Six Haitians released from police custody

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

The human rights organisation, Freedom Imaginaries, has revealed that since the start of the year, six Haitian nationals who were deprived of liberty have been released from police custody.

 

This was revealed by Malene Alleyne, attorney and founder of Freedom Imaginaries.

 

Ms. Alleyne says the group includes three women who were held for a prolonged period without charge, earlier this year.

 

"They were released on bail pending their trial. And then three other Haitian nationals who were detained even after having paid their fines for illegal entry...they have been released following a decision on a writ of habeas corpus application. Just on May 10 was the last release. 

 

"There was a case earlier this year of children having been separated from their asylum-seeking Haitian mothers. They were in state custody for a prolonged period in like a children's home. They have since been released following the release of their mothers from jail, pending their trial, on bail," said Ms. Alleyne in an interview with Hotline host Clive Mullings, on Radio Jamaica. 

 

On May 5, Ms. Alleyn disclosed that two Haitian asylum seekers were found languishing in detention, despite having paid their fines for illegal entry, in late April.

 

She claimed that they were brutally beaten by inmates and were later transferred to a facility that houses remandees and persons convicted under sentence.

 

She argued that those conditions were inappropriate for persons who had already completed their sentence.

 

Ms. Alleyne also said she had noticed visible signs of abuse, prior to their release, for which she had applied on their behalf, through a habeas corpus.

 

A habeas corpus is a legal order for an inquiry to determine whether a person has been lawfully imprisoned.

 

Ms. Alleyne said the case marked another serious deterioration in the situation of Haitian asylum seekers in Jamaica.

 

Scores of Haitians have been making the journey to Jamaica and other Caribbean states since last July, with several being detained and repatriated by local authorities.

 

The exodus is being driven by violent socio-political unrests in Haiti, which worsened after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.