comments! Jane Hoyos is a spoiled woman . You can tell she is used to having her way. However she is also a dummie for spilling the beans on the AG! but then again she felt that she was entitled to have her say!
One thing I can say about the USA immigration officers, they are very polite and they wish you a pleasant stay. Bonny do you remember a GOOD LOOKING OFFICER AT MIAMI INTL. Lawdddd he was one good looking ting, a black Cuban I think with graying side burns. Tall dark and handsome he was …..hmmmn he made my knees wobble and when he gave me back my passport LAWDY LOH he was to die for. He must be retired by now cause I don’t see him there. Good ting dem ent got too many like him cause dem wud have to pick me up off de floor when ah faint. LOLLLLLLL
But wunna gettin’ on as if dis be the fus time somebody get a likkle help out from a friend who happens to have a well placed position to help. Remember one Anna Nicole out in the Bahamas a likkle while ago? And, I am quite sure there must be many, many other instances of well placed friends helping out from time to time. So, what’s the big crime committed here? Call the DPP and have it investigated, den.
Since the original text of this mail has now been somehow twisted into a racial back and forth I ask this one question…………….
Why when I pass work crews working on the highway clearing grass etc, do I see old tired black women who should be in their rocking chairs awaiting their rightful passage to a better world working hard as hell under hot blistering sun,while their bastard grandsons (call them YUTES) idly repose under a breadfruit tree waiting to eat out and help spend their mothers and grandmothers blood earned monies??????? And dont dare tell me that all de jobs give to whites!!!!!! What about the same hard ass work dem 60 and 70 year old mothers and grandmothers doing EH?????????
@Island gal
While u looking sumbody own. Sumbody looking at yours.
@ DIMWIT
Next time you pass by ask the questions to the boys under the breadfruit tree. They are the only ones that have the answer. Just try asking them. You will be surprise what they have to tell and give you. BTW let us know how the response went!
@AC
you must be blind den. Nutting wrong wid looking but doan touch or ah gine brek yuh han.
islandgal
i nevva went ta Miami. I only go where I got family dat i kin stay at. de hotel fares does kill me bosey. de onliest place i evva went n had ta stay at a hotel is Puerto Rico. Germans are very friendly. ‘de ones dat does bade’. I luv um.
Energizer
So if you were a so-called Black Barbadian you wouldn’t have a problem with the intervention of de AG? It would appear so seeing dat ya mention ‘so-called white Barbadian’. Barbadian would be suffice. Colour not significant.
Anotha ting, wah you might find boring, others might find quite enticing. Many men, many minds. Comprende?
dimwit
Because a person may appear old doesn’t mean he/she is old. If I decide to go out and work hard in de hot sun to provide my bastard son/grandson wid food, clothing n shelter, whose fault is it? Doan answer yet. Wait, why do you use the black roadside workers as an example? How many white postal workers do you see working in de hot sun? How many white policemen do you see patrolling in de hot sun? How many white Health inspectors do you see working in de hot sun? And we can add a few more. So why analogize de ‘ol black women’ working longside de road? And a correction, all are not old. And the sons/grandsons are not all bastards. Some just as ligit as me n you. Another ting, they have some nice, young, strong women in the crews now too. And some wear their nice tight jeans wid dem botsy looking powful. Nuff ta mek a mosquita pop hossa-wire man. Na joke. I doan like woman but ya gotz ta admire dem.
@ Bonny Peppa. Sorry girlfriend , I got you mixed up with Islandgal. Islandgal me fancy you … GP a time waster so leave him alone.lol.
Bonny Peppa
Hmmmm when come to think of it Idont see Indian (cal dem coolie if u want) Chinese or whatever in most dem areas of Employment either,,,,,,,Although I have seen one soliatary policeman,,,standing out like a rocket firework on old years night doing his job and he is what is called White,,although I never see a white person yet,,a red,half red ,half brown maybe but white God wuh dem look like???Anyway de long and short is dis,,,,Maybe de so called whites,chinese,indians etc,,,all got a different way of bringing up dem Pickneys and dem is give dem Discipline along with Do as I do,and Do as Isay which follows with a very close family unit,,,,,Now I know that dem got big up blacks and browns too that also follow this regime,so with a 90+% of black persons making up the majority of de population one would obviously appreciate that a whole lot of dem would be mathematically less disposed to a better life (so to speak),,,,,,,Another thing,,,what happen with dem Redlegs down St.John who neither de Blacks liked or de Whites,,,but yet dem hold strong???????
Bonny Peppa.
Bastards in this context is not necessarly meant as a definition of their birthing,,,,,it is more related to their parasitical lifestyle.
We have had many problems about immigration in Barbados over the years, and this incident has highlighted one of them. Decisions it would appear are arbitrarily taken, without recourse to proper procedure; individuals then have a right not supported by what is normally expected in the Immigration Department.
These individuals, who having used a system of “connections,” are then prepared to criticise the Immigration Department, not seeming to realise their actions have contributed to the situation.
That someone could use the “world wide web,” to highlight a situation, in which they or their friends have used “connections” to intervene, knowing – or should have know – it could be seen as detrimental to the AG’s career in politics, is most unfortunate. However, it does show the regard they have for the individual, who mistakenly thought they were helping them.
They believe, they have have had one over on the Immigration Officer, who they identified by facial features. . . he has not had an opportunity of rebuttal, at least identified on the internet, and the AG has been open to censure.
But hey! what does it matter, they have shown that officer a thing or two. . . they are all right Jack, and the beat goes on.
This situation highlights a fundamental problem, of how “connections” in Barbadian circles, try to influence our Immigration Department. Officials should be warned, that decisions you take on immigration, can easily undermine your integrity. . . it is something worth thinking about in the future.
@ Yardbroom
Do you not have the wrong take on this issue…?
1. If indeed the AG intervened as the woman is saying, then the AG is an idiot – plain and simple. He DESERVES to pay a political price.
2. The woman is white and is a Hoyos. Surely you know that she deserves special treatment in Barbados…. How do you think they get themselves on all the boards? You ever see them in lines for licenses, immigration forms, application forms etc? You think it is because they smart?
3. The poor woman is only defending what she KNOWS to be her due privileged position as best as she could, and probably fully expected all right-thinking black bajans to join in her outrage.
4. Don’t be a spoilsport Yardie….. let us cuss the immigration man. He should know better. If the rest of us are happy to let these people use their defective skin pigmentation to enjoy all the best of Barbados -who does this immigration man think he is to treat her just like he treats the bushman?
Lord have mercy…
…..next thing you know customs searching their stuff and police raiding their closed communities for drugs….
Hi Bush Tea
My grandmother always used to say, for all illness use Christmas “Bush Tea”; there is now” evidence” she knew what she was talking about. She died a little short of a 100 years.
Bush Tea
Mawnin my favrit cup a hot choklit. Ya too swoite hare? Dis igrunt slut in realize dat she shun draff in de AG. Sum peeple sa stupid. We all kno dat kisses go by favors but suc crois, doan kiss n tell. She cannn be got na lotta sense. stupseeeee.
dimwit
I did only pullin ya leg wid de term bastard. doan brek out in a sweat ova dah.
Like you said, we are 95% black so we would be a lot more conspicuous as opposed to the other ethnic groups. Having said that I do believe that there is bad too in the other ethnic groups. You would agree?
But wait, ya mean nabody a’tall doan like dem Rednecks? Lawd hah mercy, how dem savive all dis time bosey? I gun gotta pay dem a visit n show sum luv den. LOLLLL
By de way my gran mudda did a bajan white so she mussy one a dem Rednecks too. Me n nuffa my famblee got kinky hair but we black, bronze, red, clear, tan. all dem colors gal. LOLL
Yardbroom
Stop advatizin my BushTea for ma pleeze. He belongst ta me.LOLL
Morning Tweetyart.
@Zionman
hope yuh get some brekfus , becareful what yuh fancy, it might turn out ta be a nitemare pon baxters rd loll. I gine still wait fuh GP to refuse muh invitement but ah gine tek out insurance. So get in line . LOLLLLLLLL
Hi Bonny Peppa
You are the bonniest “Peppa” I know of, beautiful to see, delightful to touch, intoxicating to smell, but with a little kick when being tasted, you are the prima ballerina here.
I can only watch in amazement, as you strut you stuff.
OFF TOPIC
Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, has been released after over fifteen years of house arrest.
@Yardbroom
“Decisions it would appear are arbitrarily taken, without recourse to proper procedure…”
When it comes to national security, under which the Immigration Department falls, no explanations (reasons) for decisions made are required. National Security is one area of law which requires no reasons for decisions, but if a reason is given, then it can be reviewed.
Just think of it Yardie, nobody can tell you who to let into your house. It’s a question of sovereignty. Equality before the law does not apply here… but the rule of law does, which for the most part states that the Department can do pretty much as it pleases.
I saw the documentary Secret Caribbean episode 2 last night on TVO in Ontario and found this also
http://www.tvthrong.co.uk/secret-caribbean-trevor-mcdonald/secret-caribbean-trevor-mcdonald-episode-2
This is particularly interesting.
“Sir Charles built his empire from scratch, but his critics say with developments selling for $7m, the only people to benefit are the super-rich.
Charles says: “The Prime Minister made his message clear, he said, ‘Don’t do anymore.’ Because he said it was having an impact on the social structure, and I obeyed him, like a good boy.
“There were three ambitions I had, a pretty wife, a nice sports fisherman boat and a fast sports car, and all three cost me a fortune.”
Trevor says: “Charles is proof that if you have enough money the Caribbean can be a very accommodating place.”
Who would not tolerate the indiscretions of our Immigration Department if hitherto it had proved itself to be efficient?
@David,
I await your comment on the Secret Caribbean or you having a MC Hammer moment. “can’t touch this”dah dah dahdah, dahdah dahdah dahdah
Heh! Heh! Heh! I don’t know what the fuss is all about, Bajans like to boast that they live in a “First World” nation but when someone employs a “First World” tactic some people get their shorts in a knot. The difference is in the “First World” they call it “lobbying” so every defeated politician become a lobbyist and phones his/her politician friends to get some benefits/ legislation tailored in their clients’ favour mostly at the expense of “ordinary citizens’.
And that is what the woman did, she felt she was treated “unfairly” (to use a Bajan colloquialism) so she complained to her relative who “lobbied” the Minister on her behalf. Doesn’t this happen everyday? If you think the answer is “no” I have a bridge to Pelican Island to sell real cheap. The mistake she made was writing about the incident in her blog… well if she had only complained about the big bad man at Immigration and left it at that everyone would go “Steupse wha she complainin bout”? but she had to put the whole sorry tale complete with phone complaint on a blog so the next time the Minister cell phone rings and he sees the name “Hoyos” you bet he going to press “end call’ tout suite.
That’s the problem with these new wave communication methods i.e Blogs ,Twitter etc. some people think that they have to let anyone know their business so they either blog or twitter so the twits can read every intimate detail of their lives but sometimes these revelations come back to bite you in the butt.
@Hantsie
That matter to which you speak was discussed at length somewhere on BU. It is no secret how these guys have the politicians et al in their pockets. Let us see how FOIA when it is implement curtail such behaviour.
Hi Rok
Quote: ” Just think of it Yardie, nobody can tell you who to let into your house”
Quite true. But I do not represent the state – Barbados – my house is a “private dwelling”. I act on “my” behalf, those who represent the State are ultimately responsible to parliament, through whom authority is given in a democracy, the authority of parliament comes as a result its members being elected by the citizens.
I am sure you can see the difference.
@David,
There is the other side to this. Cow bought land but people made the choice to sell him the land.
There is nothing wrong with that.
What would be wrong is if politicians and bureaucrats disadvantaged “poor” people by refusing them permission for developement and they were then forced to sell to a big up or live hand to mout till they die.
Then the politician’s lawyer friends would mek some money settling the “estate”.
@David,
I read that the head of the Bar Association write a letter to critisizing the Justice system in Barbados.
Will this divert attention away from some of their members?
@Yardie,
What difference what? Internationally, Barbados is a private dwelling inhabited by the people of Barbados. This is so not only for Barbados but for every sovereign country. Immigration is the entry point and there is no Immigration Department in the world which does not recognise and understand its function as allowing into the country only those they wish to enter; no explanation required either. Maybe you think I am telling you what I believe, but I assure you that this is a fundamental principal in International Law.
Hi Rok
Quote: ” Immigration is the entry point and there is no Immigration Department in the world which does not recognise and understand its function as allowing into the country only those they wish to enter”. .
Please direct me to anything “I have written” which contradicts the above. Either in my submission or in a comment.
@Hants
I have a problem with people like Goddard and Williams talking about they build from “scratch”. There is nobody who can accumulate that kind of wealth without favours being given; even if it is that rich people decide to support their business and pay more than value for the goods.
I remember Plastic Bag singing about $1M of the taxpayers money that nobody ain’t get a day for. COW’s rise to wealth goes way beyond any ability to give value. I know people who put more effort into their businesses than COW and did not reap the rewards.
Furthermore, to start up their businesses called for capital. No way they can compare themselves to the average “poor black man”. They always had it better.
@ Yardie
I was referring to this statement which seems to suggest that the Immigration Department is not at liberty to make arbitrary decisions and that these decision should go through a process of transparency. I am reiterating that what applies to you in your private dwelling is the same as what applies to the Immigration Department:
“…But I do not represent the state – Barbados – my house is a “private dwelling”. I act on “my” behalf, those who represent the State are ultimately responsible to parliament, through whom authority is given in a democracy, the authority of parliament comes as a result its members being elected by the citizens.
Hi Rok
We will have to agree, to disagree on this one, as I fear we will go cyclic.
@Yardie
I should have said the manner of decision making. You are not wrong on Parliament, just means that the department is carrying out the wishes of Parliament….
but I want to ask you a question. The police arrests a person and their friends and family can’t find which police station they are at. Now this is standard practice. Of course if was Hoyos they would know. In contrast I’Akobi Maloney DIED while being questioned by the police and the police came away with impunity. What sayest thou about transparency and accountability here in this government department? I suppose accountability is to Parliament too, right?
Hi Rok
Firstly, I will not revisit the case of Mr. l’Akobi Maloney as “I” do not have the necessary “evidence,” to form an opinion beyond reasonable doubt aganist the police. I understand an investigation was conducted by a learned Judge. . . no doubt you disagree with the verdict.
You wrote Quote: ” but I want to ask you a question. The police arrests a person and their friends and family can’t find which police station they are at. Now this is standard practice. Of course if it was Hoyas they would know. In contrast l’Akobi Maloney DIED while being questioned by the police and the police came away with impunity. What sayest thou about transparency and accountability here in this government department? I suppose accountability is to Parliament too, right?
(1) In the imaginary case you outlined above; the police should have allowed the arrested person to make a phone call, to whom they choose. It could be to a family member or an attorney, their location would be identified.
(2) He/she could give a “no Comment” interview until he/she was legally represented and questioning was done in the presence of their attorney.
(3) As regards a person you have named as an example, his position is better, because he will have an attorney at hand and the Police are more likely to follow the Law, because of his position in society. . that is Barbados. Here you are now able to see my concerns about the immigration situation.
You might be surprised if you knew what I actually do, but I can assure you that I have feelings for the family of the deceased Mr. l’Akobi Maloney, but I cannot make a decision of any importance on hear say.
Barack Obama said Saturday he didn’t know his aunt was living in the United States illegally and believes that laws covering the situation should be followed.
The lessons of September 11 are that if we allow law enforcement to do their work free of political interference, if we give them adequate resources and modern technologies, we can protect our citizens without intruding on our liberties.
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Allegations about the LNP by former federal MP Michael Johnson are referred to prosecutors:
POLICE have referred material to commonwealth prosecutors after a former federal MP accused Liberal National Party president Bruce McIver of intimidation.
Michael Johnson, the former LNP member for the Queensland seat of Ryan, in June alleged to Australian Federal Police that he was pressured and intimidated by Mr McIver.
Mr Johnson lost his seat at the last election. He ran as an independent after being dumped by the LNP in May following allegations about misuse of parliamentary resources.
In June he said he’d spent three hours with AFP investigators, telling them Mr McIver had used intimidatory tactics to try to force him to quit his seat.
On Monday, the AFP said the matter had been referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP).
“On June 29, 2010 the AFP commenced an investigation in relation to two matters referred by former MP Mr Michael Johnson,” the AFP said in a statement.
RELATED COVERAGE
LNP heavyweights laud Queensland
The Australian, 11 hours ago
We earned more of front bench, says LNP
The Australian, 7 Sep 2010
LNP to face police questions
The Australian, 16 Jul 2010
Abbott won’t clarify ‘fix’ remark
Courier Mail, 16 Jul 2010
Abbott’s vow to ‘fix it’ for MP
Courier Mail, 15 Jul 2010
“On October 25, 2010 the AFP referred the matter to the CDPP.
“As the matter is ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Mr McIver said he was not concerned the matter had been referred to the CDPP.
He said he had not had contact with federal police since the allegations were made, nor had he been asked to give a formal statement or participate in a police interview.
“I think that’s just the normal course for these sorts of things,” he told brisbanetimes.com.au.
“I would co-operate fully if asked by the AFP. I have got no case to answer.”
Mr Johnson has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his parliamentary resources. Efforts to contact him today were unsuccessful.
Hmmm…… 911 lessons? Let law enforcement do what? There are allegations that law enforcement carried out 911… what you really saying at all? Why would these allegations surface if there was not a hint of corruption somewhere? What or who is law enforcement? These are saints you bringing from heaven?
We cannot do without checks and balances when it comes to law enforcement because inevitably, somebody must control it and commonsense (or maybe tradition) tells us that it is safer in the hands of those elected because they can be recalled.
Look and see that we cannot get a straight answer from our police about how I’Akobi Maloney met his death.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
@ ROK
ROKie, its good to see you back after your sabbatical.
The fact is many Immigration Officers are rude, not all by any means..this has more to do with training than anything else, I carry a Barbadian passport and I carry it with pride, but it seems to me that SOME Immigration officers tend to be less polite to nationals than to foreign passport holders. The point is that there needs to be better training, rudeness has no place in any job. The immigration officer is the first face of Barbados when visitors arrive, I see no reason whatsoever why it would be necessary to be rude to anyone.
It was the “manner” in which this interaction was conducted which defined the relationship between the Immigration Officer and the passenger; perceived due “subservience was not demonstrated by the Immigration Officer,” in that he requested the passenger to take action instructed by him. She sought to undermine that action by doing otherwise.
@ Tony Byer | November 17, 2010 at 6:27 AM |
If you were near me I would shake both your hands and your feet too.
Some of the Immigration Officers just don’t care about the type of impression they leave on passengers; they could care less. They are there with ONE purpose in mind and that is to collect a paycheck. Better believe it!
Give a man a uniform with some stripes and he becomes a dictator seems to apply for some immigration officers. You know one can be very pleasant when performing a serious job. “Welcome to Barbados Mam, I have noticed a slight discrepancy with your documents, can you please have a seat over there while I look into this? I will get back to you as soon as I have finished . Thank you for your corporation.” With a smile and not a skin teet.
My comments were directed towards a “specific event” for which evidence was produced; and the circumstances surrounding that event – explained by a passenger.
I have travelled enough, to know that in Barbados like other places, one can encounter immigration officers, who are rude and impolite.
However, when a “specific event” is mentioned and “evidence” is brought surrounding that event. You cannot in fairness, then use a “broad brush” approach in all past situations to condemn an identified officer . . . without his side of the story. Experience over many years of conflict situations, has taught me, that you very rarely get the true story, from one side of the conflict.
And Mr. Halsall had an opinion. Here it is: “Wow. Really? Sucks to be you (and yours).”
Christopher: amazing though it might seem to you and the “Family”, entire weeks and months go by without my worrying about what you think (read: think).
Best wishes (read: wishes)
The Barbados government has spent millions either trying to genuinely improve the level of service rendered by its public servants or merely trying to reward the supporters of the ruling party at the time. Public Sector Reform: The behaviour of some public servants does seem to indicate that they are indeed in need of some sort of Reform School. Immigration in particular is staffed by persons who no doubt are capable of doing the job they ar ehired to do but unfortunately those few have jobs that put them out of contact with the public.
Those selected to interface with the public are more often than not going to be the ladies who have lost some man to a foreign woman, been dumped by a foreign man or something of that nature. The female officers are just bitchy to foreign women in particular. The gentlemen in the department are more professional.
These “sistas” need to get over themselves!
No one supports rude unmannerly behaviour, either from Immigration Officers, or those in the service industry; it does not matter if Barbados is in the tourism business or not – it is just not good manners.
In order to ascertain truth, we must have “evidence” from both sides that relate to a “specific incident.”
Only recently, we had a story in the media, of a young lady (A) who gave her version of events, and the circumstances she found herself in, with a new born infant.
On the following day, when more “evidence” was released from another source; the story was not as it was first explained.
Condemnation of an “identified individual”, with evidence from one source, that cannot be “corroborated” is unjust and unsafe.
@ Giselle
You fuh real? I think yuh dreaming in technicolour. I suppose you think you is a queen bee. What stupid garbage is that above? Where is your proof about these “sistas”? cheupse……