Mrs Gloudon, I disagree
published: Thursday | March 6, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I DISAGREE with Ms Gloudon's assertion that we should quietly accept the 'profiling' and body searches in the manner she describes. I would not be surprised if these target darker skinned Jamaicans. In any case, the fact that we are subject to humiliating treatment abroad does not mean we should duplicate such indignities at home.
There are ways of conducting searches without making the passenger feel violated. If US, Canadian or UK security officials want to strip the elderly granny in a misguided attempt to find terrorists, that's their business. The frequently antagonistic attitude of some US immigration officials stands in stark contrast to the welcome we receive on arrival at home.
My point basically is we should find a reasonable, decent 'Jamaican' way to screen passengers. Quite often basic courtesy helps and not the projected attitude by some airport officials that one is a drug courier until proven otherwise. It does not help matters when Jamaicans who have travelled the world over without hassle are subjected to an improperly applied screening regime, which to the best of my knowledge has done little to ferret out the real criminals.
