35 Haitian refugees leave
published: Sunday | May 8, 2005

Monique Hepburn and Glenda Anderson , Staff Reporters

Thirty-five Haitian refugees, some of whom were denied political asylum, opted for voluntary repatriation and departed the island on Friday from the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

"The group of Haitians who left is from the original group who applied and their case for asylum was denied. Their cases were reheard by an appeals tribunal and denied," explained Donovan Nelson, public relations officer for the Ministry of National Security in a Sunday Gleaner interview. "They were repatriated with the assistance of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)."

The group included 17 men, seven women, eight boys and two girls. Four of the children were born in Jamaica.

Some members of the group arrived in December and had not submitted applications for political asylum, while others were from the original set who arrived last year March.

Gov't to bear FULL responsibility

Their departure follows a recent announcement that the Jamaican Government will now bear the full responsibility of accommodating the close to 600 Haitians at the Montpelier and Winifred Rest camps in St. James and Portland, respectively.

The burden comes as a result of the discontinuation of funds from the main international refugee relief agency as at the end of March.

Direct cash contribution from the UNCHR was in excess of a US$500,000 (J$30,500,000) for March 2004 to March 2005. The monies were used to cover the cost of food, salaries, sanitation and utility bills.

"UNCHR's contributions are always time-limited. It originally was until the end of December, but the Jamaican government requested an extension of six months, (and) the United Nations head office in Geneva granted them three months, which came to an end in March," said Clover Graham, honorary liaison at the UNHCR in Jamaica.

Not affected

Paul Saunders, national
coordinator for the refugees management unit in the Ministry of National Security, confirmed the discontinuation of funding but said the camps would not be significantly affected as the unit is "still receiving contributions in kind from various organisations."

Since last December, 299 Haitians have voluntarily repatriated. The eligibility tribunal is also currently assessing applications for some 221 Haitians of the 589 now on the island.

Recently, Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman, said Jamaica would not operate an "open border system" and would take steps to stem the flow of immigrants to the island.

"The fact is there is a high cost involved in accommodating and processing the refugees, in providing food, housing, medication and repatriation where necessary. Whatever help the country gets through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees cannot offset an indeterminate and ever-increasing number arriving each week," he commented. "International conventions and our own tradition of hospitality will prompt the Government to be courteous hosts and neighbours in providing immediate humanitarian relief and shelter. However, when there is good reason to believe that the country's generosity is being exploited, then some barriers have to be erected."