Dear Colleagues and friends,

I am constrained to bring the attention of everyone to the myriad of road-blocks and frustrations currently confronting African delegates to ATLAS 3, and I am afraid, about 80% may not make it to Montreal after all. No thanks to the Canadian Embassy that, has not only refused their visas applications but also giving very spurious and insulting excuses for such wanton refusalS.

For example, delegates that have a track history of previous trips abroad with valid USA, UK and even Japan visas are being told, they may not leave Canada at the end of the conference!!!

That is the worst excuse I have heard all my life. If I could not remain in the USA, or Japan, UK and Europe, what is so special about Canada to keep me away from returning?

It must be recalled that we collectively put up and appeal to ICANN to be aware of the notoriety of the Canadian Embassies in African, that they will take our monies and refused to grant a genuine visa application.

It is my view that ICANN Secretariat please intervenes because its just one month away to Montreal. It will be such a shame if more than half of the accredited delegates are absent after all the preparations and efforts put into the planning and selections. And it should also be the responsibility of the AFRALO leadership to lead on this struggle. The fact that, they all have free rides to travel anywhere for ICANN events should not becloud their responsibilities to us-members from AFRALO.

I hope ALAC leadership should provide the oversight function here.

Best

Yours truly

Thank you all.