By Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter
Labourers clean up the Montpelier army barracks to accommodate the transfer of Haitian refugees there within two weeks. - Patrick Campbell/Freelance Photographer
"The original plan was to keep them (the refugees) in Portland," said Ministry of Land and Environment Dean Peart, speaking with The Gleaner yesterday.
"But the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) offered to give us some assistance to refurbish the facility at Montpelier in St. James. The time for completion given by the JDF is two weeks but I expect it will be done before that."
But even as plans were being made for the refugees, another 41 arrived at Manchioneal, Portland, yesterday, swelling the numbers here to 103.
A release yesterday from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said the new regional UNHCR representative for the Caribbean and United States, Kolude Doherty, had met with junior minister, Senator Delano Franklyn, to assure Jamaica of its assistance in caring for the Haitians who are fleeing political violence.
Mr. Doherty is to meet this morning with the National Disaster Committee to hold further discussions on what is to be done for the refugees.
When The Gleaner visited the Montpelier barracks yesterday, a clean-up operation was in progress. Six labourers were seen ridding the compound of overgrown shrubs and wasps. Floors and corridors were being washed and swept.
MAJOR UPGRADES
According to Minister Peart, the costing for the rehabilitation project was not yet available but part of the major upgrades to be done involved roofing, sanitary conveniences, windows and lighting.
"A representative from the UNHCR will be coming (today) and we will be doing an estimate of the refurbishing. The money spent by the Government will be refunded by the UNHCR," said Mr. Peart.
In responding to questions regarding accommodations for incoming Haitians, Mr. Peart said that facilities in Portland would be used as a temporary quarantine point before transfer to St. James.
"It is expected that if more Haitians come to Jamaica, we will keep then in Portland for approximately 48 hours and then transfer them to St. James," Mr. Peart said.
Haitian refugees were last housed at Montpelier in 1991 when civil unrest forced them to leave the war-torn country.
