St. Ann police refute claims of mistreatment towards detained Haitians

By Kimone Witter  

 

 

Commanding Officer for the St. Ann Police Division, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell, is refuting claims of mistreatment by the group of 16 Haitian nationals which was picked up during an operation in Mammee Bay on Tuesday.

 

The group includes, 12 adults and four children. They are suspected of living in the island illegally.

 

A member of the Haitian community in Jamaica told the Radio Jamaica newsroom that his fellow nationals were being held under deplorable conditions at two police stations in the parish.

 

The man, who is an interpreter for local authorities, said the detained Haitians reported that they were not being treated as human beings.

 

"There are some females, about two females and they said that they had their period and were not given access to get things to help them. And also they say they are sleeping on the floor; they had no toothbrush, they couldn't brush their teeth, no water to shower. Nothing at all for the past 24 hours," he claimed.

 

But SSP Russell said that there is no truth to the claims.

 

"They were treated with the highest level of dignity and respect. They were fed. As a matter of fact, they were fed from the same meals that were provided for the officers on that operation. The females were placed at the Discovery Bay lock-up. Police officer would have went (sic) in their pocket and personally purchased items of toiletries and other sanitary convenience for them," insisted the commanding officer. 

 

Meanwhile, the interpreter said the detained Haitians are not opposed to returning home. He said some of them want to be given the option of purchasing airline tickets, rather than being repatriated by boat.

 

"So they wanted to buy the tickets to go home instead of taking that boat, but they were denied access. Now... I am wondering if it's lawful for them to be denied access to buy their own ticket to go home," he said.