Manda's first trip to jamaica sept 2011

[Manda81]

Oh they offered me a lawyer after he radioed for two female officers as at that point he had made up his mind that I was going to have a full "intimate" search I declined the lawyer at the time because I thought that it would have more dramatic effect in the sense that I would look genuinely innocent lol I however, WILL request a lawyer if I am held and interrogated on my second trip at the level I was this past trip. When he was finished and had let me go he asked if I had any questions. I asked him if/when I travel to Jamaica again will this happen? His response was not an answer but a question. Oh so when are you returning? At that point I gave up and left before he could change his mind.

[sunray]

Here is some information regarding your rights at a Canadian airport:

http://blog.torontodefencelawyers.com/tag/strip-search/

[northcoast]

WOW!....guess citizens are really at the mercy of the establishment....not many rights noted there!

[Manda81]

Damn ... so lawyer no lawyer doesnt matter much.

[Marko]

Damn ... so lawyer no lawyer doesnt matter much.

probably why they offer the lawyers to begin with.......
doesn't make much difference nor hurt their cases........
if you did ask for a lawyer.......they would question why you did......
you are on their turf so you gotta play by their rules......just be polite and cooperate .....

the only thing I can think of is if you are in that drug room for more than 7 hours....
the lawyer might be able to get you released after the 7 hour mark if you aren't arrested

[Manda81]

Hmmm their turf it's my home country too dammit! lol I understand there is a job to be done but it just seemed unnecessary at an extent. I will be happy if I'm not stopped I'm just not convinced that I wont have any issues the second time around. There was no talk about detaining me for 7 hours until I "expelled" anything it was straight to cavity searches..

My father was extremely annoyed .. because they sort of used him to feel out my story.

I had mentioned numerous times that my father and nephew of 5 years old were waiting for me to drive me home and that whatever they had to do could they do it so that I didnt have my young nephew waiting on me for hours on hours. I later found out that my very confused and nervous father who thought I didnt even make it on the plane home was called over a PA System in the airport to go to Immigration .. he was then pointed to a door that was an "out" only so he couldnt open it. He knocked. A woman came to the door .. he explained to her that he was called over the PA that he was waiting on his daughter Amanda. The woman told him the plane had just landed but that no one called him over the PA. He insisted that the plane had landed over an hour ago. She closed the door asking him to wait and had him wait 15 minutes on the other side of the door only to come back and tell him "Sorry sir no one called you over the PA system there must have been an error"

I do understand that as an adult there is a privacy issue that they are not legally allowed to tell my father why I'm being held but they could have said anything.. I lost my luggage something to ease his mind?

My father after hearing my story was livid and realized that they must have called him to confirm my story. But he had said that they did this an hour after the plane landed.. So they kept me another 1.5 hours after that.

[sunray]

Manda, they just wanted to see who was waiting to pick you up at the airport, they don't care that a Father is waiting and worrying for his daughter. If you requested a lawyer, they might at least be more careful and respectful in carrying out their duties. Most likely they would have you speak with a lawyer via telephone. (Although you might have been at the airport a little longer).

[Creasemon]

Manda - I have also flown from Montreal as well as Miami to Jamaica and no one even comes close to Pearson , but bear in mind its one of the busiest airports in the Great White North. I was not singled out the year after my strip search so I wonder how long they do flag stuff. The consolation now is when I travel with my wife or when we took my 3 teenage daughters a couple of years back - NO ONE CARES..! It was the Brady Bunch go to the Island in the eyes of Customs ! Single people travelling is the cue to pay extra attention and ask the real skill testing questions. West Jet has direct flights out of Ottawa couple of days a week now , so thats my way to avoid the whole Pearson nightmare.

[Gabrielle]

Hey Creasemon.....yes finally Ottawa has direct flights to Montego Bay but I think it is only for peak season.....I had to fly out of Toronto in August and in May when I went back to the island.....butfor my December trip: direct flight out of Ottawa ... yippee!

[Creasemon]

Gabrielle - You are going for 4 months..?? VERY NICE..Yeah you have to hunt a little bit to find the right flights - We will leave on a friday and come back on a Saturday - Direct. I used to drive to Montreal and catch a flight out with Sunwing - Nice big seats - Pretty good Meal & booze included in the price and free movies. Wish they did more charters from Ottawa , but you go where the price and convenience is.And when we can leave here at 06:00 amd be in Mo bay at 10:30..No more Toronto leg for me..!