A Bermudian woman claiming to be stranded at Istanbul Airport [IST] in Istanbul, Turkey en-route from Nigeria to Bermuda has sent out a plea for help in getting home, after being purportedly prevented from boarding a flight to Boston.
Dr Nekia Walker, a specialist in the fields of oriental medicine and metaphysical science, in a Facebook video voices her frustration in dealing with authorities in the largely Islamic nation, with immigration officials said to have insisted on her having a special visa to travel to the United States, when such is not the case.
Even the securing of valid documention from the US consulate in Bermuda clearing the woman to travel through America failed to move Turkish officials toard allowing her departure, creating a dedsperate situation for the woman.
“This is what a Bermudan looks like when stranded in Istanbul International Airport,” began the posted video. “I went to board my connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey to Boston and security stopped me at the gate.
“They use security at the gate here in Turkey and they said that I need a visa to travel to the US, to which I told them that I did not.
“So, when they ran Bermuda through the system it came up as Bermuda being connected to the UK and those from UK do need a visa, so they told me to get in touch with the embassy, which I did.
“The US embassy [consulate] in Bermuda gave me the legal document to say that Bermudians do not need a visa to travel to or through the US (but) they denied the document.
“They demanded that border control for my connecting flight from Boston contact them to say that they would be responsible for their giving me passage, which border control does not do or have such authority.
“However, they did provide me a number for security here to call them directly so that they could tell them over the phone that Bermudians do not need a visa to travel to the US and to let me pass, but they refused the call.”
Walker added how the situation turned into one where Turkish officials accused her of having used more than one passport and trying to enter the US for the first time, while her travel documents indicate multiple prior visits to the US, where she attended school and lived much of her life.
The woman offered thanks to Immingration Minister, police Sergeant Richardson and a high ranking immigration officer, who she said were working diligently to get safe passage back to Bermuda. Following three-month excusion to the me back home from the west Africa nation.
TNN has spoken with Minister Hayward, who noted that all parties were involved in communications, attempting to sort out the matter.
“All parties are at present working to ensure an amicable solution to have the young lady brought home sooner rather than later,” related Minister Haywood.
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