An article published in last Monday’s edition of the Barbados Business Monday is reporting progress in the diplomatic exchanges between Guyana and Barbados over the vexed issue of the mistreatment of Guyanese traveling to Barbados by immigration officials at the Grantley Adams Airport. “There has been a marked decrease in complaints by Guyanese of mistreatment by Barbados immigration officials,” the article says though it urges President Donald Ramotar “to address this issue with his Barbadian counterpart to ensure that it does not resurface.”
Meanwhile the article says that Guyanese traveling to Barbados can take comfort from the recent appointment of Robert Morris, who is described as “a staunch regionalist as Barbados’ new High Commissioner to CARICOM. Morris has reportedly given the assurance that complaints about less than professional behaviour by the immigration authorities in Barbados will be fully investigated. Morris, a veteran trade unionist is quoted in the article as describing Guyanese as “extraordinarily hospitable people.” Barbadian immigration officials, the diplomat is quoted as saying, have specific operational guidelines breaches of which will result on investigations and appropriate action based on the merits of the complaints.
Claims of harsh treatment including humiliating searches and immediate deportation of some Guyanese seeking to