21954: Esser: Haitians being repatriated from Jamaica (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

The Jamaica Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com

May 19, 2004

Haitians going home
56 to be repatriated by weekend
Observer Reporter


FIFTY-SIX of the 588 Haitian boat people who fled to Jamaica since
the bloody uprising that led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide on February 29, are to be repatriated by this weekend,
Jamaica House said yesterday.

The Jamaica House statement, issued after a special meeting convened
by Prime Minister P J Patterson to examine the Haitian refugee
situation in Jamaica, said the 56 had expressed their desire to
return home.

At the same time, another 164 of the Haitians who have sought refugee
status in Jamaica and have already been interviewed by the
Eligibility Committee are now awaiting word on their fate. Those who
do not qualify for refugee status will be returned to Haiti by the
end of next week, said the Jamaica House statement.

"The processing of a further 220 refugees should be completed within
the next two weeks as a second team of interviewers has been assigned
to screen persons applying for refugee status. This is being done in
accordance with established legal norms and procedures," said the
statement.

The prime minister said that every effort should be made to
expeditiously process the Haitian refugees in order that those who
have expressed a willingness to return to Haiti can do so quickly.

A batch of 47 Haitians arrived here Sunday in two small boats and
another 50, including 18 children, yesterday, raising concerns about
the likely impact on local resources which were said to be under
strain.

Two hundred and seventy-four of the Haitians were staying at the
Winnifred Rest Home in Portland, while others are housed at the
Montpelier Camp in St James. It was not clear last night where 50
Haitians who arrived in Pagee, St Mary yesterday would be
accommodated.

In the meantime, Patterson said that while the relevant ministries
and agencies of the government would remain responsible for the
health, security and welfare of the Haitians, a lead officer would be
appointed to deal with the coordination of all activities relating to
the refugees from the time of their arrival to departure from Jamaica.

This, the prime minister said, had become necessary as the Office of
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management which has so far led
the response to the situation, would now have to turn its attention
to preparing the nation for the upcoming hurricane season.

A co-ordinator is expected to be named by the end of the week and
will be located in the Ministry of National Security.

The government said it has been working in collaboration with the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the International
Migration Organisation to address the humanitarian concerns and the
repatriation efforts.

Patterson said yesterday that under international law, while Jamaica
has an obligation to receive the refugees, the government remained
cognizant of its supreme responsibility to protect the people of
Jamaica.

At the same time, the prime minister has instructed that all agencies
of the government should ensure appropriate social interface with the
communities in Eastern Portland and Montpelier which had been
affected, and provide the requisite support in the services which
affect the daily lives of our Jamaican citizens.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said it wanted to assure citizens
that public health has not been compromised as a result of the
presence of the Haitians. Senior medical officer in the ministry, Dr
Marion Bullock-DuCasse, said all Haitians were screened on their
arrival and follow-up checks indicated that they were being
successfully treated. The health ministry, she added, had also
implemented the appropriate vector control programme.

Participating in yesterday's meeting were Dean Peart, minister of
land and environment; Peter Phillips, minister of national security;
K D Knight, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, and
Senator A J Nicholson, attorney general and minister of justice.

Representatives from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and
Emergency Management; the Jamaica Defence Force; Jamaica Constabulary
Force; Ministry of Health; and the Ministry of Finance were also in
attendance.
.