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Honestly – I don’t know what’s worse – the treatment this woman got or how poorly this journalist constructs a sentence.
Is it just me? I mean – what the hell is this:
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"Wilhel Blake was kept in custody by immigration officers for interrogation after once seeing her on a buggy, suspected that she had somehow illegally tampered with the National Health Service system on a previous visit."</span>
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<span style="font-weight: bold">'Humiliated' - 91-y-o Jamaican woman grilled for four hours by UK immigration - Family furious as frightened great-gran wets self after detention</span></span>
Published: Thursday | September 10, 2009
Ben Lettman, Gleaner Writer
LONDON, England:
Wilhel Blake was kept in custody by immigration officers for interrogation after once seeing her on a buggy, suspected that she had somehow illegally tampered with the National Health Service system on a previous visit.
Blake's granddaughter, Trish Adudu, who is a BBC journalist and radio presenter, was furious with the immigration officer's actions.
"It's just disgraceful. The fact that they can detain a 91-year-old woman for four hours having come from Jamaica, not have her family be able to represent her in anyway and ask very patronising and scary questions for a 91-year-old - it's disgraceful," said Adudu.
Under Scrutiny
Blake has had previous trips to England and had never come under scrutiny before. She flew to Gatwick to be at her grandson's wedding in Coventry. She arrived at Gatwick at 10:20 a.m. and was detained until 2:20 p.m.
The treatment she allegedly suffered is cause for concern for Adudu.
"She was disoriented because she had been on an eight-hour flight from Jamaica," explained Adudu. "All she accepted from them was a cup of tea. She felt that they were very short with her. She felt very angry. She felt humiliated, distressed and frightened. She's 91, so try and put yourself in that situation - how would you feel?"
Adudu added: "She's really sad. She's been here five times and it's never happened (before). She's over for my brother's wedding and she felt humiliated. She was so distressed that as soon as my brother got her, when she was allowed out, she wet herself, which was humiliating for her because she's a very strong woman.
"She flew first class on Virgin and then that's how she's treated on arrival. They detained her passport and said that they were going to investigate and that's what they do to all people."
Adudu has spoken to her local MP Geoffrey Robinson about the mistreatment that her grandmother received and Robinson has sent a request to the home secretary that the matter be investigated further.
Apology
"I said to M Boden, the chief of immigration officer, 'Do you stop people from Australia on a buggy? Do you keep them for four hours?' It's to do with her age. Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. I, for one, will be taking it all the way."
She added: "We want a formal apology and some sort of insurance that this is not going to happen to someone again. Is this how they treat people who are coming from Jamaica?"
A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: "Before allowing someone entry to the UK, immigration officers may question them to clarify their immigration status or to ensure they hold the correct visa for their visit.
"In cases where people are interviewed at the UK's border, refreshments are always offered and passengers are delayed for as short a time as possible while enquiries take place."
Is it just me? I mean – what the hell is this:
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="color: #000099"><span style="font-style: italic">
"Wilhel Blake was kept in custody by immigration officers for interrogation after once seeing her on a buggy, suspected that she had somehow illegally tampered with the National Health Service system on a previous visit."</span>
</span></span>
---<span style="font-size: 14pt">
<span style="font-weight: bold">'Humiliated' - 91-y-o Jamaican woman grilled for four hours by UK immigration - Family furious as frightened great-gran wets self after detention</span></span>
Published: Thursday | September 10, 2009
Ben Lettman, Gleaner Writer
LONDON, England:
Wilhel Blake was kept in custody by immigration officers for interrogation after once seeing her on a buggy, suspected that she had somehow illegally tampered with the National Health Service system on a previous visit.
Blake's granddaughter, Trish Adudu, who is a BBC journalist and radio presenter, was furious with the immigration officer's actions.
"It's just disgraceful. The fact that they can detain a 91-year-old woman for four hours having come from Jamaica, not have her family be able to represent her in anyway and ask very patronising and scary questions for a 91-year-old - it's disgraceful," said Adudu.
Under Scrutiny
Blake has had previous trips to England and had never come under scrutiny before. She flew to Gatwick to be at her grandson's wedding in Coventry. She arrived at Gatwick at 10:20 a.m. and was detained until 2:20 p.m.
The treatment she allegedly suffered is cause for concern for Adudu.
"She was disoriented because she had been on an eight-hour flight from Jamaica," explained Adudu. "All she accepted from them was a cup of tea. She felt that they were very short with her. She felt very angry. She felt humiliated, distressed and frightened. She's 91, so try and put yourself in that situation - how would you feel?"
Adudu added: "She's really sad. She's been here five times and it's never happened (before). She's over for my brother's wedding and she felt humiliated. She was so distressed that as soon as my brother got her, when she was allowed out, she wet herself, which was humiliating for her because she's a very strong woman.
"She flew first class on Virgin and then that's how she's treated on arrival. They detained her passport and said that they were going to investigate and that's what they do to all people."
Adudu has spoken to her local MP Geoffrey Robinson about the mistreatment that her grandmother received and Robinson has sent a request to the home secretary that the matter be investigated further.
Apology
"I said to M Boden, the chief of immigration officer, 'Do you stop people from Australia on a buggy? Do you keep them for four hours?' It's to do with her age. Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. I, for one, will be taking it all the way."
She added: "We want a formal apology and some sort of insurance that this is not going to happen to someone again. Is this how they treat people who are coming from Jamaica?"
A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: "Before allowing someone entry to the UK, immigration officers may question them to clarify their immigration status or to ensure they hold the correct visa for their visit.
"In cases where people are interviewed at the UK's border, refreshments are always offered and passengers are delayed for as short a time as possible while enquiries take place."
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