Natalia Iakhina
Google
I would like to express my deep dissatisfaction with the treatment I received as a passenger at Nassau International Airport (Bahamas) upon my arrival on a flight from Cuba in July 2023. I am a citizen of the Russian Federation.
Upon arrival, all passengers who did not hold American or Bahamian passports (including Russian, Japanese, and other foreign nationals) were not allowed to proceed through the standard passport control. Instead, we were directed to a separate office located past the immigration booths, where we were told to wait for a certain supervisor. Eventually, a woman — presumably an immigration or law enforcement officer — arrived.
From the very beginning, she spoke to us in a loud, aggressive, and disrespectful tone — not firm professionalism, but outright shouting. She demanded our passports and return tickets. She insisted that everyone show their hotel reservations and personally called the hotels to verify the bookings.
In my specific case, she required me to:
• Show my bank account balance!!!!
• Present the amount of cash I had on me;
• Take out my personal jewelry and subjected it to visual inspection.
All of this occurred in front of other passengers, without any explanation or respectful treatment.
The most outrageous moment came when she told me to buy a ticket to Russia. I explained that I don’t live in Russia and currently reside in Turkey. She responded, “What is Turkey?” I explained that it is a country located near Greece, to which she replied, “Then buy a ticket to Greece.”
The fact that an airport official does not know where Turkey is located is shocking and demonstrates a lack of basic education and professional training.
also believe this procedure is not an isolated incident. While waiting, I spoke with other passengers who frequently travel to the Bahamas, and several of them mentioned that they had experienced similar treatment on previous trips. This suggests that such practices are systemic and recurring, rather than a one-time mistake.
For this reason, I respectfully urge the airport administration and relevant authorities to pay close attention to what is happening at Nassau International Airport, particularly at the international arrivals section. The current approach to handling foreign visitors — especially those who are not from the U.S. or the Bahamas — raises serious concerns about discrimination, lack of professionalism, and violations of basic human dignity.
Travelers from all over the world should feel welcomed and treated fairly upon arrival, not intimidated or humiliated.
