Say no to US visas

THE EDITOR: Why are we amazed and surprised by the American authorities’ mistreatment of our decent fellow Trinidadian citizens; their totalitarian tactics, under the guise of “homeland security.” We accept their mistreatment and we rush back for more. The mistreatment of decent citizens like Kelly Jobity, Angela Austin and Nasma Mohammed by the American immigration authorities, chained like animals, should be appalling to us all. The deportation of these Trinidadian citizens is not in question, but their mistreatment is. We have heard of these recent victims but many, many more of our decent citizens have endured such mistreatment by the American authorities; treated like criminals and terrorists.

The American authorities do not care who they mistreat, for “they” are America and we are “third world.” Let us mistreat their citizens as they mistreat ours and the American authorities would probably take a heavy handed approach to the matter. What do we expect from a regime that wages war on countries that cannot defend themselves; murder innocent citizens and call it “collateral damage.” When people of the invaded country defend themselves they are labeled by America as “illegals;” the audacity of it all. It seems that my fellow citizens have been brainwashed by the American propaganda machine into believing that America is this great land of opportunity. Now we have to pay about quadruple the cost just applying for a visa. A visa that you may not get and no money refunded if you do not get the visa.

This is ridiculous. Trinidadians should protest and hit where it will hurt them the most, in their wallet. Trinidadians should not apply for visas for a week, even a month to protest these mistreatments by the American authorities and the big jump in the monies having to pay just to apply for a visa to travel. This is our country and we have the power, not them. They are just renting space in our country. The only God the American authorities believe in is the one written on their money. So my fellow Trinidadians stand up for your rights, here at home and abroad.

JOHN GASKIN
Port-of-Spain