Tyrone Reid, Senior Staff Reporter

Jamaicans are being deported almost weekly from neighbouring Caribbean islands where they have overstayed their time or committed various offences, including murder and rape.

Sunday Gleaner calculations have revealed that between 2008 and 2012, almost 3,500 Jamaicans were deported from islands around the Caribbean.

While many Jamaicans deported during the period were convicted of crimes, including attempted murder, rape, carnal abuse and kidnapping, a significant number were sent packing because they overstayed their allotted time, entered illegally or re-entered the countries illegally.

Documents obtained by The Sunday Gleaner revealed that between 2008 and 2012 some 14,073 Jamaicans were deported from countries around the globe including the United States (US), England, Canada, France, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Holland.

2010 - the year with most cases

The lion's share of Jamaicans deported from Caribbean countries came from CARICIOM member states and associate member countries.

Curaçao and St Maarten also figured prominently among the regional territories deporting Jamaicans in droves, the bulk of whom were sent packing for overstaying their allotted time, entering the country illegally or re-entering illegally.

During 2010, almost 800 persons were deported from Caribbean territories, making it the year with the most deportations.

The Bahamas led the region with 229 deportations, followed by Curaçao with its 197 deportations; next up was St Maarten, which deported 175 Jamaicans during the year.

The year 2009 ranked second in the total number of deportations during the four-year period under review. Some 739 Jamaicans were booted from islands around the region in that year, with St Maarten sending home the highest number, 215.

The Bahamas was a close second as it expelled 198 Jamaicans.

While Caribbean territories are sending home hundreds of Jamaican nationals each year, the three First-World countries most frequented by Jamaicans are still responsible for the bulk of deportations.

Between 2008 and 2012, the US, England and Canada accounted for 10,516 of the total number of deportations. The US accounted for the greater portion of that number while England followed by a good distance and Canada generally lagged behind the two front-runners.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com