Arthur Green, Gleaner WriterST. THOMAS:
A GROUP of 31 Haitian refugees was rescued at sea by fishermen yesterday morning and taken to Dalvey Bay in St. Thomas.
The Constabulary Com-munication Network office for St. Thomas reported that about 10:30 a.m., fishermen saw the group in a canoe in Jamaican waters and brought them ashore. The Golden Grove police were summoned, following which the group was taken to the Golden Grove Primary School and from there to the Port Antonio Health Facility for medical assessment.
The group consists of 16 men, four women, seven boys and four girls. The refugees said they had left Haiti from 10 p.m. on Thursday, and were fleeing political persecution.
POLITICAL ASYLUM
Last year, following the departure of deposed president Jean Bertrand-Aristide, over five hundred Haitians arrived in Jamaica, seeking political asylum. Some have since been returned to their homeland.
Sergeant Myers of the Golden Grove police said that after the group leaves the Port Antonio Health Facility, they will be housed at the Winnifred Rest Shelter in Portland. He said the St. Thomas police and the local health authorities will continue to co-ordinate further assistance for the Haitians.
