By Gareth Davis, Gleaner WriterTHE TRANSFER of Haitian refugees from Portland to St. James got under way Wednesday with the first of 62 travelling by bus to their new home at the old army barracks in Montpelier.
The group left Port Antonio at approximately 5:20 p.m. aboard two 44-seater Volvo buses, accompanied by the police, Jamaica Defence Force personnel, and representatives of the Jamaica Red Cross and the Health Ministry.
The group represents just over a third of the Haitians in Portland.
They are unlikely to meet their new neighbours anytime soon as the health authorities have placed the barracks under quarantine as indications are that some of the Haitians are suffering from Typhoid.
Minister of Land and Environment, Dean Peart, indicated Wednesday that unauthorised persons would not be allowed to enter the compound.
"The Ministry of Health is taking the required health precautions by quarantining the refugees," Peart said. "We will not be allowing anyone to visit the site."
According to the Minister, officials from the Ministry of Health, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and Jamaica Defence Force personnel were at the site to assist the Haitians settle in.
PARTIALLY COMPLETED
The Haitians are being transferred in batches as the facilities at Montpelier are only partially complete, and the health authorities have concerns that the sanitation might be inadequate. The concerns had delayed the transfer, originally scheduled for last weekend.
"There were some sanitation problems at the facility at Montpelier," said a ODPEM representative.
"The bathroom facility was a major concern, as some were not yet fully completed. As a result we saw it fit to transfer only 62, after meeting with the MOH (Ministry of Health), and the remaining Haitian refugees should be transferred at a later date."
The 62 were formerly housed in tents on the lawns of the Winnifred Rest Home in Portland, and were said to have developed health-related problems, due to the cold weather conditions in the parish.
Some 66 refugees remain at the rest home, but they will be joined by the batch of 41 who occupied the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Port Antonio, allowing the church to resume regular services.
FAREWELLS
Several local residents turned out at Fairy Hill to say goodbye to the Haitians.
"I wish they would remain here in Portland," said Marie Sutherland. "Many of us have contributed to them daily - food and items of clothing. We have gotten to know them, and cared for them very much. They will all be missed."
Staff Reporter Monique Hepburn contributed to this story.
