By Charmaine Austin,
Staff Reporter
AUDLEY SHAW, JLP spokesman on Finance, says he is to make a formal intercession on behalf of the eight Holmwood Technical High School athletes whose applications for visitors' visas were again turned down by the United States Consulate.
The eight were among 11 who were initially denied American visas as they did not, according to US Consulate rules, "meet all the requirements for obtaining entry into the United States".
All 11 were asked to be accompanied by their parents for the second interview last week Thursday, and they did. But, of the number, only three were granted the permit after that attempt.
The students are scheduled to leave the island next week for Pennsylvania to compete in the annual Penn Relays, which is being staged from April 26 to 29.
Shaw, a former Holmwood Technical student, will make a formal appeal to the Consul General regarding the matter. He will be accompanied by Paul Bailey, the school's principal, and Maurice Wilson, the girls' team coach.
"All this came to my attention at the weekend when I was formally advised by the principal. I spoke to the coach and he gave me further information on the matter so I will be making an appeal and hope that we will get through to them," Mr. Shaw said.
He said he would not be able to address the matter before tomorrow as he is to make a presentation today on the national budget in Parliament.
Wednesday is the day the third interview is likely to take place as five of the eight unsuccessful Holmwood applicants return to the island today from Barbados where they participated in the 30th Carifta Games.
"I intend to follow up with the Embassy on Wednesday. Holmwood has a perfect track record for receiving visas. Athletes go and they return. There has never been a case of any Holmwood athlete breaking the rules," Mr. Shaw told The Gleaner.
"I am hopeful that myself, the principal and the coach will be able to convince them to grant the athletes visas. We're going to try very hard to appeal to their sense of reason. Holmwood has a long tradition of always doing well at 'Penns' and is looking forward to representing the school this year again. From this meet, a number of students received scholarships in times gone by," said Shaw, who is Member of Parliament for Manchester North East.
According to Mr. Bailey, the athletes are usually accompanied by three or four supervisors, but this year they will be chaperoned by eight. He said he hoped that all would be successful this time around.
"It's really difficult for the students to be travelling to Kingston so often for the same thing, but I am hoping that they will be successful this time.
"Our track record over the years has been good, but I won't question too much the embassy's rules. I just hope they get through this time. I am confident that they will," he said.
