Postmedia News
Tom Blackwell
Brittney Wojcik-Harrison is one of seven passengers and five Pivot Airlines crew members bound for Toronto on a chartered plane from Punta Cana on April 5. Photo: GoFundMe
Content of the article
The family of a Calgary woman who was detained in the Dominican Republic seven months ago says they’re overjoyed to hear her ordeal may finally be over.
Advertisement 2
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Prosecutors in the resort town of Punta Cana filed documents in court Friday that would allow the Pivot Airlines crew and their passengers to leave the country after spending seven months in jail and under house arrest, the CEO of Pivot Airlines, Eric Edmondson. Sign up to receive daily news headlines from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
Thanks for subscribing!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder. The next issue of the Calgary Herald Headline News will be in your inbox soon. We encountered a problem with your registration. PLEASE try again
Content of the article
The Canadians, including Brittney Wojcik-Harrison of Calgary, were arrested despite being the airline employees who reported bags of cocaine that turned out to be hidden on the plane. A local judge said there was no evidence linking them to drugs. A statement from Pivot dealt with its employees, but the prosecutors’ motion applies to all seven passengers, Edmondson said. “We are deeply relieved that these five Canadians will soon return to their families and loved ones,” he said in the statement, referring to the flight crew. “We are grateful for their courage, resilience and honesty throughout this devastating ordeal. When they return home to Canada, they will return as heroes – as they rightfully deserve.”
Advertising 3
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Brandon Harrison, a cousin of Wojcik-Harrison, said he broke down when he heard the news. “I was just completely overcome with emotion,” Brandon said. He said his cousin suffered a harrowing ordeal while being held with other passengers in one of the country’s prisons. “It must still be absolutely terrifying to be literally trapped in a foreign country,” he said. “The government comes and takes your passport, IDs, all your personal belongings and just leaves you.” Brandon said he is disappointed by the Canadian government’s actions. He believes he could put more pressure on the Dominican government. He said the prosecutor missed a court date, which set the matter back a full month. During another court date, a translator failed to appear, again delaying the matter.
Advertising 4
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Wojcik-Harrison’s aunt, Karen Harrison, echoed those sentiments. “He was despicable,” she said. “They should have done it from the beginning and they should have asked to see the evidence that was supposed to be there.” He said the prosecution delayed for months the release of a video showing an airport ground crew member putting bags on the plane in the middle of the night. Judge Francis Yojary Reyes Dilone eventually released the Canadians on bail, saying there was no evidence most of the employees and passengers had access to the hideout, and no evidence linking any of them to drugs. “Clearly, the crew and passengers were in a hotel,” Karen said. “They’ve been sitting on these figures for months.”
Advertising 5
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
She is disappointed and angry that the government did not intervene sooner. “Clearly, these were bogus charges and between the Canadian government and the Canadian embassy, they were not helping us,” he said. Conservative Senator David Wells, one of the few MPs to support the Canadian prisoners’ cause, said he was relieved by the news but disappointed that the federal government had done relatively little to secure their release. “It was mostly diplomatic crops,” he said. “Sometimes when you’re dealing with countries like the Dominican Republic that have questionable judicial systems, you have to play a stronger hand.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did raise the plight of Canadians with Dominican President Luis Abider earlier this year, as did Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie with her counterpart. In response to a question from Wells last month, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra warned that the Dominican Republic risks sending a message to the world that it is not safe for commercial crews to fly there. Karen said her niece could be officially released on Monday once the judge signs the papers. “So they will lift all the travel bans, give them their passports with the passport restrictions off and hopefully we can bring them home,” he said. Brandon said he has plans for when his cousin is safely back on Canadian soil. “I’ll spoil the crap out of her,” he said. “Take her out for dinner and drinks. He’s been through so much, and he just needs to be home with family and friends and finally relax and feel good.” [email protected] @brodie_thomas
Share this article on your social network
Advertisement 1
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We’ve enabled email notifications—you’ll now receive an email if you get a reply to your comment, there’s an update on a comment thread you’re following, or if a user follows the comments. Visit the Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
