PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - As a committed proponent of regional integration we, too, welcome the ruling delivered on Friday by the Caribbean Court of Justice in the Shanique Myrie case.
The ruling by Sir Dennis Byron and his panel effectively sends a message to all Immigration authorities throughout the Caricom region that the days of arbitrary denial of access to Caricom nationals are at an end.
In outlining the process that should accompany any denial of entry, the ruling also goes a long way in bringing transparency and fairness to the decision-making process. The court has made it clear that in denying entry, member states are required to give “promptly and in writing” its reasons for refusing entry to a Caricom national. The refusing state is also obliged to inform the affected individual of their right to challenge the decision and to contact an attorney, consular official or relative as the case may be.