Barbados -- 153 Ghanaians and Nigerians arrived in Barbados on 1 February 2008 aboard the inaugural and historic charter flight from Ghana.

But when the Ghana International Airlines(GIA) return flight on February 15th did not show up, the passengers were left stranded on this Caribbean island and told that the next flight would come on February 29th. Running out of money, several of them sought what work they could find here to support themselves, and ended up working (illegally) as labourers on a construction site. Over the past few days they have asked the Barbados government for work permits to allow them to support themselves while here.

February 29th came and again no flight from GIA showed up.

Until that happens, our West African visitors will continue to receive the sympathy and assistance of Barbadians whom they met after arriving here. Although the circumstances of their overdue stay in Barbados remain somewhat of a mystery, Barbadians have shown that as Caribbean people of mostly West African descent we are our brother's keeper.

See below an update on the situation as released by the government of Barbados through the Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport.

Officials in Ghana have been noticeably silent on this matter.

Government working to resolve issue of stranded visitors from Ghana

Officials of the [Barbados] Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport have stated that Government has been working to ensure that stranded visitors from Ghana can be successfully returned to their homes.

"Ever since it has been brought to their attention that a number of persons entering Barbados from Ghana on February 1, 2008 for a two-week stay had been stranded here due to a break-down of private tour arrangements, Government has intervened and is actively seeking ways to facilitate their repatriation. The visit was organised through private sector arrangements by a Ghana tour company using a Barbadian counterpart as ground handler. It was not initiated by any Government entity" the statement insisted.

The Ministry also gave an update of the situation. "The first indication received by the Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport of any intention to operate a direct charter service from Ghana to Barbados, was an e-mailed application dated January 17, 2008, from Ghana International Airlines Ltd. (in association with Season's Tours and Travel, a company certified by the Ghana Tourist Board), to permit a charter tour operation into Barbados on January 20, 2008 and depart the next day. Having received the application, the Ministry queried the actual period of the tour since no return date had been given. On January 28, a revised application was received from Ghana Airlines, stating in part that "the revised dates were now January 31-February 1, 2008 with a subsequent service on February 15 to return passengers." On January 29, Ghana Airlines advised the Ministry that they were expecting approximately 160 passengers into Barbados on January 31, of which 40 would be proceeding to other Caribbean countries, via alternative arrangements, and the remaining 120 would be returning to Ghana on the flight on February 15, 2008.

It was also stated that the charter in question has yet to return to the island. "Based on the exchanges with Ghana Airlines and the involvement of a tour operator certified by the Ghana Tourist Board, there was every confidence that the charter would return to Barbados for the passengers on February 15, as indicated. A permit for the charter was therefore issued to Ghana International Airlines Ltd. The charter service, for whatever reasons, has not returned. According to records of the Immigration Department, 153 passengers were landed in Barbados from the Ghana Airlines flight, including those going onto other Caribbean countries. Ninety-six persons remained in Barbados. The Ministry is in touch with Ghana Airlines and has tried to prompt urgent action from the Ghana Tourist Board on this matter. The local ground handling agency for Seasons' Travel and Tours has also been proactive in these efforts. Government, recognising the plight of these persons stranded due to unfortunate circumstances, is taking urgent steps through diplomatic channels to bring this consular emergency to the attention of the High Commission of Ghana and will work with that Government towards speedy repatriation of its stranded nationals".