It appears that the Jamaican Government paid over US$36,000 (J$4.03 million) to hire a private jet to deport Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr to Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.
According to the Trinidad Express newspaper, quoting National Security Minister, Gary Griffith, Jamaica, through Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner, Iva Gloudon, had asked him to foot the bill.
However, Griffith said he turned down the request.
“I was very clear that Trinidad and Tobago will not bear the costs of that private flight,” Griffith said.
It now appears that the bill was paid by the Jamaican Government.
Meanwhile, Griffith said it was only at the time of the request that the Trinidad and Tobago authorities were knowing about the decision to deport Abu Bakr.
The minister also denied that his Ministry supplied any information to the Jamaican authorities.
In the meantime, he said he respected Jamaica’s decision and had no intention of calling the move irresponsible or anti-CARICOM.
“You have to understand that national security trumps all,” he said.
The Jamaican Government had cited national security as the reason for denying Abu Bakr landing rights.
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