The plane which landed in Jamaica on Wednesday with 13 deportees from the UK
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Attorney Bert Samuels
Attorney Bert Samuels says the Jamaican government has no recourse but to accept the deportees.
He was responding to an argument presented by immigration attorney Jacqueline McKenzie that the Holness administration has not pointed to any law which requires it to accept deported persons from the United Kingdom.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. Samuels said the government is obliged to allow the deportees entry.
"The whole question of a person being a Jamaican citizen and the principle that no one should be stateless are two factors which say that if a Jamaican national is being deported from anywhere in the world, we have no other duty but to accept them. We must accept our own citizens.... That's separate and apart to say whether the deportation by the British is conscionable or not. But the bottom line, and in law, they are Jamaican nationals and we can't refuse our own nationals," he explained.
Thirteen Jamaicans arrived in the island Wednesday morning after being deported from the UK.
The group landed at Norman Manley International Airport shortly after 7:30.
The Jamaicans, all males, are being housed at the Olympia Crown Hotel on Molynes Road in Kingston.
Senior Policy Director for Crime Prevention and Community Safety in the National Security Ministry, Renee Steele, told Radio Jamaica News that the men will remain there for two days and undergo health and security screening.
Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has said the deportees will pose minimal health risk to the public.
He said they are being tested for COVID-19 and will remain in quarantine for 14 days.
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