Ousted American political strategist Bernie Campbell is not coming back to Trinidad and Tobago while the Manning government is in office.However, a report in the Trinidad Express says Campbell says he plans to return after May 25, when the opposition alliance headed by Kamla-Persad-Bissessar wins the election.
Last week immigration officials refused to let Campbell enter the country.
Campbell, who works for the firm that managed the Obama campaign in the U.S., was hired by the opposition United National Congress (UNC) to assist with political strategy and communication for the May 24 general election.
All members of the U.S. consulting firm have returned home and will continue working with the UNC from their home base.
Persad-Bissessar has called the treatment of Campbell a shame and an abuse of power.
On Sunday COP leader Winston Dookeran issued a media release in which he said his party considers the matter an affront on the international reputation of Trinidad and Tobago.
"We think it also reflects the abuse of power for private political purposes and we have condemned it and I continue to condemn it as an act of cowardice and an act that has brought this country into disrepute," Dookeran said in a media release.
COP said "this act of discrimination threatens and erodes the progress in relations achieved by this country at the Fifth Summit of the Americas."
Dookeran added, "That the Minister of National Security, Martin Joseph, denies giving the order, when according to the Immigration Act only the Minister can determine who is ’an undesirable visitor’, is a clear abuse of power for narrow political purposes."
UNC Chairman Jack Warner also issued a strongly worded release Sunday calling the action against Campbell "frightening".
He said it is a sign of what is to come if the Manning regime is returned to office.
"They will do as they please and refuse to account to the people of the country, they will victimize those who they perceive are against them. The PNM will terrorize the people of this country in order to hold on to power," Warner said.
He said the decision of the Minister of National Security and his failure to provide reasons to refuse entry to a distinguish US citizen is shameful.
"They have categorized Mr. Campbell as a person who is undesirable in a section that refers to persons who are idiots, imbeciles, feeble minded, dumb, blind, drug addicts, criminals and or ill.
"The PNM is sensing the victory of the UNC and beginning to panic. This is the beginning of a reign of heightened terror that the people of this country will face during the next 30 days.
"I expect further abuse of power and process and even violence by the PNM in the coming days," Warner said.
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