Border Control – How Much Do They Know?

September 11, 2001 made us realize the continuation of an existing treachery among men, unspoken, but relentless threats to our daily lives and that every single human being on this planet, could be a suspect of deception at any given time, especially when crossing borders.

As a result, Countries all around the world heightened their border securities by enhancing the numbers of security personnel and applied new methods to secure infrastructures; such implementations are without contest, bear logic and give travelers and worldwide citizens a sense of safety.

Before 9/11, people traveled from one country to another, legally and illegally, and Border Patrols were most vigilant for fraudulent documents; passports and visas were the main two documents which underwent intense scrutiny, separating genuine from counterfeit.

Back then, legal and illegal migration held one main purpose, especially to the west; people were trying to cross borders for a better opportunity of life, mainly employment.

After 9/11, illegal migration began to wear a face, suspected of terrorism and only terrorism; thus, security methods went into a frenzy. Security immediately went to being a psychologically studied subject, avoidance results were being certified by so-called professors of security studies and trainings intensified in creating qualified trainers for security officers.

Aided by new technologies, national passports routinely changed without citizens being notified beforehand, some became machine readable, some adapted to a chipped, navigational system and some with computerized authentications embedded within their pages; the sophistication of travel documents has surpassed its imaginable plateau and one would think that borders are now fairly safe and that fake travel documents are 99% detectable instantaneously.

I am a non-European, who has been legally residing in Europe, consistently, for the past nine years. I currently reside in Switzerland, holding an “Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung)”.

An Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung), in Europe, is the equivalent of the infamous Green Card in the United States of America and the immigration rules surrounding the Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) are similar to the rules of the Green Card in the USA.

An Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) allows the holder to legally reside and work in Switzerland and or the state where it was issued and by extension, this documents allows the holder to freely and legally move within all Countries under EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association).

Unlike the green card, this document is a simple two-page booklet, with a photograph on one side and official immigration information on the other side; this document is of paper-like material bearing the holder’s signature, an official stamp from the immigration authority and is encased in a plastic folder. Like the green card, this document is expected to be embedded, if not in all border security databases of the world, at least in all European Border Control systems.

However; this does not seem to be the case, which was proven by my most recent travel.

Despite the increase numbers of security personnel, including immigration officers and airport police, knowledge varied to recognize my Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung).

I recently travelled to Mexico from Zurich via Frankfurt and while entering Germany on my outbound route, the immigration officer at the passport control desk, recognized and approved my document with five seconds and I went on my way.

Exiting Mexico to return home, I encountered a delay, which told me an entire story about the Mexican Immigration System. The Mexicans have become quite complacent with the foreigners, who visit their land and their database has adapted to these foreigners, which are mostly US Nationals, Canadians, British and other national from the Americas.

Any diversion in this flow will creates an immediate confusion; thus, mine did.

Considering that my encountered passport control officer, in Mexico, appeared to be no older than twenty-two years old, I was patient even though I was wondering about her training. After not recognizing my document which accompanied my passport, she conferred her lack of knowledge with her supervisor, who was apparently the same age as her and also did not have the slightest clue to the authenticity of my travel document.

After running around for a while, a verification was somehow made, an apology for the delay was given to me and I was on my way; I was not annoyed, strangely, maybe because I was way too early for my flight or the fact that I narrowed it down to a complacent, Mexican system.

After flying for ten hours, I landed back in Frankfurt and could not wait to catch my connecting flight to Zurich, but my anticipation of a smooth transition hit a bump, when the immigration officer in Frankfurt, Germany, did not recognized my Ausweis B EU/EFTA (Aufenthaltsbewilligung).

After taking it from its case and having difficulty putting it back, he seriously asked “Is it broken?”

As much as I wanted to laugh, I was shocked by his ignorance of the document, but immediately I realized that he had something in common with the two in Mexico; he was just as young.

After a few minutes and with the help from his colleagues, the authenticity of my document was again realized and with another apology for the delay, I was home-bound.

“Outward from Zurich via Frankfurt, the officer I encountered appeared to be older than all three officers whom I encountered on my return journey and this clearly showed that the younger they were, the less they knew.”

The most recent recession has clearly buckled the knees of the world’s economy, resulting in the shortage of cash flow, forcing us to be fiscally creative by doing more with less and although that might be appreciated when applied to some sectors, the sector of border security should not be cheapened; such corner-cutting poses a transparent and deep threat to our livelihood.

Border security officers should be and must be fully trained and possess the ability to recognize a genuine travel document when it is presented, despite its country of origin.

“An acknowledged exercise of expertise, in any profession, offers a silent sense of security equally to a lack of knowledge which concedes insecurity to its clients.” – Ian T. Sebàs

© Ian T. Sebàs 2017

© Ian T. Sebàs

“Are Jamaicans Frighten-Friday?”

Jamaica, to most, may mean an escape to paradise, and Jamaicans, according to a recent survey, are supposedly the World’s Third Coolest People.

And that might just be enough to have some Jamaicans grinning with pride.

But for me, and a majority of Jamaican Citizens, Jamaica and Jamaicans simply mean a Cry For Help which have been ignored and falling on deaf ears for decades.

Recently, social networks lit up with an article and video about some Jamaican construction workers, who were being victimized as modern day slaves, underpaid and abused in their home island of Jamaica, by Chinese (immigrant) employers.

Like a lit candle in the wind, as the story made its debut, it also became historic; in other words, if you were not on your preferred social network sites, in the week when the story was first published, chances are, you missed it and may only again became aware of its existence by this article.

“Jamaica Land We Love” – if you have never heard that line, you are certainly not a Jamaican.

A renowned slogan which, as the years turned, loses its sentimental values because Jamaicans are now questioning the truth of the statement.

‘The Land of Wood and Water’ and ‘Our Island In The Sun’; of course, in that sense, we love Jamaica. “Who wouldn’t love being born or belonging to a paradise, a fruitful sun-kissed land, surrounded by white sand beaches?”

But Jamaicans are the least beneficiaries of this dreamlike reality, which belong to them. And most Jamaicans resent the repetitiveness of a ‘no action’ government, MPs with selfish agendas and the obvious divide of the country.

I, personally, share the blames of these deprivation and abuse equally to Jamaicans and to the Abusers of Jamaicans, whether such Abusers are foreign nationals or elected Jamaican ministers.

Even though literacy and furthering education are highly promoted in the Jamaican culture, it is an established fact that most Jamaicans remain illiterate, and the few who possess intelligence and more worldly knowledge, tend to not share this power, but use it against their fellow citizens, in a manner of being superior.

That being the case, still does not justifies the lack of unity with Jamaicans on issues concerning the welfare of Jamaica and Jamaicans.

The rapid increase of technology (i.e. smart phones and the internet) has given local and international residing Jamaicans the power to make themselves and their issues as prominent as they wish it to be, to the entire world.

But most Jamaicans misuse these tools by poorly prioritizing published articles online.

The average Jamaican, online, will re-tweet, like, re-post and share something of a humorous, entertaining or vain nature, several times, in comparison to a published article regarding victimization to Jamaica and Jamaicans.

In this sense, the ignorance of Jamaicans are clearly seen as an overshadow of hope.

The few that try to virtually scream and shout, in resentment of inhumane treatments, are usually suppressed by millions of useless online posts or the infamous “A suh it guh!” (meaning: That’s just how it is!”)

This is a longstanding ‘roll over and die’ attitude which has crippled the nation for decades; Jamaicans not realizing the power which they actually possess.

Lack of patriotism is one of the leading reasons why Jamaica and Jamaicans continue to be robbed of their worth; those in positions to help their fellow citizens, often opt for the selfish act of ‘selling out’ and fattening their own pockets.

This is a known historical fact, but being crippled by illiteracy, gives this behaviour a license to continue.

More Jamaicans, today, can read and write, in comparison to the years gone by, but the illiteracy which is being mentioned (in this article) is not only of reading and writing, but also of not being aware of their individual democratic rights nor of the constitution which governs both Jamaicans and Jamaica.

A few years ago Jamaicans sat back and let the United Kingdom put them in a corner, by restricting their entry into the UK and added a provision of visa requirement. As usual, Jamaicans just accepted what was given to them without questioning whether or not the UK could legally create such an injunction and still be their Head of State.

And now, these Chinese Immigrants.

Authorities in Jamaica continue to be ‘Frighten-Friday’; a term which most Jamaicans are aware of, meaning when extra privileges are given to someone else based upon their skin colour, power or wealth.

Information received said that the construction workers are being paid an equivalent of One and a half Great Britain Pounds, an hour, and are working twelve-hour shifts, while half of their actual pay checks are being pocketed by someone else.

Jamaicans, in power, may love Jamaica simply because they are the beneficiaries of other Jamaicans’ illiteracy, fear and cowardliness.

The other Jamaicans, who are being victimized and already know that their oppression is aided by their own leaders should take action and read more.

Education is like a skeleton key, it is limitless and can open more doors in Jamaica than just the doors of reading and writing.

So, I say to all Jamaicans, especially local residing Jamaicans, use the internet more wisely, open more books and learn how you can make a positive change to your individual lives and to Jamaica for the benefits of Jamaicans.

© Ian T. Sebàs 2015

The Jamaican Coke Rush

The Jamaican Coke Rush
‘Found Gold and Lost its Sole’

After the abolishment of slavery, and many years of British Government ruling, the Land of Wood and Water, Jamaica, was given ‘independence’ on August 6, 1962 and a new era had began; Shilling and Pence were something of the past and among other things, Jamaica had its own Dollars and Cents, ridding the Union Jack to Jamaica’s own Green, Yellow and Black banner.

Thereafter, Jamaicans apparently had and enjoyed years of personal control over their Country’s future and its directions, whilst making no fuss of the watchful, supervisory presence of the British Government (The Governor General) that lingered.

Jamaican Citizens had no reasons to fuss, considering that they could travel back and forth to the United Kingdom, as they pleased; a valid passport, a ticket and an address in the United Kingdom were the only requirements, and that in itself was obviously fair.

Jamaicans did just that, hassle-free, for decades.

“But, that has changed!”

In 2002, after some 35 years of independence, cocaine, which most Jamaicans had heard about but never actually saw, was washed up on the Jamaican shores a year earlier. Apparently some smugglers from South America, on their way to the United States of America, had to abandon their cargo. Good luck it seemed for some poverty-strickened Jamaicans, who had the fortunate findings.

But Jamaica, who owns its reputation of being violent, was still too clean and cocaine sales would not be profitable in The Land of Wood and Water.

So what happened after, was the turning point of Jamaica’s independence era and or its relationship with the United Kingdom. The poor finders, who did not know the real value of the white substance, sold it to someone who did, but the someone who did (another class of Jamaicans), didn’t have any personal use desire, but knew that people overseas did, and would pay a lot for it; so, they got to work.

And even though the United States of America was closer, it was too much of a hassle (they required visa from Jamaican Nationals and in order to be qualified for a visa, they wanted health checks, school reports, criminal records, your parents info, and other ridiculous requirements, which made most Jamaicans think that the U.S. must be heaven). Besides, the U.S. Dollar valued too little; therefore, if one is going to take a risk, Britain was most ideal, with no visa requirement and the Jamaican viewpoint of, “The Pound is strong!”

So hundreds or maybe even thousands of mules (people smuggling drugs) started to travel to the United Kingdom from Jamaica, in attempt to rid their find, and be financially better off.

But Jamaica which does not produce cocaine, famed and in this case, even proud that marijuana was its guilt, knew that one day all of the cocaine which were washed up on its shores, after the many airport busts and the sales of some which past the ports, the coke barrels were destined to be empty.

Jamaicans are famous for saying, ‘Lightenin nevva strike the same place twice!’ which meant that this finding was a once in a lifetime stroke of luck.

Jamaicans (Independent, JLP, PNP, NDM and the Rastafarians) knew that fact and if the Jamaicans did, so did USA’s, UK’s and the rest of the world’s diplomats, who had heard of The Jamaican Coke Rush.

Some diplomats were waiting it out; after all, people (mules and dealers) were dying, cocaine was being smuggled out of Jamaica successfully and unsuccessfully, but one thing was certain; it was heading to its drought, its end.

Other diplomats could not wait for the Rush to past, and also saw it as a risen opportunity and a loophole to put back shackles on the hands and feet of Jamaicans (keeping them grounded) and stopped their ambitious trend of migrating to the United Kingdom, working their butts off, before returning to Jamaica with their life savings to build big mansions and own their own businesses.

After much debate of whether a grounded action was even legal and millions of sporadic surveys tossed over the internet, trying to find out if they could actually get away with the idea, an amendment was made, making visa mandatory for Jamaican Nationals to travel to the United Kingdom.

The fact that Jamaica has a Governor General, meaning ‘A representative of the state’s sovereign’ (Queen Elizabeth II), made the visa requirement appear as being qualified to enter one’s own home; it would be the same as a resident of a parish in Jamaica, needing a visa to enter another.

Illegal?

No one could say; changes in constitutions are often made, some violating democracy and left uncontested.

Illogical?

Definitely!

‘One’s own home’ being referred to as The Constitutional Monarchy and The Commonwealth Realm which Jamaica shares with the United Kingdom.

Jamaicans being required a visa to enter the United Kingdom, could only be fair, if Jamaica and the United Kingdom did not share the same monarch, and in which event, a Governor General would not serve a valid purpose.

Claiming that the United States of America is indeed united; George W. Bush, Barack Obama,Hillary Clinton and the American people, proudly own and accept Beverly Hills hot shots and the O.G.s (thugs) of Compton, midtown Manhattan and the projects of Harlem as their own USA.

United Kingdom consisting of posh Buckinghamshire and crime-filled Brixton is still the United Kingdom, and while colonized with Jamaica which has Jacks Hill, Tivoli Gardens, Cherry Gardens and Arnette Gardens (Jungle), must realize that these neighbourhoods are what makes Jamaica, Jamaica and remains in union with the UK, sharing the same monarch.

The United Kingdom having Jamaica as one of the Commonwealth’s Realm, was expected, by Jamaicans, to accept them for their fortunate or unfortunate findings, and while the Jamaicans possess liberty, the UK must decide if the price for such colonial residents is worth the purchase.

Bottom line is, a Mother should accept her children, despite their actions and what they turn out to be, and a Mother cannot claim to be a Mother if she abandon her children for any reason.

The fact is, Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning Monarch and Jamaica’s Head of State, officially called “Queen of Jamaica” and it has been said since 1714 that “The Monarch reigns, but does not rule”; an indication reflecting full independence to countries such as Jamaica.

Jamaicans had some expectation of sharing similar freedom as British Citizens, and were not happy with the visa policy.

Some argued that Britain’s Blacks are 90% Jamaican spawn, giving them strong roots there. Others claimed that Jamaican Immigrants are building blocks to modern Britain (being the first bus drivers, postmen and nurses in England, not to mentioned those who suited up for the British Army) and that today most are minimum wage workers; cleaning toilets, vacuuming offices and are forced to ‘run off’.

While some believe that true independence would certainly mandate a visa, but that it would also mean the removal of the Governor General.

Still, Jamaicans remain proud today, admitting that most of the past, were ignorant, but brags that Jamaicans of today aren’t idiotic.

Out of Many, One People.

© Ian T. Sebàs 2014