McAllister Eugene Hanchell, a former Government Minister under the Progressive National Party (PNP) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was
detained for about an hour and searched, at the Miami International Airport last Thursday May 5, 2011. He was not arrested.
Hanchell, who is also known as Piper, said airport authorities told him they had reports that he was travelling with more than $10,000.
In a press release to RTC, Hanchell said he departed Providenciales on May 5th on an American Airlines flight en-route to Norfolk, VA, for the
purposes of visiting his oldest son Fabian Hanchell, listed in the Navy of the United States of America before his 6 month deployment to defend his
great Country, USA.
He noted that upon his arrival, two (2) uniformed male United States Border Control Officers were checking each passenger's passport upon
disembarkation from AA flight no. 1594. When I presented his documentation he was asked to accompany the officers.
“During my walk to be processed at Immigration I noticed two (2) non-uniformed officers a male and female all wearing identification badges
joining us.
Immediately, after I was processed through Immigration accompanied by four (4) officers we walked downstairs where I was processed at Customs. There
I asked what this was all about, after travelling to the United States of America for more than half of my life this process is unusual,” Hanchell
said.
The former PNP Minister said he was told by the officers that that they were advised from Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands that he
was suspected of taking $10,000.00 or more concealed in his carry-on luggage and was asked if he had ever taken that amount of cash or currency
otherwise into the United States of America.
“My reply was no. I was asked to take everything out of my pockets, which was approximately $1,500.00 in cash, a telephone, a pen and a credit card
holder.
An officer began to search my bag and halfway through the search he advised me that I can put the cash in my pockets and leave the remaining
items and proceed with the other officers to a room inside the general customs area for a few questions.
I replied to the officers that I reserve my right to be present while my bag is being searched. They continued the search in my presence and then
closed the bag. I was asked if my telephone is unlocked, I said yes. Then they kept my telephone, Credit Card holder and Travel Itinerary and
proceeded to a room within the general customs area,” Hanchell related.
He said he was asked the same questions as mentioned above, (and) shortly thereafter was told to remain in the room while they processed this
information. “They later returned to the room to inform me that they made a few phone calls and were waiting to hear from their sources. Shortly
thereafter they returned for a second time and said that I checked out and that I was free to go and good luck to my son in the US NAVY. My reply to
them was to tell the BRITISH TO GET OFF MY BACK!” Hanchell added.
Hanchell said the officer said they could not reveal their source but smiled at him. “Here I took the opportunity to tell the Officers that it
is public knowledge that I am former member of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, where there was a public commission of inquiry into
allegations of Corruption commissioned by one white retired British Judge who further recommended a Criminal Investigation which is currently
ongoing.
I was told that whenever I travel into the USA again I may be subjected to the same checks. I offered my Telephone number and asked for the officers
number in return so that I can inform them myself of my travels to the USA because I have nothing to hide. The officer told me not to worry because
they will know when I am travelling,” he said.
Hanchell said the entire ordeal took no more than one (1) hour and never at any time was he arrested. He said he flew to Virginia Beach, VA as
scheduled and is having a wonderful time with his oldest son.
The former PNP Minister said his reason for issuing release is first and foremost for the sake of completeness because we live in a culture of
rumors and secondly, to mainly expose the British occupation for their harassment in the Turks and Caicos Islands towards Turks and Caicos
Islanders and their continuous attempt to embarrass us all.
Hanchell in his press release said the British continues to use former elected Politicians as their conduit. “I for one will not be used and will
expose them every opportunity I have. This is not the first time they have tried to intimidate me, they have intervened the banking credit processes
and prejudice the Physical Planning Board Process as it relates to me.
However I remain confident and not afraid. I am a victim of Political exploitation by Britain in a modern day coup d'état, re-colonizing and
marginalizing of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people for their now obvious occupation and control of our Country,” said the former Minister.
