Travellers fume as immigration officers’ strike causes disruption

More than 500 travellers, some of whom were unaware that industrial action was being taken by immigration officers yesterday, were left disgruntled by the long wait and chaos that resulted from the islandwide strike.

At least 90 per cent of immigration workers did not report for duty to show their disdain with the management of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), and the Government's ongoing compensation review exercise. Rohan Robinson, who arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston about 7:25 a.m. on a four-hour flight from New York, said he was almost left stranded because of the lengthy delay.

"The line was really crazy and people were complaining. Everything was just a chaos. The line wasn't moving at all and people were only going to the machine. A lot of the people were frustrated because the wait was for hours," the St Elizabeth native said.

"We (Robinson and his uncle) almost missed our ride because he thought that we weren't going to come again," added the disgruntled traveller who also said that he was hoping for a swifter process.

"It is ridiculous really because I started my travel from 2 a.m. (Monday) from New York, and I only wanted to come here and have a swift process. It's ridiculous what is happening now in Jamaica. I felt like this was just another day in Jamaica where people didn't feel like coming to work, you know everybody being laid back, maybe they had too much fun last night or something. I really felt it was a typical day," he said.

Robinson, who said that he is an up-and-coming recording artiste, opined that the strike was indicative of the current state of the country.

"This is what happens when you keep pushing things down the line, everything will bungle up. Public sector workers have sacrificed a lot, especially since the COVID pandemic. So I guess it is only fair that they get what is due. What we are seeing today is like a domino effect of what is happening in Jamaica on a whole," he said.

Another traveller who was also aggrieved said she was scheduled for an 8 a.m. pickup in order to reach work by 9 a.m. for an important meeting.

"I have been sitting here now for nearly an hour waiting on a different ride because my scheduled taxi left. I was already waiting inside for a couple of hours dealing with the chaos and madness inside the airport and now this. Why is it that everything seems to be problematic in this country?" she asked.

An immigration officer who wished not to be named, told THE STAR that he and his colleagues were prepared to go all out with their protests in order to affect desired changes.

"The strike is much, much more than the money. Right now they are working on a no-confidence motion against [PICA CEO] Mr [Andrew] Wynter and his management team because the officers have made up their minds that they are not going back until he and his team are removed," the fed up worker remarked.

However, PICA, via a media release, defended its handling of the executive agency in recent years, while distancing itself from the restructuring exercise. The agency stated that negotiations within the public sector for increased wages and improved working conditions are done by the respective unions and the Ministry of Finance and Public Service (MOFPS).

"Over the years, the agency has taken steps within the parameters of the MOFPS to advance the cause of our valued employees. Consequently, we initiated a unit review exercise which commenced in October 2022, which we are in the process of completing," the agency said.