BYE BYE BARBADOS: some of the Ghanaians waving goodbye as they were taken from Paragon to the Grantley Adams International Airport last night.

by BARRY ALLEYNE

THE SAGA that had captured the imagination and compassion of Barbadians for almost two months ended just after 7 p.m. last night when 86 West Africans were repatriated to their homelands.

And the cost to taxpayers will be BDS$600 000.

The Government however is expected to recoup half that amount from the Government of Ghana for the Africans who had been stranded in Barbados from February 15 when their chartered flight back to Accra, the country's capital, never materialised.

The Africans, who had arrived in Barbados for a cultural two-week visit on February 1, left on a specially chartered 737 (800) Airbus from Miami Air International, on a direct flight to Accra, apart from a refuelling stop.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Senator Maxine McClean, revealed yesterday at a Press conference that seven Africans remained in Barbados, and if they did not present themselves to the Immigration Department in Bridgetown, they would be deemed as illegal immigrants, and be subject to the laws of Barbados regarding their status.

Eight from Trinidad

Of the 86 who boarded the plane last night, eight were brought in from Trinidad and Tobago for the special flight home.

According to McClean, the ones who left on the flight last night have not been deported, and their status has been regularised and that will be reflected in their travel documents.

She said that should any of them wish to re-enter Barbados, they could, once the requirements of the Immigration Department were met upon arrival.

The 86 were removed from their temporary home at the Barbados Defence Force base at Paragon under a veil of secrecy yesterday, about an hour after the chartered flight from Miami touched down at the Grantley Adams International Airport just after 5 p.m.

"Government was also mindful of the fact that all passengers needed to be in one location to facilitate the travel arrangements," McClean said at the specially arranged Press conference held yesterday evening at Government Headquarters on Bay Street.

Acting Attorney-General Michael Lashley, who also attended the conference, revealed Government intended to quickly review the Immigration Act so as to reduce the risk of such situations recurring.

"These have been very unfortunate circumstances, and it has moved Government to further consider the question of managed migration right across the board," McClean added.

She said the Government would also be reviewing its visa arrangements, not just for the citizens of West African nations, but in a general sense.

Of the 86 who left last night, 54 males and five females were from Ghana, and 24 males and three females were from Nigeria. The eight males who were transported from Trinidad were also Ghanaians.

McClean revealed the flight was chartered after successful talks between the Foreign Ministry of Ghana and of Barbados. (BA)