21816: Esser: Jamaican government to help Haitians return home (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Frtom: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Jamaica Gleaner
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com

May 11, 2004

Government to help Haitians return home
by Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU: HAITIAN REFUGEES who have expressed a desire to
return home could soon have their wish granted, Minister of Land and
Environment Dean Peart told The Gleaner yesterday.

He said both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National
Security have been instructed to put plans in place to send the
refugees back to their homeland.

A DESIRE TO RETURN

According to the Minister, many of the refugees have expressed a
desire to return to Haiti, adding that the government was ready and
willing to assist in the repatriation process.

"Both Ministries are now under instruction to make travel
arrangements for those who wish to return to Haiti," Mr. Peart said.
"Those who wish to go are being given all the assistance they need as
we intend to repatriate them as soon as possible."

He noted that the Government has set up a committee to process
submissions from those refugees who are seeking to remain in Jamaica
and seek Jamaican citizenship. He said those refugees not seeking to
remain in Jamaica will not be interviewed and will be free to leave
once the opportunity arises.

"Presently an interview process is under way for those Haitians
seeking political asylum," said Mr. Peart. "The interviews are being
done by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of National Security."

On Sunday afternoon, another 240 refugees were transferred from
Portland to Montpelier, joining the other 62 refugees, who had taken
up residence at the old military camp last month. Initially, the
transfer was plagued by sewerage problems, which have since been
sorted out. The Minister said the camp got good reviews from
representatives of the United Nation's team, which visited there last
week.

The sewerage problem no longer exists so we are preparing to move all
of the refugees to Montpelier,"Mr. Peart said. "We are happy that the
UN is pleased with the facility."

When The Gleaner visited Montpelier yesterday several refugess met
the news team at the fence. Some indicated their wish to return home
while others stated that they want to remain and become integrated in
the Jamaican society.

One man, who wishes to remain in Jamaica, is Cassamajor Jameson, who
was orphaned in 1991, when rebels opposed to then President Jean
Bertrand Aristide hacked his parents to death. He escaped with his
life but not before his left arm was shot off.

Fearing that he might suffer a similar fate, Cassamajor fled the
orphanage in which he was staying prior to the recent uprising and
headed for Jamaica. He arrived here on February 22.
.