Jamaican businessman learns of visa cancellation at airport without warning
The following is a note posted by Wayne Chen, renowned businessman who found out about the cancellation of his visa at the airport, when he tried to board an American Airlines flight.
The points are sharp, but lingering questions many.
Cancellation of my U.S. Visa
Today at 13:35
26 February 2010
Dear Friends,
On 24 February 2010, as I was about to board a flight to Miami en route to Los Angeles with my family, I was informed by the American Airlines supervisor on duty that they had received a call from Customs and Border Protection in the U.S., where they were informed that my United States visa had been revoked, and I was not to be allowed to travel.
That afternoon, my wife, Diana Thorburn Chen, had a telephone conversation with the U.S. Consul General in Jamaica, David Stone, where she was told that the U.S. State Department had indeed revoked the visa in late January, and that there was no reason given for the revocation. Mr. Stone informed her that he would investigate the matter further, but advised that it was unlikely he would get any more information beyond advising that I could reapply for a visa if I so wished.
Later that day I telephoned Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Hon. Anthony Johnson, who had no knowledge of the matter. I requested that he enquire from the U.S. Government the reason for cancelling my visa without notice or reason.
On the morning of 25 February 2010 I met with Prime Minister Hon. Bruce Golding to discuss the incident. He telephoned Hon. Kenneth Baugh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and asked him to meet with the U.S. Charge D’ Affaires, Isaiah Parnell, the highest-ranking American diplomat in Jamaica as no U.S. ambassador has yet been appointed. They met later in the day but he also indicated that they had no information at the embassy as to the reason for my visa’s cancellation but promised to contact the State Department to get more information.
It is highly unusual for the U.S. to have taken this action without first notifying the Jamaican Government.
I have travelled to the U.S. unimpeded for over three decades, for business and pleasure. I was last in the U.S. in mid-January 2010 as my infant son received medical attention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The purpose of this aborted trip was to attend the final meeting of the Coca Cola Latin America Retail Research Council, on which I have served for four years.
I have been a public figure in Jamaica for two decades. My record as a public servant is unblemished. I currently serve as Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation, the National Land Agency, the Land Administration and Management Programme, and the National Gallery of Jamaica. I also serve as a director on the board of the National Commercial Bank, Chairman of NCB Insurance Company Limited, Chairman of NCB Cayman, and Chairman of CVM Television. I am the President of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation. This is in addition to my own businesses.
This issue has already become a headline in most of our major news media, and I have been bombarded with questions as to what could have caused this. Additionally, there is a great deal of public speculation, much of it with negative implications for my reputation.
I can state unequivocally that I have not engaged in any activity past or present, in Jamaica or overseas that would lead the U.S. to act in this way.
As it now stands, the Jamaican Government is actively following up with the U.S. Government to get a reason for their course of action and I have personally written to the Charge D’ Affaires requesting a restoration of my U.S. visa.
I would like to thank the numerous persons, local and overseas, who have called to express their sympathy and offer support and you can be assured that I will be tirelessly pursuing all means available to have this matter resolved.
Yours truly,
Wayne Chen
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The US doesn’t owe the Jamaican Government nor U any reason…..no matter who U call ….Can I enter your home without a invitation? I can call U godfather… thats no help for mi to gain access…..
Sad. They said they would make the lives of Jamaicans hard – It was not just a threat. Could this be ‘the good haffi suffer for the bad’ syndrome? Will be good when humans become human again.
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Why do everone in the worl feel like, they have some go given rights in america, so whats wrong with stay your a– in your own country like we americans do, you want to come and make all your money here, eg. Jamican entertainers come and make all their money here then take it out tax free, and then curse america, we don’t need any of then here kartel, bounty, beenie buju, none of them, when jay z sell out msg, we get taxes and jobs, when these reggae dude come the money leaves the us tax free the next day, so you can keep the international criminal DUDUS that the jamaican government is protecting and stay in jamaica with him. All your visitors, business and entertainers visa should be cancelled. If you want to make money here an visit you should follow our rules, as the old saying goes”when in rome do as the romans do”
he should be happy that he knewin jamaica before he got here and he wasn’t sent back from the US when he landed, Can i come to your house and bully my way in, he is a funnny dude, he wants an explanation.
racism is repeating itself towards jamaican and all other black nation…sean they do owe us alot every thing they got was taken from Africa and black people ingeneral…by reading your blog i know you are one of our opponent….
hey..bwoy anthony…shut yuh mouth…how does america becomes your country….yuh must be a native American….buju bantan,bounty killer,beenie, kartel and the rest of the jamaican entertainers can do and say anything they want and everywhere. we dont care..tax free yes…after all the slavery they put our ancestors through to make up america and turn it into so called first world… we need our money that is used to build those banks….when we go to rome we do as the JAMAICANS DO… WE ARE A STRONG NATION……..
No Jamicans don’t run any other country other than jamaica, u don’t thats y the visa were cancelled and shows are cancelled all through europe and the US and the artist has to sign contracts that they will not perform any of their gay hatred music, they need to only sing that ah dem yard where it’s acceptable, so you are definately wrong, when jamaicans are in the US and the UK they now have to abide by the US and UK rules, That y trooper got his visa cancel for posting that video with his gun and preaching hatred, had he been american he would have been in jail like lil wayne, so I guess jamicans so rule.lol.
but on a serious note I think Jamaican should boycott the US and show US that we can’t survive without Jamicans.
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this is foolishness america a go with, they think they rule the world. why the good have to suffer for the bad, we are all human plus it not all jamaican people know coke. so what are they trying to prove.