Legal opinion sought in Immigration sick-out

Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon’s vow that “heads will roll” as a result of the sick-out action by Immigration officers at Piarco Airport on November 12 last year has not yet materialised. This is said to be because the Immigration Department is awaiting a legal opinion before taking action.

Yesterday Dillon said any action must be done according to process and Permanent Secretary Vel Lewis is awaiting the legal opinion.

Yesterday Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, who was asked by the Prime Minister to provide the legal opinion, said: “I have received an initial opinion and have requested a further opinion on certain issues that have arisen. I expect to be able to advise the PM and the Ministry of National Security very shortly.”

On November 12 a sick-out at the airport resulted in, what was described as, chaos with passengers having to wait for up to four hours after landing because one shift of 15 immigration officers failed to turn up to work.