By John Myers Jr., Staff ReporterIN A surprising move yesterday, the British Government postponed plans to deport several hundred 'high-risk' Jamaicans who have opted for early release from prison on condition that they be sent home.
Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, in an interview with The Gleaner last night, said the British Government agreed to suspend the deportation after the Jamaican Government expressed "shock and dismay" at the decision, especially in light of current bi-lateral partnership between the two countries in anti-drug operations.
DESTABILISE
"We made the point that by removing these persons at this point will destabilise our efforts and, in fact, will have an impact not only on us here in Jamaica but will also on the United Kingdom," Mr. Scott said.
The Tony Blair-led government's decision to return Jamaicans serving time in British prisons took the Jamaican Government and U.K. authorities by surprise. Like Jamaica, other countries with nationals jailed in the U.K., protested the decision.
As a result, the U.K., for the time being, will only return 'low-risk' Jamaicans, for example, those who have served time after their conviction as drug couriers. The first batch was expected to arrive in the island last night on an Air Jamaica flight.
Mr. Scott last night said that the British Government agreed not to send anymore prisoners "until we have an opportunity to pursue the discussions and negotiations that are under way." He confirmed, too, that British authorities have assured that the 58 persons who were expected to land here last night were 'minor offenders', those who were convicted on drug smuggling charges. He said of the 58 persons, 21 were women.
Last Friday, news came that the British Government would be sending home a number of Jamaicans incarcerated in British prisons. About 2,400 Jamaicans are said to be behind bars there. Initial reports had suggested that the Jamaicans were being released on the condition that they would complete their prison sentences in local prisons.
"We believe the suspension is a positive development, it will give us an opportunity to engage in negotiations to ensure that there is an agreed approach to the whole matter," emphasised the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security.
The majority of Jamaicans deported last year came from the U.K., 1,982 of the 3,940 deported, according to the 2003 Social and Economic Survey.
