T&T doesn't have to explain Campbell incident: Joseph

National Security Minister Martin Joseph say he doesn't have to explain anything to anyone about why American political strategist Bernard Campbell was denied entry to Trinidad and Tobago.

Immigration authorities refused to the Campbell into the country because he was classified as an “undesirable inhabitant”.

Campbell, who was part of the Obama election team, had been hired by the opposition United National Congress (UNC) to work on the party's campaign for the may 24 general election in Trinidad and Tobago.

The party has announced that Campbell would not be returning to Trinidad but will continue his work on the campaign from the United States.

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The Sunday Newsday pressed the minister for an explanation on why the government considered Campbell an “undesirable inhabitant” but Joseph refused to say more about the matter.

When the paper asked Prime Minister Patrick Manning about it, he said “the Minister of National Security will address that issue.” Newsday said it asked former diplomat Reginald Dumas for his views.

It said Dumas said the State must explain very clearly the reasons it turned away Campbell or it could face fallout from the incident in international diplomatic circles.
“An American citizen – private or otherwise – has been denied entry.

"Clearly the U.S. Embassy is concerned. But further, this man has ties to the Obama campaign and this could go straight to the White House. And the White House is not going to be too pleased,” Dumas told the paper.

He said the incident sends a message "to other governments as to the kind of behaviour Trinidad and Tobago is getting up to. If a person can be denied entry on a vague clause in the Immigration Act then that is very dangerous.

"Anybody could say anything and have the Ministry block someone’s entry. I do not think this has a positive impact on our international relations with any country because on the face of it, it was an anti-democratic act.”

He said Joseph must “explain to the population the basis of his actions in this regard.”

Former National Security Minister Brigadier Joseph Theodore told Newsday, "It seems a bit strange that this man should have been singled out not to land."