The Jamaican Government is to conduct an investigation into the detention of Jamaican journalist Tenesha Thomas by Grenadian immigration who accused her of overstaying her time in that country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dr Kenneth Baugh, told The Gleaner on Friday that based on the information received, there was no justification for the action by the Grenadian authorities.

Thomas, who is employed to Caribupdate, a regional news agency based in Florida, was asked to leave the country on Thursday by the authorities.

Reports later said she had been given an extension until Tuesday, February 19.

However, immigration officials in Grenada admitted that they had made an error in granting her permission to stay in the country until August, indicating the correct date should have been February 8.

Shocked by treatment

Reporters Without Borders also expressed shock at the treatment of Thomas, who was arrested by four agents of Grenada's immigration service at St George's.

The global press freedom organisation said the decision was all the more surprising since the Grenadian immigration service had admitted it had made a mistake.

Reporters Without Borders said it hoped that this was not an actof covert censorship and urgedthe government to provide an explanation.

The Media Workers' Association of Grenada last week described the incident as an attack on press freedom.

Not politically motivated

However, head of Grenada's Immigration Department, Superintendent Jassmon Prince, has denied suggestions that Thomas' expulsion was politically motivated.

"The immigration office has a responsibility to maintain law and order as it relates to immigration, and if someone breaks the law, it is our responsibility to ensure that person is dealt with justly," said Prince.

"So, anyone who thinks there is political motivation behind it, I don't know what is their reason for saying that."

Thomas' employer, Caribupdate, has reported extensively on alleged acts of corruption by the Keith Mitchell administration.

Thomas, a former reporter with The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre, arrived in Grenada on January 1, 2008, to report on the build-up to the country's general election.