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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

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Immigration officials probe detainee abuse claims By JASMIN BONIMY ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ jasmin@nasguard.com: The Department of Immigration has launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct within its ranks, according to Director of Immigration Jack Thompson. During a press conference at the Department of Immigration on Hawkins Hill yesterday, Thompson responded to claims made in a Tribune article on Monday. The article was based on allegations made by an officer allegedly stationed at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, who claimed to have witnessed physical and sexual abuse at the facility. Thompson said while such allegations have never been brought to the attention of senior management at the department, his team hopes to get to the bottom of the claims that were made. "We are not aware of it, but I'm saying that if any such actions or behavior of misconduct is brought to our attention then we will deal with it," he said. "...We are going to invite staff members who may know of anything to come forward as we have always done. We have staff here [the Hawkins Hill headquarters], we have staff at the Detention Centre and at the airport. We intend to say to staff again that if you know of anything feel free to come to tell us about it." Thompson added that the Detention Centre is checked by senior management on an almost daily basis. He said should the claims be verified, police would be called in. "The department wishes to again state in the strongest terms that under no circumstances does the department condone in the slightest wrongdoing, improper conduct or unethical practices by its officers," he said. "...It must be emphasized that the department has a zero tolerance [approach] toward corruption, wrong practices and unethical conduct. Whenever complaints are reported they will be investigated and due process will follow." Thompson said there are two immigration officers who are under investigation for an incident that occurred prior to his arrival at the department last year. "Normally if the officer is under investigation we would put the officer on administrative leave and we'll investigate. There are two officers who are on administrative leave prior to my coming to office. I am reviewing the files," said Thompson, who refused to go into further details. Claims of corruption have plagued the Department of Immigration for years. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham commented on the issue several months ago. In a candid speech to a group of senior officers of the Department of Immigration, he called for an end to corruption and a lackadaisical, offensive attitude among some officers. When asked how the department addressed concerns raised by the prime minister, Thompson said senior management met with supervisors. "We told them we expect them to man their ship and monitor their ships because they must be vigilant," he said Friday, July 3, 2009