Jamaicans to Be Deported; Opp. Says Govt Should Reconsider

Jamaicans to Be Deported – Approximately fifty (50) Jamaican nationals will be deported to the island from the United Kingdom on Wednesday (December 2, 2020).

The home office refers to the involuntary migrants as dangerous criminals, however, activists are lashing out against the flight scheduled to leave London’s Heathrow Airport, saying the deportations are racially discriminatory and are ripping families apart. And still, there has been no official response from the Jamaican government on the matter.

Only a silent deal agreed upon by both governments, which will discontinue the deportation of Jamaicans who arrived in Britain under the age of 12.

Chairman of the UK-based Windrush National Organization, Bishop Dr. Desmond Jaddoo says there are flaws in the operation of the home office.

Speaking extensively on the inequalities that exist towards black people, Jaddoo says that persons are being unfairly treated. And as it relates to COVID-19, there are reports of positive cases within at least two detention centres.

The home office says: “we make no apology for seeking to remove dangerous foreign criminals to keep the public safe. Each week we remove foreign criminals from the UK to different countries who have no right to be here; this flight is no different.”

Meanwhile, the opposition is urging the government to reconsider its acceptance of the 50 Jamaicans to be Deported from the UK, this against the backdrop that Jamaica is by no means out of the woods where the control of COVID-19 infections are concerned.

They cited that health services are stretched to the limit and there is fatigue among health workers.

The opposition is making several recommendations if the government fails in deterring this flight:- 

– All persons on the flight MUST come with certificates of testing and proof of a negative COVID 19 PCR test.

– All persons so landed must also be given a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival into Jamaica, irrespective of their pre-arrival tests being negative.

– Persons arriving on the charter flight MUST be quarantined in a Government facility for at least 2 weeks before they are allowed to do the further immigration/National Security formalities.

-Any person who within the two week quarantine period exhibit symptoms of COVID19 must be isolated in a government facility until they have returned a negative test.

-The Government of Jamaica MUST put in place all public health protocols to protect the various processing officers who come into contact with the arriving persons.