Mass Rupert’s anger toward the incident was greatly heightened by the thoughtless response of Foreign Minister, Maxine McClean. It was totally undiplomatic, arrogant, and lacked a level of basic sophistication that one would expect of a government minister, what says a government’s chief diplomat.

Personally, though, what is even more disturbing for me is the fact that I have had decades of very warm friendship with many Barbadians, some of whom double back as professional colleagues. And, while we struggle to put a good face forward on the matter, not wanting to hurt each other feelings, we feel uncomfortable talking about it.

Yet, despite the hurt I still feel, and as I have said elsewhere, the time has now come for all sides to cool the rhetoric and try not to do further harm to a potentially detrimental situation. Neither of our two countries has anything to gain from a falling out, and it should not happen. Consequently, reconciliation and bridge building must now begin and cannot delay.

For his part, Mass Rupert will,  this very week, start reaching out to Bajans and counsel others of my country-persons to do the same. Since much have already been said about the wrongness of what has happened, we need not further repeat the hurt, but now move ahead so that real healing can begin.

What the ultimate step to remedy the situation will be has to come from others, but the rest of us need not add further bile, venom, or inflammatory rhetoric to this potential volcano.

Obviously Mr. Witter is going to report his ‘perceptions’ with a slant towards those that gave him the task of looking into the matter, namely the Jamaican government.  He expressed that he ‘sensed a motion of hostility’ in Ms. McClean’s words.  That tells us right there that HE is also making premature judgments about Ms. McClean, as though he could interpret her thoughts.  Then, the other evidence he used to show Ms. McClean’s
‘perceived’ guilt of making a premature judgment about the incident was in her reference to the ‘piece of correspondence’ Ms. McClean referenced. 
Mr. Witter would have to employ the help of a Psychologist to prove that that phrase (a piece of correspondence) smacks of contempt, and also employ the help of an English Language scholar to convince me that the same phrase is grammatically incorrect when used diplomatically, and it is meant to demean at the highest level. 
He’s just grasping at straws to make a strong argument to people who don’t know any better.  He should be included with those he said should be subject to cross-examination to prove that He too is not biased.

Mr. Witter attitude is a typical Jamaican attitude. Once a Jamaican is involved in any situation right or wrong Jamaicans will rally around the person. Mr. Witter refer to Minister McClean as being reckless, but he could still say that Mr.Benn could find himself in an awkward position. I believe Mr. Benn is a man of the highest integrity , and well skilled in ascertaining the truth. From reading Mr.Witter comments it says a whole lot about Jamaica position. I do believe the Government of Barbados would have done some sort of investigation before Senator McClean would have made her statement. I hope that the Government of Barbados and Senator McClean will stand their ground on this matter, and don’t be bullied by Jamaica or anyone else. We all need to pay very close attention to what the learned PROF. Neville Duncan had to say yesterday.

Dear Ms. Minister:
Your statement recently on the accusation by Ms. Myrie on her allegation of being violated in a sexually by your customs, is a bit premature. Did you have all the facts at hand to make that statement? The answer is clearly no, since it has been revealed that you did not interview the complainant. Clearly you have rushed to judgment on this sensitive and serious matter.

Madame Minister, you cannot be an fair arbiter of the facts. With that said, you should do the right thing, and resign your portfolio.
Goodbye.

Why is there so much rhetoric and posturing on this matter?  It seems to me that Ms. Mclean is not the issue here.  Neither is her statement that the allegations are baseless.  Every day someone makes allegations and those allegations are readily denied.  If the denial of the allegations is injurious and reckless how should one deem the result to the reputation and integrity of Barbados and Barbadians, and may I dare say Jamaica and Jamaicans, if these allegations turn out to be unfounded?  Now if the Jamaican authorities want to address this alleged matter in a professional, effective and cooperative manner with the Barbadian authorities then no problem.  But to make unnecessary attacks against certain people and the country of Barbados really isn’t going to get us any closer to the “truth” of this issue.

We can and we must do much better. There have been alot of debate regarding health issues. Her is one suggestion. Police, Immigration or Custom Officers are not medically trained. There is usually a nurse present in the airport. Why not include the Nursing profession in the searches. In the presence of either Police or Customs Officer or both, the Nurse conducts the search with the use of whichever piece of appropriate sterilised equipment namely a speculum, tongs, forceps and perhaps a search light if necessary (commom practice similar to preparation for a papsmear). This should eliminate health risks,  ambiguity of role, allegations of abuse or any other unprofessional conduct. To cover all aspects of threats audio taping shoula also be in order. This cannot cost a million dollars more and another year to be budgeted in the House.