No apology yet from US

UP to yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not yet received an apology from the US government, as had been requested following the detention of two BWIA pilots by FBI agents  two weeks ago in the US.

Captain Anthony Wight and First Officer Rawle Joseph were detained in Miami and New York respectively before Christmas, because their names appeared on a “no fly list” of suspected terrorists. The men returned to Trinidad last week after their names were taken off the list. A source at the Ministry confirmed the Government had not received an apology and seriously doubted whether one would be issued. Communications Officer at the Ministry Cheryl Moses promised to check on the matter for Newsday, but up to presstime was unavailable. Communications manager at BWIA, Clint Williams, said the airline had not received an apology.

US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Dr Roy Austin was quoted over the weekend as saying that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was right to ask for an apology if he felt “he has a right to do that.” However, Austin added he wasn’t aware that the US had done anything that required an apology. Asked if he felt personally that the US had to apologise, the Ambassador said he had no official information on the matter. Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to Washington, Marina Valere, requested apologies from the US Secretary of State.