Marooned on paradise holiday isle

Lloyd Bogle: stranded in Jamaica.

A MAN who has lived in Oldham for more than 50 years has been stranded for three months in his native Jamaica - because immigration officials won’t allow him to return to Britain.

Lloyd Bogle (64), from Royton, had two sons, bought his own home and worked close to 40 years in the country before retiring.

He visited Jamaica for a two-week holiday in late September - for the first time since moving to Britain as a 10 year old.

His nightmare began when he arrived at Sangster Airport in Montego Bay to return to England - only to be told by immigration officials they couldn’t allow him to leave.

Mr Bogle said: “I got the shock of my life when I was turned back and told by authorities that I would have to have a visa to leave the country.”

He contacted the British High Commission in Kingston to apply for a visa but it was rejected, prolonging his agony.

Mr Bogle left Jamaica in 1962 - just before the country gained political independence from Britain. He had never applied for British citizenship because he never went out of the UK in all that time.

He applied for a passport last year and backlogs led officials to advise him to renew his Jamaican passport rather than wait for a British one.

After getting the shock of his life at the airport he was left on the verge of being homeless, since he knew no one in Jamaica. Luckily his mother, who also lives in England, put him in touch with an old friend who has helped him.

The British High Commission in Jamaica has now asked United Kingdom immigration to give urgent attention to his case.

Mr Bogle said: “I was really frustrated I felt like I was losing my mind. But this ray of hope has left me feeling encouraged.”