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Malene Alleyne, founder, Freedom Imaginaires
Malene Alleyne, the founder of the human rights organization Freedom Imaginaires, has asserted that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security has the power to refuse applications for asylum, despite a recommendation to the contrary by the Eligibility Committee.
The committee typically comprises representatives of the ministries of National Security, Foreign Affairs, and Justice.
Ms Alleyne was speaking Friday on Radio Jamaica's Hotline, in the context of the asylum application by 37 Haitians who arrived in Jamaica by boat last month. She said, should the permanent secretary reject the applications, the applicants could request a reconsideration before the refugee review body.
Last week, the Ministry of National Security, in seeking to provide an update on the Haitian asylum seekers, said it was awaiting the completed application forms, which would then be reviewed by the Eligibility Committee.
The human rights lawyer said there are a number of grey areas concerning the process.
She also insisted that the 37 Haitian asylum seekers should be guaranteed the same rights as Jamaican citizens, based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, enshrined in the constitution. These include access to education and health care, among others.
Freedom Imaginaires has written to the ministries of National Security and Foreign Affairs requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the asylum applications of the 37 Haitians.
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