National Security Minister Martin Joseph on Monday revoked an order refusing entry to Trinidad to American political strategist Bernard Campbell. Authorities at Piarco International Airport refused entry to Cambell last Thursday when he arrived to take up an assignment as a political adviser to the United National Congress (UNC) for the May 24 general election.
He was turned back on the grounds that he was considered to be "an undesirable inhabitant or, or visitor to Trinidad and Tobago". It's a rarely used provision.
The opposition was outraged at the government action and UNC leader Kamla Persad Bissessar accused the Manning administration of bullying a foreign national while cuddling with others like Calder Hart.
Read the story: Kamla slams Manning regime for bullying U.S. citizen
A media release from the ministry stated: "the disclosure by the Opposition Leader that Mr Campbell was here to work was at variance with his official declaration that he was here on business."
UNC Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar told a political meeting Monday night the Government’s decision to lift the rejection order came after she threatened the ministry with legal action on behalf of Campbell, whom she described as her client.
Her letter stated: "My client has been adversely affected by your decision that there was reliable information or advice that my client was an ’undesirable’ visitor.
"Section 16 of the Judicial Review Act, 2000, obliges you to provide my client with a statement of reasons for this decision and the consequent prohibition of my client’s entry into this country.
"In the circumstances, I must call upon you to comply with your obligations under the Judicial Review Act and render a proper, adequate and intelligible statement of reasons to me within seven days of the date of this letter."
She said she received a call from the ministry advising of the change and demanded that the ministry put it in writing.
Commenting on the matter, Joseph told the media, "We will do the necessary thing as it relates to allow him to legitimately come in to do whatever function he is required to perform. We expect that will happen in short order."
He explained that "the circumstances under which Mr Campbell came into the country was not in keeping, strictly speaking, with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago."
Other political leaders, including COP's Winston Dookeran and UNC chairman Jack Warner also slammed the authorities for their high-handed action.
And the U.S. embassy in Port of Spain expressed concern, saying it would like to know on what grounds Campbell was refused entry. Public Affairs Officer Matthew Cassetta told reporters Monday the Embassy is still in discussions with the ministry and he was not at liberty to disclose the nature of those discussions.
Campbell is a high profile professional whose firm worked on the Obama campaign in the United States.
He told media in Trinidad he has no intention of returning to Trinidad while Patrick Manning is prime minister. At the same time he said he plans to return on May 25 when Persad-Bissessar is head of government.
At first the national security minister insisted that he had nothing to answer to anyone about the incident.
Read the story: T&T doesn't have to explain Campbell incident: Joseph
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