AN OKEHAMPTON-based charity has been told Foreign Secretary Robin Cook will not intervene to help recoup costs incurred in the United States after a mercy-mission to hurricane-torn Honduras.

Members of RAPID UK, a paramedic-run disaster relief charity, were on their way home and had flown into McConnel Air Base in Wichita, Kansas, when they were arrested at gunpoint.

Although their paperwork was in order before they left Honduras, they were seen as illegal immigrants by the Immigration National Service in Wichita.

The team members, including director Graham Payne, of Jacobstowe, were told they had to pay $1,700 (approximately £1,200) or be put in jail.

The Stansted-based company Heavy Lift came to the rescue and paid the fine which the charity is still trying to repay.

The ten-strong team members were also obliged to leave one ton of equipment behind and have since paid $2,200 dollars (£1,800) to get it returned to the UK —money that would not have been spent if the team members had been permitted to take equipment home with them at the time.

Mr Payne said he wrote to Robin Cook on November 27 outlining the treatment received by RAPID UK in America.

But a letter from the Foreign Office on December 27 quashed all hopes of assistance.

The letter from Cindy Parker, Latin America and Caribbean Department, said the Foreign Office and Governments of Honduras and Nicaragua were grateful for the 'admirable performance put in by you and your team in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Mitch'.

But Miss Parker continued: 'I regret that as US immigration law is an internal issue and the exclusive right of the US Government, the Foreign Secretary is not able to intervene with the INS on your behalf.

'I hope the situation can be resolved in a satisfactory manner and that you will be able to retrieve your equipment soon.

'I would advise you, whatever the outcome of your complaint, to verify carefully with the US authorities that the RAPID UK personnel involved will be allowed back into the US in the future, whether in transit or for a more prolonged period.

'As you point out, the United States is a key transit point for flights to South America and as such is vital for your future work in the region.'

Mr Payne said he was now contacting the US Embassy for an appointment to try and get the matter resolved.

However, he was not hopeful of getting any money returned.

He said: 'This is £3,000 we can ill-afford. It is money that would otherwise be used for a desperately needed Magellan satellite communication system. We also need more research equipment.'

Mr Payne continued that RAPID UK was intending to go to Peru in March where members were planning to hold a search and rescue training programme. It also had plans to go to Colombia. The route was likely to be via the US.

Mr Payne said: 'The last thing we want is hassle every time we go through the US.'