by TREVOR YEARWOOD

Between 25 and 30 stranded Africans have answered the call to check in with the Immigration Department for "processing".

But some "remain on the outside", because of concerns including what treatment would be meted out by the authorities.

Co-chairman of the Global Afrikan Congress (GAC), former Government minister Trevor Prescod, yesterday gave the figures on the number of Ghanaians and Nigerians responding to the call.

He said several of these were people the GAC had personally asked to visit the Immigration Department last Monday.

"They have now joined the 34 Ghanaians and Nigerians originally held at (Barbados Defence Force base) Paragon," he told the WEEKEND NATION.

While pointing out that as many as 96 Africans were officially listed as stranded here since February, Prescod called on "all those on the outside" to go to the Immigration Department to be processed.

He said even though there were concerns about restrictions on their movement, they should heed the call to clear the way for their transportation back to Africa, as promised by Government.

He urged Government to immediately launch an investigation into how the Africans became stranded on February 15.

"It makes no sense to launch the investigation after the Africans have returned home, as the Government proposes," he said.

"The Africans are willing to answer any questions about the flight that brought them here and was supposed to take them back home but did not materialise.

"When they return home, they will disperse and it will be difficult to contact all of them."

Nearly 150 people from Nigeria and Ghana arrived here February 1, with a two-week holiday in mind. Some went on to Trinidad and Jamaica.

They were supposed to leave the Caribbean for home February 15, but the plane never came.

Efforts to reach Chief Immigration Officer Gilbert Greaves yesterday for a comment proved unsuccessful.