The events took place four weeks ago amid conflicting and contradictory reports by both lawyers representing the Gambians detained and the Jamaican immigration authorities.
The Point learnt that even though the Gambians claimed that they were heading to “somewhere else”, their detention for 48 hours “without proper explanation” is still a cause for concern.
Another inconsistent testimony was the argument that on their journey, the Gambians also stopped in Brazil. However, Immigration authority claimed that they were in fact denied entry in the country.
Moreover, what is more intriguing is the fact that the Gambians reportedly “boarded a private jet … and do not look like refugees”.
But lawyers representing the Gambians told local media that they were “denied access to their clients … and request for more comfortable accommodations for them was also denied”.
Contradicting the argument, authorities also strongly disputed that the Gambians were detained for “failing to show lawful papers concerning their return to The Gambia including valid return tickets”.
During the investigations, this correspondent has got to understand that the Gambians were later released after their “sponsor bought and booked return tickets for them on another commercial flight”.
However, the identity of the “sponsor” is not disclosed.
For further details, this correspondent has reached out to the solicitors that represented the Gambians in order to verify their identities and establish their present circumstances.
Author: Alhagie Mbye, The Point’s Intl correspondent
The reported detention of nine Gambian nationals at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport, Jamaica, is still shrouded in mystery as several attempts to reveal their identities, whereabouts and circumstances proved futile.
The events took place four weeks ago amid conflicting and contradictory reports by both lawyers representing the Gambians detained and the Jamaican immigration authorities.
The Point learnt that even though the Gambians claimed that they were heading to “somewhere else”, their detention for 48 hours “without proper explanation” is still a cause for concern.
Another inconsistent testimony was the argument that on their journey, the Gambians also stopped in Brazil. However, Immigration authority claimed that they were in fact denied entry in the country.
Moreover, what is more intriguing is the fact that the Gambians reportedly “boarded a private jet … and do not look like refugees”.
But lawyers representing the Gambians told local media that they were “denied access to their clients … and request for more comfortable accommodations for them was also denied”.
Contradicting the argument, authorities also strongly disputed that the Gambians were detained for “failing to show lawful papers concerning their return to The Gambia including valid return tickets”.
During the investigations, this correspondent has got to understand that the Gambians were later released after their “sponsor bought and booked return tickets for them on another commercial flight”.
However, the identity of the “sponsor” is not disclosed.
For further details, this correspondent has reached out to the solicitors that represented the Gambians in order to verify their identities and establish their present circumstances.
