Jamaican National Claims Police Brutality Following Detention at Belize Airport

A Jamaican national, who was denied entry to the country, is claiming police brutality after Immigration Authorities allegedly forgot to place him on a flight last Friday. On December 30, 24-year-old Christopher McIntyre arrived at the Phillip Goldson to meet his sister-in-law 55-year-old Sheila Williams for a vacation in Belize. Williams, an American national, had invited McIntyre to the country to spend his birthday and believed she had fulfilled all the legal requirements before flying to meet him here. However, when McIntyre landed, he was informed by Immigration officials that he was being denied entry because the hotel reservations were not in his name. And despite Williams, who was at the airport to meet him, attempting to resolve the issue, McIntyre was detained. Williams then retained the services of attorney Norman Rodriguez and was informed Mcintyre had the option of seeking legal action or leaving the country. McIntyre chose the latter and was to leave the country on January 3; however, he instead remains in custody. According to him, Immigration officials forgot to place him on a flight to Panama, where Williams would meet him. He says that after the flight departed Immigration officials informed him that he would be detained again, which led to him shouting. McIntyre claims he was then assaulted by police at the airport and denied the chance to make a police report. Today, we spoke to Rodriquez about the situation and why he says his client will seek legal action against the government.   

Our newsroom also spoke to Williams, who was the partner of Mcintyre’s deceased brother. She says that she was to meet McIntrye, who spent his birthday in police detention, in Panama and had booked a ticket on the flight to accompany him. She explained that the entire situation has been frustrating and financially draining. 

Rodriguez says he is in contact with the Jamaican Consul General and hopes to raise concerns over what he believes is a systematic issue.