THE GOVERNMENT has announced that, by July 31, it would have cost more than $60 million to accommodate the near 600 Haitians who fled their homeland after the ouster of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Information Minister Burchell Whiteman revealed yesterday that, at the end of May, $28.7 million had been disbursed for the Haitian effort. Of that amount Jamaica has provided a substantial portion, he said during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Minister Whiteman also said: "Estimates for completion of the activities and support over the period June to July 31 are put at $32.6 million. These costs are associated with the process of sheltering, processing, providing welfare and repatriation, as well as redesign of the sewage system at Montpelier to meet public health requirements."
However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has budgeted an amount of up to US$536,550 to be made available to Jamaica. According to Minister Whiteman, the UNHCR's donation valued at about $33 million should cover expenses up to July 31.
PAHO TO HELP
"Additional support is expected from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)," he said.
The Information Minister also indicated that the 150 Haitians who have signed voluntary repatriation forms are expected to begin leaving the island sometime this week.
He noted that an Eligibility Committee will submit recommendations on asylum seekers to K.D. Knight, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, as soon as interviews are concluded. "As at May 28, there were 82 Haitian nationals remaining to be interviewed," Minister Whiteman said.
