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Disappointed, disheartened and embarrassed are just a few of the words that describe how legendary Jamaican singer Ken Boothe now feels after what he cites as a humiliating episode at the Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom last week Wednesday.
Boothe, who visited The Star's North Street offices yesterday, said that on a recent visit, immigration personnel held unto his documents for close to two hours before returning them. He said the only explanation he received after the act was that the immigration unit was performing a routine 'random check'.
"My wife and I went to England on Wednesday...I went in the immigration line and gave the officer my documents (passport and permit)," Boothe said. "The first thing the man said to me when I went to him and presented my documents was to ask if I was wanted by the police. That's what he said to me while checking my book."
The singer added that after he quickly dismissed that inquiry, stating that he has never been wanted. He said the immigration officer left with both his and his wife's documents. Boothe stated that some time later, a female returned, carrying their documents in a transparent bag.
Very embarrassing
He said the lady then escorted them to the baggage claim section of the airport, and had them retrieve and empty both their bags and their pockets. He added that they were then taken back upstairs, handed their documents and told they were free to go. <span style="font-weight: bold">The singer said this was almost two hours after he first presented his documents to the first immigration personnel. </span>
"<span style="font-style: italic">It was very embarrassing, it was as if I was being deported," Boothe said, recalling how others were looking at them oddly in the airport as the search was conducted. "The only explanation they offered was that they were doing a random check." </span>
When The Star contacted the immigration unit at the airport's South Terminal, we were transferred to a man who identified himself only as the 'chief immigration officer.'
After The Star explained the Ken Boothe situation to him, he said he could not discuss any details, travel or otherwise, regarding any traveller.
He added that whether or not any passenger was searched was a confidential matter for the immigration unit and the details could not be divulged.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Meanwhile, Boothe said he only wanted to highlight the experience, which he thought was grossly unfair to him. He noted that he has never seen a British traveller being subjected to the 'extended' and uncomfortable checking process he went through, and only hoped that similar local travellers like himself would not have to share the experience</span>.
Boothe, who visited The Star's North Street offices yesterday, said that on a recent visit, immigration personnel held unto his documents for close to two hours before returning them. He said the only explanation he received after the act was that the immigration unit was performing a routine 'random check'.
"My wife and I went to England on Wednesday...I went in the immigration line and gave the officer my documents (passport and permit)," Boothe said. "The first thing the man said to me when I went to him and presented my documents was to ask if I was wanted by the police. That's what he said to me while checking my book."
The singer added that after he quickly dismissed that inquiry, stating that he has never been wanted. He said the immigration officer left with both his and his wife's documents. Boothe stated that some time later, a female returned, carrying their documents in a transparent bag.
Very embarrassing
He said the lady then escorted them to the baggage claim section of the airport, and had them retrieve and empty both their bags and their pockets. He added that they were then taken back upstairs, handed their documents and told they were free to go. <span style="font-weight: bold">The singer said this was almost two hours after he first presented his documents to the first immigration personnel. </span>
"<span style="font-style: italic">It was very embarrassing, it was as if I was being deported," Boothe said, recalling how others were looking at them oddly in the airport as the search was conducted. "The only explanation they offered was that they were doing a random check." </span>
When The Star contacted the immigration unit at the airport's South Terminal, we were transferred to a man who identified himself only as the 'chief immigration officer.'
After The Star explained the Ken Boothe situation to him, he said he could not discuss any details, travel or otherwise, regarding any traveller.
He added that whether or not any passenger was searched was a confidential matter for the immigration unit and the details could not be divulged.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Meanwhile, Boothe said he only wanted to highlight the experience, which he thought was grossly unfair to him. He noted that he has never seen a British traveller being subjected to the 'extended' and uncomfortable checking process he went through, and only hoped that similar local travellers like himself would not have to share the experience</span>.
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