IT WAS LIKE
But that hope of reuniting with Mother Africa's "sisters and brothers" in the Caribbean took a controversial twist – one that has left a trail of confusion and a bitter taste in the mouths of many.
"They say in America, do the crime and do the time. But we have never broken any law and whatever circumstances we are in right now are not of our making."
The words of Caesar Ikeme, minutes after being allowed to leave the Barbados Defence Force's (BDF) Paragon, Christ Church military base yesterday after being held there for more than a week.
He, along with more than 30 other African men and women virtually breathed a sigh of relief as they anxiously awaited arrangements for a flight to return them to their homeland.
They have all proclaimed they came to the Caribbean with good intentions and hopes to begin a harmonious relationship with their long lost "brothers and sisters."
In shock
Ikeme, who is a university student pursuing a degree in sociology and anthropology, described their difficulties as unfortunate.
"The situation we find ourselves in is most unfortunate. Anybody . . . pray to God anybody you know, even your worst enemy, does not end up like the situation we are in," he said.
He, like the others, Nigerian and Ghananian citizens, said they were shocked by some of the treatment they received, while emphasising that never once had they broken any of the immigration laws.
"We were locked up and all that – basically as human beings. We are not animals or pets, 'cause that basically is the situation in which we found ourselves," Ikeme added.
Government has denied allegations that the Africans were mistreated.
Ikeme dismissed reports that some of them were part of a human trafficking exercise, noting that among the group which arrived in Barbados on February 5 was a wide and varied potpurri of artisans, entrepreneurs and intellectuals.
He said despite the trying circumstances which has been confronting them, they were impressed with the hospitality of Barbadian people.
"We all came to Barbados to see our black brothers and sisters in the diaspora, learn the way they think, see the culture they have here, make friends and in turn they (Barbadians) will see what we are like from the motherland."
Another spokesman, journalist broadcaster Nii Okai has mixed emotions about his first trip to the Caribbean.
Okai, who also runs a talk show programme in Ghana, says the misfortunes should serve as a means of trying to mend the ties between Barbados and Africa.
"In every misfortune you find answers. This must not separate us, this must strengthen us," he said.
"I have had a lot of experiences. From the beginning it was very interesting and I have that story. And after my flight didn't come it also developed a different way and I also have that story.
"So I am going to tell both sides of the story when I return home," he said.
* timslinger@nationnews.com