THE PRIME Minister, addressing an audience of specially invited members of the Jamaican diaspora at the Conference Centre, used the occasion to criticise those countries, notably the United States and Britain, which send back to Jamaica hardened criminals who have been granted early release of their prison terms abroad. From Jamaica's perspective such early release programmes are seen as an abdication by the host countries of their obligations to deal appropriately with persons who commit crimes in their jurisdictions, persons who in many cases left Jamaica years ago and are in effect cultural 'citizens' of the foreign State.
The PM's strictures come at a time when Britain has returned some 56 deportees to Jamaica and has plans to send back over 600 'early release' prisoners, some of them hardened criminals. This repatriation seems not to have been properly co-ordinated with local authorities who are unprepared to deal with the onslaught. Heeding Jamaica's protests, the British authorities have agreed pro tem not to include any high-risk criminals among the deportees pending further negotiations and more and better particulars about their criminal backgrounds.
It is no secret that over several years the British authorities have been gravely concerned about crime in the United Kingdom linked to Jamaicans involved in the drug trade, so much so that a policy decision appears to have been taken to try to deal with the problem in Jamaica rather than wait for its repercussions in London and other English cities. In keeping with this approach, the UK government has been helpful in providing Ironscan machines at the Donald Sangster and Norman Manley airports to detect drug smugglers before they board their planes for England. It has also provided funds and personnel to beef up training at the Police Training Academy and it appears that these steps were having some success.
The UK decision to send back so many deportees seems counter-productive to the overall policy objectives. British authorities surely know that under current Jamaican law deportees cannot be imprisoned in Jamaica on their return to the island. They can be monitored but not taken off the streets, which means that some of them may resume their criminal activities. Many deportees have been away from Jamaica for years and have lost contact with family members here. Upon their return they are unlikely to be able to find employment and are almost forced to return to crime in order to survive. This poses a great danger to the Jamaican society and will eventually have repercussions in England.
As the Prime Minister has admitted it is ultimately Jamaica's responsibility to deal with the problem. In this connection we note that Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, has ordered a full review of Jamaican laws which define the status of deportees as well as what further steps can be taken to ensure effective monitoring of their activities. On a pragmatic level there needs to be much better co-ordination between the British and Jamaican authorities to prevent the early release programme turning out to be "penny wise, and pound foolish".
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
