Dear Claudienne

At the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday, September 23, 2010, on my way to boarding a Virgin Atlantic Airways flight from Kingston to Gatwick airport, London, I was randomly pulled from the line by narcotics police.

They told me that they wanted to test my urine for drugs. I was taken to a holding room and requested to do a urine test. After I did the test I was told that the urine test came back positive and that they were sure I had ingested drugs. They claimed that the test was 99 per cent accurate and were sure that I had something in my belly.

I was handcuffed like a criminal and taken to the Kingston Public Hospital for my stomach to be x-rayed. When I expressed concern that I would miss my flight one of the officers said that if the x-ray revealed nothing I would be put on a flight on Monday September 27.

Being led by the police through the airport in handcuffs was a very embarrassing experience. Even at the hospital I was handcuffed until the x-ray showed that nothing incriminating was in my stomach.

The x-ray did not reveal any drugs in my stomach but by the time the tests had been completed the flight that I should have boarded had long departed for the United Kingdom. When the tests were completed the police dropped me off close to my home without even an apology.

The purpose of my trip was specifically to be with my son on his 14th birthday on Friday September 24, 2010, and to pay a surprise visit to my mother whom I had not seen for a while.

Because I missed the flight due to no fault of my own I would like a refund of my airfare from the government. I believe this is only fair.

The airfare was $81,131 and the booking was made through Total Travel Service Limited.

Please see what you can do to help me.

CJ

Dear CJ

The police in performance of their duty are governed by the Constabulary Force Act which gives them wide powers.

We asked the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security to investigate your case. We also sent her a photocopy of a report of the incident as written by Sunday Observer Senior Reporter Ingrid Brown that was published in the Sunday Observer of Sunday September 26, 2010.

The Acting Permanent Secretary has advised Tell Claudienne that a decision has been taken to refund you.

The letter from the ministry stated the following:

“The Ministry of National Security made contact with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and formally raised the matter. The ministry has also indicated to the JCF that we require a formal written report of this incident. The JCF has advised that investigation in the matter is ongoing.

“Though the ministry is not yet in receipt of the official police report, nonetheless, without prejudice and without any admission of liability by the JCF and/or the ministry of National Security or prejudice to any investigation and subsequent findings, a decision has been taken to refund CJ the full cost of his airfare.”

We note that you have taken the receipt you got from the travel agency to the Director of JCF Corporate Services as instructed, in order to get a refund of your airfare.

We also note that you have been promised the cheque in the next three weeks.

Good luck

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.