Stranded Ghanaian businessman and politician Frank Emmanuel Duncan said the only thing keeping him in Barbados was his failure to get a transit visa.

It was possible to get one from the British High Commission, allowing him to transit Britain on his way home, but the Barbados authorities first had to sort out his passport, he explained.

With the passport not carrying any extension of his stay in Barbados beyond February 15 and no explanation of why he overstayed, it was unlikely that the High Commission would provide the travel document, he told the DAILY NATION.

It was also unlikely that immigration officers anywhere would clear his travel, he said.

Duncan has urged the local authorities to help him, "the same way that in Trinidad they helped other Ghanaians to get transit visas to travel through Holland on their way
back home".

Duncan arrived in Barbados February 1 with more than 100 Ghanaian and Nigerian holiday-makers and left the next day for Trinidad. He returned to Barbados February 14 for the return flight to Ghana. However, the flight never materialised.

Duncan said he was prepared to pay his way to return home the moment a flight could be arranged and that he had no intention of staying in Barbados a day longer than was necessary.

"I cannot go and beg on the streets," he remarked. "I cannot go and do construction work. I want to go home and see my children. I have seven children of my own and two adopted children.

"They need me. My businesses need me.
My party needs my support. We are on
the campaign trail
for an election and here I am in Barbados. I am asking the people
of Barbados, I am
asking the Government – help us to go home." (TY)