A boat arrives on a Jamaican beach, and the plan was to deport the Haitians therein…

On July 10, 2023, a small, battered sailing boat carrying 37 Haitians washed up on Boston Beach, in eastern Jamaica. They had reportedly traveled from Jérémie in Haiti. The boat rested gently on the water’s edge, its sail flapping, while those who had been traveling in it sat down close together on the sand, wondering what would happen next.

Refugees, around the world, spend most of their time wondering what will happen next.

Local residents brought food and water to this forlorn group. The police in charge said it was very kind of them, but they should not have done so because the group may have brought with them A) guns and B) infectious diseases. After they had been “processed” it turned out they had brought neither. Nevertheless they were designated as illegals, and 29 men and women were brought to court, fined $7,000 Jamaican Dollars each (or three days’ hard labour) and were due to be deported.

Local sentiment has been largely sympathetic; many were hurt and angry that the Haitians were to be returned, just like that. For most Jamaicans, it is painful to see their close neighbours suffering such horrors at home. After all the recent CARICOM meetings and grandstanding to try and solve the “Haitian problem” (which resulted in very little by most reports) and all the talk of “helping our Haitian brothers and sisters” – this is the action taken by the Jamaican Government: send them back, ASAP.

The Advocates Network had this to say:

Advocates Network decries heartless treatment of the Haitians

The Advocates Network is deeply disappointed at the heartless, dishonourable decision by the government of Jamaica (GOJ) to charge 37 Haitians with illegal entry to Jamaica as well as their pending deportation back to Haiti.

This deplorable decision adds another layer of suffering to the dire condition they are in. It is cruel and inhumane to send the Haitians back to Haiti at the height of the rampant civil war currently being waged there and knowing that their deportation is effectively a death sentence for these Haitians including their eight children (three girls and five boys).

The AN believes that this is a crucial moment for Jamaica to lead in the mobilization of the entire CARICOM community to put action to words and jointly help in the amelioration of this present crisis. That would be the surest representation of the integration that we have been seeking for decades.

We fully support the request by Human Rights lawyer, Malene Alleyne to “allow time for due process and to work with us to assess the protection needs of the Haitians in line with international refugee and human rights law.”

If the Haitians are not eligible for refugee protection, we urge the government to follow the 2022 UNCHR’s guidance to grant “complementary protection, temporary protection, humanitarian admission or other legal stay arrangements until the security situation in Haiti permits safe returns.”

Jamaica has had a long and historic bond with the Haitian people dating back to Dutty Boukman and his role in feeding the Haitian revolution; so based on this and in light of our CARICOM membership we have a historical obligation to these sisters and brothers.

The Haitians need our help! The Advocates Network is willing to help and we encourage the GOJ as well as our fellow Jamaicans, at home and abroad, to lend a helping hand.

Stand Up for Jamaica was stinging. The fines were especially painful as the Haitians’ only possessions were the clothes they were wearing. How mean.

REVERSE DECISION TO DEPORT HAITIAN NATIONALS TO HAITI

Stand up for Jamaica, through its Executive Director, Carla Gullotta, is urging the Government of Jamaica to reverse its decision to deport the 29 Haiti nationals, including 24 men and five women, who were on Tuesday each fined $7000 or three days of hard labour, due to their illegal entry into Jamaica. Stand Up Jamaica strongly opposes the fine imposed, as the Haitian nationals’ – including children – only possession was the clothes they were wearing.

Stand up for Jamaica wishes to highlight that a migrant is not a criminal, and especially in the case of the concerned Haitians, it is understood that they left their country out of fear, desperation and the absence of proper living conditions, including guaranteed security of life and the inability to take care of their basic needs.

CARICOM has sent urgent appeals related to gang wars, lack of leadership, and a climate of terror in many areas of the country, requesting interventions from all agencies to find solutions for what is considered an international humanitarian crisis.

Jamaica, through Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has been a lead voice on the crises of poverty and gang violence plaguing Haiti, advocating for the requisite resources and assistance to be provided in an urgent manner to help our neighbours. This is the perfect opportunity for Jamaica to demonstrate leadership and compassion in this regard. Unfortunately, however, Jamaica is not practising a policy of inclusion toward those who are in dire need. It is the perfect opportunity to embrace our motto, “Out of many, one people”.

Most European countries that experience a wave of migrants – between 200 and 400 – on a daily basis, do not send them back to their home countries. Instead, they try to assist them as best as possible with basic humanitarian items such as food, clothing, shelter, and medication and with their overall integration. There are instances where these migrants are shared among the different European countries, but there is no question of sending them back to the harsh and traumatic living realities in their native countries.

Stand up for Jamaica is calling on the Government of Jamaica to carefully reassess the situation in Haiti and reconsider its decision to send back the Haitians to a life of misery of gloom.

But wait! This afternoon (July 21) the Government announced that the Haitians were seeking asylum, after all – having announced earlier that they had not requested such. The Government has received a letter from an attorney yesterday, said Information Minister Robert Morgan. So, does this mean they had no legal representation when they appeared in court? Did they understand what their rights were?