Prime Minister Perry Christie had to take off his shoes and go through a homeland security check in his socks while leaving the United States for the Bahamas last week.
It was the second time in eight months that a major Bahamian figure had been subjected to a US airport check following Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont’s humiliation last October.
The embarrassing incident happened after Mr. Christie attended a Baptist revival meeting in North Carolina involving Bishop Neil Ellis.
Christie was apparently late in notifying US authorities about his travel plans from Nassau to North Carolina.
Also, on his way home, Mr. Christie reportedly made several changes to his travel plans. In addition, his office was late in notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his itinerary.
The US government generally requires a 72 hours notice of a prime minister’s travel plans. This is done by the PM’s office notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which contacts the US Embassy, which notifies Washington.
Source: The Tribune
