Crystal Harrison, Star Writer

A 36-year-old Bahamian radio personality is extremely upset because he was refused entry into Jamaica after spending more than US$3,000 (J$261,000) to come for the Negril party weekend.

What makes Christopher Wells even more upset is he claims he was refused entry because the authorities mistook him for someone else with the same name and date of birth.

That person, Wells said, was apparently arrested in 2010 for drugs smuggling.

"I spent over US$3,000 to go to Jamaica, between paying for my ticket and paying for my all-inclusive hotel. What eventually happened was that I had to book a US$1,200 (J$104,400) ticket to fly out the next day," Wells said.

He said this took place after he arrived in the island on July 29. Wells said that he was bombarded with a series of questions from immigration officials at the Sangster International Airport .

"The first question I was asked by the immigration officer was, when was the last time I was in Jamaica and I told the immigration officer November or December 2009 and immediately he said that is not true," Wells said.

He further claimed that, "He said to me that I am not telling the truth because he has information showing my full name and date of birth being the person that was on a boat with four other people in 2010 who were arrested by the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) for drugs."

The Bahamian said that apart from telling him that someone using his name and date of birth was arrested in the island in 2010 for drugs, the immigration officer could not provide any further details.

fingerprints

"The immigration officer could not show me a picture of this person or he didn't have any fingerprints. He eventually told me that there is nothing he can do but to deny me entry into the island," Wells said.

He said that he was kept in a holding cell on the floor before being sent back to The Bahamas.

Wells further explained that this is not his first visit to Jamaica but it was the first time he has experienced something like this.

"I do a morning show on 100Jamz FM in Nassau, Bahamas, and this experience was extremely embarrassing and humiliating as I was placed in handcuffs. I have to get to the bottom of this. It has been more than two weeks now and I am not getting any response out of Jamaica. I need to know who is this person, what do they have to prove that I was in Jamaica in 2010 and where is this person now," Wells said.

When THE STAR contacted Leighton Wilson, the director of immigration services at The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, he said that he couldn't comment on the specifics of Wells' case.

According to Wilson, a list of the persons who are denied entry into the island is normally sent to the immigration department, however, he would have to do an investigation before speaking on the specifics in Wells' matter.

"We will have to verify if such a case occurred, but normally there is no obligation to explain. The only person you cannot refuse entry into the island is a national," Wilson explained.

Wilson further reasoned, "There will always be the possibility that someone else has the same date of birth and/or name. If he has been refused he might have to apply to the Ministry of National Security for permission to enter the country."