Dear Editor,

Having read Pat Prescod’s letter in your paper of March 30, “Traumatic body search of minor”, I commend her for speaking up. Following so closely on the heels of the indecent search of Ms Myrie in Barbados, Jamaicans must also immediately review their own internal policies. My nephew, at 10 years old, was randomly called out for a body search at Norman Manley, when he was departing after a trip. I wasn’t there, but was told they allowed an adult family member travelling with him to be present, which helped to soften the ordeal.

Needless to say it was still upsetting, especially to the child who got scared. They were informed by security personnel that these local searches are random, computer-generated from lists of all departing passengers, regardless of age. I find this hard to believe, as I always thought searches would be conducted based on suspicion and one’s profile, etc. To tell me that I might also be body-searched randomly, based on some computer

software generating names randomly, is not only extreme but bizarre. This is what happens when we simply copy what we see being done elsewhere and get the purpose and end results all wrong.

It is time to review security policies at airports. Let’s not forget that other security measures are already in place, including metal detectors, luggage scanning, and

face-to-face screening, etc. As Ms Prescod points out, we understand the risks of travelling these days and the need for enhanced security with terrorism risks, drug trafficking, etc, but body-searching children is plain wrong, and the entire policy, even for adults, is in need of urgent review!

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com