Infant in airport separation reportedly reunited with mother
The woman who was reportedly separated from her six-month-old child at the airport after being made to leave the territory recently has since been able to return to the BVI and reunite with her child.
Talk show host and government consultant Claude Skelton Cline, who said he was close to the matter, made the disclosure on his Honestly Speaking radio show Tuesday.
“That lady has returned to the country and the Immigration arranged it as such that it was a seamless process upon her return and that lady and the baby have since been rejoined, as they should together,” Skelton Cline said.
The issue caused an uproar and quickly became a hot-button topic after first being reported late last week.
The woman was reportedly made to leave the territory to return as a result of having to change employers.
Skelton Cline came out in ardent condemnation of the Immigration policy responsible for the reported separation and urged the portfolio minister to consider removing it; especially at this time when persons were burdened by other issues as a result of the pandemic.
A social media debate on the matter later ensued and managed to garner a response from Health & Social Development Minister Carvin Malone, who promised to conduct a probe of the incident at the time. Malone has not made any public statements on the matter since.
Skelton Cline, who has since dubbed himself a ‘social justice advocate’, said he hopes the situation has now warranted a collective commitment from stakeholders that these kinds of things do not happen in the future.
“What I intend to do in the sum total of my life, is to give voice to the suffering,” Skelton Cline said on his show.
When he first mentioned the issue, Skelton Cline had also admonished Immigration officers for not showing enough discretion or kindness in dealing with the matter.
He called for BVIslanders to treat expatriates better, commenting that an occasion could arise when locals would be in another place and would be expecting assistance of some sort for themselves or a family member.
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WELL THE WAY HE IS SMILING , ANYONE WOULD THINK HE JUST SAVED THE WORLD ( HALLELUIAH / YOU SHOULD BE IN HOLLYWOOD
Don’t worry, it’s tricks up his sleeve. All of a sudden he cares about expatriates. Give me a break.
#Jokeroftheyear
Given we are still in a pandemic, shouldn’t they look at a temporary change of this policy where you have to leave and re-enter the territory for this process? Somehow find a temporary alternative to this requirement.
What is the point in them having to leave in the first place? It makes no sense as they will be coming back so soon.
Makes no sense. Once the change is approved, charge a fee which I think will be much more than the departure fee. This is just being spiteful.
This article is absurd. Readers would rather know the true story here as no mother leaves her baby in an airport because some sk**t from immigration says she has to. Shame on you BVI news.
Stupid people makes Stupid rules.
Skelton Cline came out in ardent condemnation of the Immigration policy responsible for the reported separation and urged the portfolio minister to consider removing it; especially at this time when persons were burdened by other issues as a result of the pandemic.
A pandemic foes not change the immigration regulations for employment or entry in any country.
It’s a system of power and control. Immigration and labor work hand in hand to exert control over the expat through a carefully orchestrated program of racism, xenophobia, and unnecessary policies. By making people leave, we add the burden of additional monies in fees, fares, and housing as the expat must travel to a foreign territory and back. Utterly useless and incomprehensible.
And then we separate families. Children from parents, spouses from each other… how callous are we? That is what we have become. A nation of dividers.
Ugh
wow and this is the people every sunday in church! i wonder if they are parying to the devil and not god how can they separate a new born from the mother wow you all really extremely out of order god will punish everyone of you trust me!!
Stop judging if you do not know the full story. Grabbing at any opportunity to make the BVI look bad. A lot of people could not find two pence to hit together before they came to the BVI, yet they continue to bash the BVI at every opportunity most times without checking the facts. All of you ungratefull people God will punish you as well. I do not expect BVI news will print this because it is not bashing the BVI.