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The group of Haitians who landed at Boston Beach in Portland on Monday. (Photo: Everard Owen)
IT is appearing more certain that the 37 Haitians who landed on the coast of Portland on Monday will be charged with illegal entry and deported to their troubled homeland.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith on Wednesday used a post-Cabinet media briefing to indicate that while the Ministry of National Security is the lead agency dealing with the Haitians, it is unlikely that they will be allowed to stay.
“We have not taken a fixed policy position in respect of Haitians arrivals in Jamaica [but] at this point in time we know that we are creatures of international law and we are always guided by that in terms of rules of asylum and refugee status. There has been no claim made in either category by the persons who have arrived and therefore they are being treated as illegal entrants because this is the capacity within which they have arrived,” said Johnson Smith.
“The matter will be discussed further but at this point in time there is no overarching position that is taken in respect of Haitians arrivals in Jamaica at this time other than we are guided by international law and domestic laws as they stand,” said Johnson Smith in response to a question from a member of the media.
Earlier Johnson Smith had told the media briefing that the 37 Haitians are now receiving attention to their needs by the respective arms of the Government.
“The Ministry of National Security leads on these matters, they are acknowledged at this point as illegal immigrants and they are housed in comfortable circumstances. I understand that the Ministry of National Security will have that information as to their exact location.
“The Ministry of Health and Wellness, I understand, has now completed its health examinations and everyone there is in good health. They are being fed and taken good care of and further decisions and announcements will be made in terms of the ultimate treatment of this body of persons in due course,” said Johnson Smith.
There have been speculation, mainly on social media, that the three girls, five boys, five women and 24 men, who arrived in the island by a canoe roughly 18 feet long, would have been allowed to stay in the island because of the political, social and economic turmoil in their country.
The Haitians did not give a reason for fleeing their country but it has been speculated that they were trying to get to the United States and drifted to Boston Beach, Portland, where they were assisted by residents.
They were reportedly fleeing the long-running civil unrest which has made life challenging in their country. In May, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres described Haiti as a “tragic situation”, noting that a number of people have been killed, several are unable to live their lives and that the country also faces dramatic food insecurity.
The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said in the month of April alone more than 600 people were killed in violence in the country’s capital. This follows the killing of at least 846 people in the first three months of 2023.
BINUH said that overall the number of victims of killings, injuries and kidnappings increased by 28 per cent in the first quarter of the year, with a total of 1,634 cases reported.
Last week, Caricom member states called for global multinational security support with the appropriate jurisdictional mandate, aimed at restoring peace and stability in Haiti.
Speaking on behalf of Caricom during the United Nations Security Council meeting on Haiti last Thursday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the regional integration movement is urging a UN Security Council resolution to this effect as soon as possible.
“It is our duty to give hope to those suffering in Haiti. While we all express solidarity, it is meaningless without urgent action. Let us help our brothers and sisters in Haiti to finally achieve the peace, stability and prosperity that they deserve,” said Holness.
“Peace, stability and prosperity are not mere aspirations of the Haitian people, but are their inherent rights. The international community must continue to do its part to assist the people of Haiti as they endeavour to find a lasting solution,” Holness added.
He said it is imperative to move beyond the rhetoric of solidarity with Haiti to implementing strategic and targeted action that will allow the nation to make tangible progress.
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