By Prince Moore
Two human rights lobby groups, Stand Up for Jamaica, and Jamaicans for Justice, are once again urging the Government to take immediate action to protect the rights of Haitians who have arrived in the country.
This comes after reports that a cohort of 20 Haitians, who landed in Jamaica on Saturday, were sent back Sunday night.
JFJ and SUFJ have strongly condemned this move by the authorities, arguing that the Haitians, who are seeking refugee status, are being denied the right to have their applications duly processed.
The latest group joins a pool of more than 130 Haitians who have sought asylum since July 2023, most of whom have already been expelled from Jamaica without being granted access to asylum procedures or legal counsel.
The advocacy groups have also also raised concern over allegations that the head of Freedom Imaginaries, Attorney Malene Alleyne, was denied access to the Haitians. Freedom Imaginaries has been a strong advocate for the rights of Haitian refugees entering Jamaica.
The lobby groups say the lack of access to legal representation and immediate institution of criminal charges make it nearly impossible for the Haitians to communicate their intention to seek refugee status, as provided for under Jamaica's refugee policy of 2009.
They say the Government's "unempathetic response" contrasts with the recognition, both locally and internationally, of Haiti's severe human rights crisis, which has prompted the deployment of national security resources to the region.
They have called for the Government to launch a full investigation into the treatment of Haitian migrants and asylum seekers in Jamaica as well as an examination of reports of abuse and unnecessary or arbitrary detention.
They also urge the Government to heed the call from the UN Refugee Agency to suspend the forced return of Haitians and uphold its duty to protect those seeking refuge from persecution and harm.
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