As a well-travelled individual who has visited North America, Europe and the Caribbean and have seen the bad and suspicious treatment of many Jamaican travellers, I would like to applaud Hubert Ingraham, the prime minister of Caricom member-state Bahamas for taking a firm position against his immigration officers displaying poor behaviour towards or bad treatment of Jamaican visitors to his country.

Under the radar

For years, Jamaican travellers have been on the radar of many countries without just cause. And as Ingraham has stated, "Not all Jamaican nationals arriving in Bahamas intended to overstay their visit". In addition, 'not all Jamaican travellers intend to engage in illicit activities, neither do we intend to seek employment without going through the correct channel or process. Yet, far too many times, Jamaicans are being treated as if we are known criminals."

I believe that other heads of state in CARICOM need to follow suit, especially Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua. These are three islands of which many Jamaicans are having landing problems. I know that, although CARICOM offers free movement of travel, there is a landing requirement in every island which all travellers must satisfy in order to be accepted. But I believe that some immigration officials in some of the territories have gone too far with their abuse of Jamaican travellers, while Jamaica accepts almost anybody.

I am, etc.,

Charlie Brown

charliebrown1004@hotmail.com

St Thomas.