Haitian Volleyball Team Delayed At Airport; Loses To Jamaica

The Haitian volleyball team arrived at the Norman Maley International Airport yesterday at approximately 10 a.m., but Jamaican immigration officials discovered they did not have the requisite visa documents, and thus they were refused entry into the country. Jamaica Volleyball Association (JVA) officials were notified, and after a letter was sent to Jamaica’s Passport, Immigration and Citizenship office, the visa documentation process for the players was expedited and the visitors were eventually allowed outside the confines of the airport at approximately 7 p.m.

As a result of this 9 hour immigration glitch, the FIVB World Championship Group D qualifying tournament at the National Indoor Sports Centre started two hours late. The opening game between St. Lucia and the Bahamas started at 7:30 (the time that had been slated for the Jamaica/Haiti game) last night, long after its scheduled 5 o’clock start.

Eventually when the Jamaica / Haiti game got underway, Jamaica went on to do a straight set 3-0 annihilation of the Haitians. Jamaica won the sets 25-16, 25-13, 25-20.