International disgrace says Kamla

Obama man sent back

(Trinidad Guardian) UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the deportation of Bernie Campbell — the former campaign strategist of Barack Obama — is an international disgrace that will affect diplomatic relations between T&T and the US. Speaking to reporters at La Romaine on Friday, Persad-Bissessar said the deportation showed the double standards of the PNM administration. “Calder Hart is free to come and go while he is under so much suspicion, yet these bona fide men from the Obama team were detained and treated like common criminals,” she exclaimed. Relaying the incident, Persad-Bissessar explained that AKPD’s Campbell was detained at Piarco International Airport on Thursday night.

She noted that Campbell was one of three strategists whom the UNC had hired as consultants to strengthen the election campaign. “He [Campbell] has been here before. He has come in to hold discussions for consultancy with us to strengthen the election campaign. When he returned they took away his passport and detained him all night. They said they would put him on the first plane back to the US,” Persad-Bissessar. Regarding statements that Campbell did not have a work permit to operate in T&T, Persad-Bissessar said: “The law is clear, and any person can come here and work for 30 days without a work permit.