On March 31, 2011, the Jamaica Observer yet again attacked the Barbados government on its immigration policies, through an article entitled "Barbadians tighten the screws - More Jamaicans beaten, locked up, kicked out.
This article followed an article on March 24, 2011, entitled, "Finger-raped in Barbados" after Ms. Shanique Myrie claimed she was improperly handled while at Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).
In the latest attack, however, three young men claimed they were physically abused and threatened by Barbadian police and humiliated by that country's immigration officers after being denied entry into Barbados.
The three, Andre Davis, Jermaine Blake and Chevine Edwards - partners in the artiste management and music production company, Dajavu Records.
They were removed from the immigration line and their passports and cellular phones were confiscated. They were interviewed individually and proved that they had met all the requirements, in terms of accommodation, business contact, cash and length of stay limits, said Edwards.
Edwards also said, they had gone to the eastern Caribbean island to promote Defranco, a fledging entertainer, and to seal a booking date for reggae artiste Junior Reid, who was negotiating to perform at the upcoming Reggae on the Hill concert to be held in that Caribbean island.
Barabdostoday, an online newspaper in Barbados, however, did an investigative piece on the Observer story, and found that the three men did not come close to entry requirements needed by immigration. These three gentlemen apparently had a room book, but only for two persons, the third had no booking. The cost of the room was US$55 a night for the 19 day stay requested, but these gentlemen did not prove they could afford it.
Apart from this the three said they were attending the Reggae on the Hill concert, but could not say when the event was to take place, and in actually fact the 19 days requested would not allow them to see the show.
These guys were therefore denied entry on this and other grounds. See the full story at Barbadostoday.