Scores of undocumented Indian nationals who arrived to Jamaica by a chartered flight on Friday, May 3, are set to depart the island today, May 6.

Some 218 Indians are set to depart the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston after they were denied entry by immigration authorities. This after they were not able to provide the necessary documentation, such as a passenger manifest, ahead of arrival.

The flight is suspected to be a part of a smuggling operation destined for Nicaragua and Canada.

The group was transported to Jamaica by an Airbus A-30 aircraft reportedly registered in Germany.

Shadow Minister on Foreign Affairs Angela Brown Burke has since called on the Government to provide answers regarding the chartered flight that recently landed in Jamaica in breach of applicable immigration and customs protocols.

“The public will recall that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Jamaicans were denied entry into Jamaica, forced to wait in limbo on cruise ships, and generally subjected to strict protocols; and, more recently, Haitians have been repeatedly refused entry into Jamaica and summarily returned to war-torn Haiti. The difference in treatment of the passengers on this flight is stark, and demands answers,” Brown Burke said.

She is demanding the following answers:

• The origin, destination and apparent purpose of the flight;
• ⁠The identity of the individuals or organizations responsible for chartering the flight
• Why the flight was allowed to land in Jamaica without proper clearance
• Why the passengers were allowed to disembark and permitted to enter Jamaica
• Why standard immigration and customs procedures were not followed in this matter
• ⁠The whereabouts of the 218 persons allegedly on board, and what is to be done about their continued presence in Jamaica
• What measures are being taken by the JCF to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the public