• by Kathy Barrett (kingston)
• Thursday, April 01, 2010
• Inter Press Service

On the evening of Jan. 12 when Haiti was devastated by a massive earthquake, Jamaica, which lies just 160 kilometres to the west, sought to assure President René Préval that Jamaica was is in the process of organising a 'practical response' to their plight.

'Jamaica has always responded immediately in whatever way we can to natural disasters in Haiti and this time will be no exception,' said Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

As one of Haiti's closest neighbours, Jamaica's local officials were placed on high alert to prepare for the possible influx of refugees and declared that any Haitian who gets to Jamaica's shores would not be turned away.

'While they may not fall within the U.N. Convention definition of refugees, they would constitute a humanitarian cause to which we are obliged to respond appropriately,' Golding declared.

This was underscored by Information Minister Daryl Vaz, who argued that despite financial constraints, Jamaica would help any Haitians who arrived.

'They will be processed, confined within designated facilities, required to undergo medical screening and treatment, where necessary, and given temporary accommodation and care until they can be returned to their homeland,' Vaz said

But the expected influx did not occur until the morning of Tuesday, Mar. 23, when a boatload of Haitians was spotted off the coast of the eastern parish of Portland.

There were 62 in all, arriving in a number of boats.

Fishermen and police from the parish capital of Port Antonio reported that they saw the first boatload of Haitians at about 3:00 a.m. off the coast of the tiny village of Manchioneal.

Five hours later, the police reported seeing Haitians in a 20-foot boat called the 'Ebenezer #4 Anzdeno'. This group consisted of 24 men, two women and one child.

'We have been travelling on the sea seven days. We left Wednesday,' said one of the Haitians, who spoke very little English. When asked if they were heading for the United States, he said: 'Wherever.'

The refugees were helped to shore by local fishermen.

'It was about three o'clock in the morning and it was dark as we were going fishing and we saw the boat in the sea so we called out to them...we threw a rope out to them to help them and we then called the police and they came, so we took them in,' said fisherman Errol Richards.

Although the refugees were welcomed warmly by many, some expressed concern about the safety of local residents when it was revealed that three of the refugees were prison escapees. They were taken into custody by the local police.

While the Jamaican government initially stated that no Haitians would be turned away, that tune changed only hours after news of their arrival when Vaz told reporters at a press briefing in the capital Kingston that due to financial constraints the Haitians would have to be immediately repatriated.

'Jamaica is facing its challenges like the rest of the world,' Vaz said, noting that it would cost about 100,000 dollars to host the Haitians for one week, as well as transportation to return them home.

'We are cognizant of all of the challenges people are facing in Haiti, but we have to be responsible in terms of our responsibility to our Jamaican people,' said Vaz. '(With) the times and the situation that we are facing, it is difficult for us to continue spending funds that we could be spending here on very essential services.'

One week later, on Mar. 29, the group of 62 Haitians, along with five who had previously arrived illegally, were repatriated.

Under the supervision of police and military, the 67 refugees were placed on a Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard vessel and sent home.

Meanwhile, the Haiti/Jamaica Association described the government's action as harsh and insensitive.

President of the association Myrtha Delsume is upset that the Haitians were sent home even as Haiti is still struggling in the aftermath of the massive January earthquake.

'I was very heartbroken to hear that they were being repatriated into the rubble and the desperate situation that they were fleeing,' she said. 'I understand that there were some economic constraints but it is very harsh to think that we have turned away the people who have collapsed on our doorsteps - literally. It's a very sad, tragic situation.'

And with the likelihood of more desperate Haitians fleeing their country for Jamaica, the police are maintaining regular sea patrols, part of an effort to stem the drugs-for-guns network that local police have linked to a rising flow of deadly weapons to Jamaica's shores.

© Inter Press Service (2010) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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