The Jamaican Government assured Friday that it wants to avoid “an avalanche” of Haitians in its territory and that it will only take in some specific refugees, such as children from an orphanage and World Bank staff.
Jamaican Minister of National Security Horace Chang explained to Parliament that the Andrew Holness Administration is reviewing the situation and that any initiative “would not allow Jamaica to be overwhelmed by an influx of refugees.”
“We will legitimately agree to take in a number of persons, specifically orphans from an orphanage that was isolated,” said Chang, who detailed that the Mustard Seed Community NGO is making the arrangements.
The head of National Security also detailed that the World Bank has asked Jamaica to bring its personnel from Haiti to this neighboring country and is “working on the process to achieve it.”
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“What we can do by legitimate means, we are doing. We still have to maintain control over our borders because we cannot afford an avalanche of refugees,” he said.
Chang said that all these issues will be reviewed daily and that the Government is looking to improve Jamaica’s border security.
In recent days, Jamaica has received a couple of boats with Haitian migrants, according to the minister, who did not specify the number of people arriving on the island.
Regarding these two groups, Chang indicated that the policy is to return them to their country because the areas to which they will return are “relatively calm.”
The minister also expressed his concern about the situation in Haiti and affirmed that the government is taking “an active and leading role” in trying to achieve a solution to the crisis a solution to the crisis with regional and international partners.
On Thursday, the Haitian Government extended the state of emergency for a month in the West department, where the capital, Port-au-Prince, is located. It opened the curfew for another four days.
Meanwhile, the Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, remains stranded in Puerto Rico because the escalation of violence occurred while he was out of the country.