Haitians to be repatriated today

The 25 Haitians who arrived in Portland on Tuesday are to be repatriated to their earthquake-ravaged homeland today.

The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency says the repatriation will be undertaken by the Jamaica Defence Force.

The government had indicated it was costing $45,000 a day to take care of the Haitians.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the United States and Caribbean countries have failed to properly screen Haitian migrants interdicted at sea to ascertain whether they have a credible fear of violence and persecution.

The UNHCR’s senior protection officer, Leslie Velez, said so far this year, most of the more than 180 Haitians found in the Caribbean Sea have been repatriated to their homeland.

Another UNHCR spokesperson says whereas Cubans are screened by US officials to see if they merit protection as refugees, Haitians are not unless they call attention to themselves.

UNHCR says it was unaware of any Haitian granted asylum in any Caribbean country after being intercepted at sea over the last two years.
  
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