I wrote earlier this week about the plight of Haitian refugees, including those who are requesting asylum, and their uncaring treatment by the Jamaican authorities. A planeload of Indians, which raised eyebrows, was also returned to Dubai – with strong signs suggesting this was some kind of human smuggling operation. Both of these situations, although hugely different, may be regarded as security issues.
Coincidentally, I received the following information regarding our Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s comments at a meeting on migration in Guatemala City, in which she spoke of “human decency” and “economic pragmatism.” The meeting included U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Jamaica – along with Haiti, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, and a number of Latin American countries – had joined in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection in 2022. This paragraph jumped out at me (in light of Freedom Imaginaries’ concerns over the Haitian refugees):
We are committed to protecting the safety and dignity of all migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons, regardless of their migratory status, and respecting their human rights and fundamental freedoms. We intend to cooperate closely to facilitate safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration and, as appropriate, promote safe and dignified returns, consistent with national legislation, the principle of non-refoulement, and our respective obligations under international law.
As a reminder, the principle of non-refoulement, according to the United Nations Office of the Commissioner on Human Rights, “guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm. This principle applies to all migrants at all times, irrespective of migration status.” Are we following that principle in relation to the Haitian asylum seekers?
Diplomacy is generally polite, and the words are chosen carefully. Here is the press release from the Ministry:
Johnson Smith joins regional talks on migration in LatAm and the Caribbean
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, is currently in Guatemala, where she has joined government officials from over 20 countries for crucial discussions on safe, orderly and regular migration across Latin America and the Caribbean.
During her remarks at the high-level meeting in Guatemala City, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. She highlighted the Government’s determination to enhance national, regional and hemispheric efforts that aim to establish conditions conducive to safe, orderly, humane and regular migration. This commitment, she said, underscores Jamaica’s efforts to bolster international protection for migrants while fostering cooperation on migration issues.
“Jamaica’s firm belief is that the promotion of regular pathways for migration is not only a matter of human decency, but also of economic pragmatism. By creating legal avenues for safe and orderly migration, we can reduce the incidences of irregular migration, combat human trafficking and smuggling while harnessing the potential of migrants as contributors to our societies and economies”, the Minister continued.
In reiterating the importance of migration as a source for sustainable development, the Minister credited the Jamaican Diaspora as a vital player in the nation’s economic growth and development. “The Diaspora has always been integral to our socio-economic development through their invaluable contributions to critical sectors such as health and education; their investments and skills transfers, as well as remittances, which account for a significant percentage of the country’s GDP”, added Johnson Smith, who noted that Jamaica is also host, transit and destination country for many migrants.
In 2017, the Government developed the National Policy on International Migration and Development, aimed at addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities in mass migration. Since then, migration has continuously been integrated into development planning, complemented by targeted support programmes across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as through partnerships with global institutions such as the International Organisation for Migration. These initiatives comprise a wide range of activities, including sensitisation sessions on critical issues like Trafficking in Persons, labour migrant rights and ethical recruitment practices for Jamaicans participating in overseas employment programmes.
The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection was adopted in June 2022, at the 9th Summit of the Americas in California. It builds on internationally adopted principles and instruments, including the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica are the only Caribbean territories to have endorsed this Declaration which has been joined by just over 22 countries.
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