THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT WAS like a breath of fresh air to read your October 4 headline: 'Reprieve for Haitians', and the accompanying story that Prime Minister P.J. Patterson had assured the near 300 Haitians now guests of Jamaica that they would not be deported anytime soon, despite the recent legal finding that they did not qualify for refugee status. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet must be commended for such a humanitarian act.
Helping the Haitians was the right and Christian thing to do from many standpoints and it will spin off many positive repercussions. Columnist Garth Rattray, in that same publication, touched on some of the humanitarian and diplomatic reasons why helping our Haitian brothers and sisters (again) would be advisable. The recent
demolition of Haiti by Tropical Storm Jeanne and the continued civil unrest there are two big
reasons to keep the hope of more
stable living burning in the breasts of the Haitian refugees in Jamaica.
As a leader of the CARICOM movement, Mr. Patterson's latest act was also quite exemplary and stood in stark contrast to the self-styled 'compassion' of U.S. President George W. Bush who showed no mercy when he barred boatloads of Haitians who had fled to Miami.
It is hoped that the proposed Jamaican diaspora organisation, to be chaired by Professor Rex Nettleford, will be up and running very soon so as to spearhead
matters of this nature concerning Jamaica's help to the Haitians. I and many other Jamaicans living abroad would be happy to make monetary donations to a Haitians rehabilitation fund set up by the Patterson administration. Perhaps, The Gleaner could launch such a fund as a community service
project. I would be glad to contribute.
I am, etc.,
REV. MERVIN STODDART
INMerv@hotmail.com
Altamonte Springs, Florida
