U.S. Ambassador Says Embassy Was Unaware of Justice Persaud Visa Review

The unexplained decision to place High Court Justice Gino Persaud’s United States visa “under review” has moved from an unexpected travel disruption into a wider controversy over transparency, the independence of the judiciary and what information may have triggered Washington’s intervention.

Persaud was stopped from boarding a flight through Miami to Jamaica on September 19, where he was scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association conference. He was reportedly told that his U.S. visa was under review and directed to contact the U.S. Embassy.

Five days later, a critical question remains unanswered: what information triggered the review?