Garth RattrayTHANKS TO drug trafficking desperadoes, we are all suspected drug mules. It is distressing to know that a nation with a preponderance of honest people has been classified as common, lowly miscreants until proven otherwise. What's even worse is this, since the events of 9-11 (the World Trade Centre bombings), various countries seem to have given their officials manning their ports of entry carte blanche authority to do as they please. One US government official actually said, on camera, that people don't have to travel; it is a personal choice. He intimated that we were to be prepared for whatever we encounter in the name of security. This leaves the door wide open for various abuses of power, racism and prejudice.
The worst thing that you can possibly do while travelling is to be a young to middle-aged, dark-skinned Jamaican male with little luggage and alone. If you either fail to make eye contact with or look at the security personnel too much you may be pulled out of the line. If you look "bulky" or if you also happen to seem a little nervous then heaven help you. We don't carry bombs but we are all suspected drug runners and it is believed that the illegal drug trade helps to finance terrorism. There is really no excuse for trafficking dangerous drugs, but there can be no supply without a demand and it's only now that the United States has been promoting their anti-terrorism campaigns with drug users in mind.
I have always been proud to be Jamaican. Notwithstanding the recent stampede of drug-runners and the bad international publicity that it generated, I remain adamant that, overall, ours is a good country with upright citizens. Because of the frequency of drug courier interception, the authorities have extrapolated that quite a few Jamaican travellers participate in drugs trafficking. Subsequently, we have all become guilty by association.
On various trips I have been part of a group of Jamaicans who, having disembarked, were corralled like cattle and sniffed by dogs while standing still in a line. About five years ago I was also among fellow Jamaicans retrieving luggage from a carousel in the JFK Airport. A squad of scowling, tall, para-military looking, mesomorphic, male Caucasian security personnel dressed in full black (including black caps and dark glasses) encircled us. All faced inward (towards us) with arms folded across their chests. We felt as if we were under arrest. We felt denigrated and unwelcome as several people from other countries walked by and stared at the spectacle of a bunch of Jamaican 'suspects' groping woefully for their luggage while being scrutinised by glowering guards.
Many Jamaicans are forced to endure much worse than this. They are subjected to degrading searches and embarrassing probing. Their basic human rights have been violated and they have had their pride and self-worth stripped away by degrading detention and expulsion. In light of the numerous cases that I have heard of, I truly wonder if there is an orchestrated effort to make Jamaicans feel that they are unwelcome in some first world countries.
Recently, I have seen several patients suffering from severe psychological trauma following their unwarranted interception, interrogation, detention and summary deportation. Symptoms included insomnia, pervasive unpleasant memories, dyspnoea (the perception of difficulty breathing), anorexia, headaches, flashbacks, depression, nervousness and panic attacks. The acts of victimisation took place in the United States and the United Kingdom. The victims were upstanding Jamaicans travelling abroad legitimately. They were stopped by immigration/customs, accused, searched, photographed, X-rayed, sometimes handcuffed, denied food, sleep and communication with waiting, anxious relatives and friends, transported to detention centres and (although found to have nothing illicit) finally deported in disgrace without ever being charged with any crime or misdeed. One American immigration officer was brash enough to tell one of my patients to her face that they don't want Colombians, Jamaicans and some other nationalities in their country. I wonder what the 'official' United Stated position on this is.
We know that the USA and the UK are at 'war' with terrorism and drug traffickers. We also know that they must protect their ports of entry, but their unrestrained, unrepentant persecution of Jamaicans is unjust and humiliating. Every time that I witness Jamaicans being deprecated and embarrassed, every time that I hear of the horrors that we must endure simply because we are Jamaicans, every time that I see a patient shaking, depressed and teary-eyed relating horrendous experiences while trying to travel abroad, I wonder what our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is doing about this intolerable situation. It's true that we are a poor, developing nation. It is true that because of poverty and desperation some Jamaicans attempt to transport illegal drugs abroad. However, it is also true that we are a decent people deserving of universal respect.
The selective harassment of our people only serves to debase us. It makes us feel ashamed to be associated with Jamaica. Those who possess dual citizenship present their United States passport in an effort to avoid persecution. Same person, same Jamaican, different passport, different treatment. We are already struggling to maintain some modicum of self-worth amid the soaring crime rate, challenging economy, governmental scandals and plethora of corruption.
DESPICABLE TREATMENT
To be a victim of profiling because of our nationality, to witness harassment overseas, to hear of despicable treatment being meted out to fellow Jamaicans and to be totally helpless in the face of all of this is simply unbearable.
Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to intercede for the sake of justice and the morale of our citizenry. Our people are constantly disrespected, demoralised and belittled by alien governments. We cannot ignore this burgeoning situation. At this rate our airline will have scheduled plights instead of scheduled flights as our people are continuously subject to selective detailed security procedures (harassment). It is far better that we undertake stringent security and drug screening here on our sovereign soil than to have foreign countries shame and demean us at an international level. Travellers from all over the world witness our Jamaican people being exposed to meticulous scrutiny. This does irreparable damage to our image at home and abroad.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
