Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE BARBERS and hairdressers at the Haitian refugee camp at Montpelier, St. James, were kept busy yesterday coifing and grooming their fellow refugees for their return home in today's planned repatriation exercise.
"They (the authorities) say all Haitian refugees must leave tomorrow (today)," said Pierre Lamont, one of the 188 refugees at the camp, in an interview yesterday. "I applied for asylum but I hear nothing so I getting ready to go back to Haiti."
While confirming that some of the Haitians will be leaving today, Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, said only 100 persons will be sent home. He declined to comment on whether those remaining are being considered for asylum.
SECURITY LOCKDOWN
Residents of Montpelier, who have been denied their customary free access to the camp since a security lockdown was instituted there last weekend, were generally peeved at the decision to send home the Haitians, with whom they have forged close friendships during the past two years.
"I think it is wrong to send them back to Haiti without any consideration for their safety," said Montpelier resident Myrtle Thomas, who described the Haitians as "hardworking and industrious".
"When I listen to the news I don't get the feeling that Haiti is stable," she continued. "I think it is wrong to send these people back to such a dangerous place."
"The situation here is quite sensitive at this time but I am not permitted to discuss it with the media," said Major John Smith, the Government official in charge of the Montpelier camp.
In response to the concerns raised by some of the Haitians regarding their request for asylum, Justice Lloyd Ellis, who headed the United Nation's ad hoc committee that handled their appeals, said his committee had long completed its work and made its recommendations.
