KINGSTON, JAMAICA:
THE UNITED Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ruud Lubbers, has thanked Jamaica for the "generosity of spirit" regarding its treatment of Haitian refugees fleeing the political crisis in their homeland.
In a March 16 letter to Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, Lubbers said that "at a time of instability in Haiti, which has led to the departure of a number of Haitians from their homeland, the UNHCR is greatly heartened by the welcome that Haitians arriving in Jamaica have been given."
JA MEETS INT'L STANDARDS
He said that the UNCHR regional representative, Kolude Doherty, who was in Jamaica recently, has reported that the handling of the newly arrived Haitians appeared to be in full line with and in some areas exceeded international standards.
Lubbers said that a technical team was being deployed to the island to assist in analysing the needs for responding to the refugees and the UNHCR would be appealing to the international community for funds to help defray the cost to Jamaica.
He said he was particularly pleased to note the Government's staunch public commitment to fulfilling its international refugees protection obligations and refraining from returning the Haitians to Port au Prince.
"This is an important and much needed reaffirmation of both the word and the spirit of the international refugee protection principles set out in the international refugee instruments," he said in his letter.
NEW REFUGEES ARRIVE
At least 45 Haitian refugees were rescued off the western coast of Jamaica by the island's Coast Guard on Tuesday, bringing the total number arriving here since the start of the crisis in February to 179.
Meanwhile, the situation in Haiti is expected to top the agenda of the upcoming inter-sessional meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which starts in St. Kitts today.
Haiti's interim leader Gerard Latortue has indicated his intention to attend the meeting, even though the regional leaders have not yet settled the issue of the recognition of his administration.
Caribbean governments have denounced the manner in which former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced to flee Haiti on February 29 and they have already called for an international investigation into the circumstances leading to his departure.
Information Minister Burchell Whiteman said it was up to the regional leaders to decide how Haiti would be treated at the meeting.
"It is a matter now for the Heads in their meeting and the legal council which advises them, to determine how Haiti, as it is presently constituted, will be received and treated," he said.
The newly elected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Winston Baldwin Spencer will replace Prime Minister P.J. Patterson as CARICOM chairman.
