Gov't urges J'cans to remain calm amid confusion over US immigration order

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith says Jamaicans should remain calm despite tension over the new executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, one of which bans travellers from seven Muslim-dominated countries.

"It is very important in these matters that we remain calm and responsible," Johnson Smith said in a release this evening.

There has been panic among Caribbean migrants in light of the developments over the weekend.

But Johnson Smith says it is extremely unhelpful that people are inciting panic on matters that are very complex and very technical and subject to a lot of uncertainty even in the issuing state.

"The Ministry is making every effort to ascertain the scope of these orders and it is important that we not conflate them, because there is more than one order and they deal with entirely different things," she said.

Johnson Smith said the Jamaican government is examining these issues and noted that the ministry is in contact with the US Embassy here and the State Department overseas through Jamaican missions there.

"As soon as we are clear on the advice we can give to the public on any impact on the Jamaican community, we will do so. Please be assured that we are monitoring these issues closely with your interest at heart".

IN PHOTO: Lisa Hanna

Earlier today, opposition MP Lisa Hanna has called for the Government to clarify whether, and to what extent, Trump’s immigration orders could affect Jamaican students seeking employment in the United States.

According to Hanna, in the face of the uncertainty created by the executive order, the Government of Jamaica needs to provide clarity for students who may be planning to travel for employment this summer and could be affected by the executive orders.