Attorney hits out against conditions under which Haitians being housed in Jamaica

 

Attorney-at-law and founder of Freedom Imaginaries Malene Alleyne has hit out against the conditions under which Haitians are being housed in Jamaica.

 

Several groups of Haitians have arrived in Jamaica by boat as the crisis in their homeland continues. The latest group of 35 Haitians arrived on Sunday and has since been sent home.

 

Ms. Alleyne, while decrying the speed with which the government sent back the latest batch of Haitians, said those still here are in less than ideal conditions. 

 

"There are now at least 19 Haitian nationals languishing in tiny, dark, filthy jail cells in police lockups across Jamaica, including women, including persons with life threatening health conditions, and they don't get to go outside. They don't have clean water causing them to get sick, having to get medical treatment. The situation is extremely dire," she complained. 

 

Ms. Alleyne maintained that the government's practice of systematic detention for Haitians who enter Jamaica illegally to seek refuge, is against international law and should not continue. 

 

"And if they are deprived of liberty, it must be in conditions that meet international and constitutional standards. And these conditions of detention are deplorable and I would say very plainly and without any hesitation that they rise to the level of inhuman and degrading treatment under both our constitution and on our international law," insisted the attorney.