‘A DIFFERENT HAITI NOW’
Refugee in Jamaica since 1991 warns new groups entering island are not the same after decades of civil unrest
WHILE RECOGNISING that their birth country is buckling at its knees, due to high levels of crime and violence, a handful of Haitians who now reside in Jamaica are throwing support behind the Government’s decision to deny entry to their fellow countrymen.
“Mi know why the Government send dem back by boat. Mi know what Prime Minister Andrew Holness a feel. A nuh love him nuh love Haitian people. I know that any time you see boat come wid Haitian people, more want to come, too,” said Myrcot Tencea, who has been living in Jamaica since 2000.
He continued, “A nuh want Andrew want to send dem back, but more go continue to come, and that is a big situation for the Government.”
The Jamaican Government has been faced with backlash over its handling of Haitian refugees in the last year.
Approximately 100 Haitians, who entered the island by boat over the last 12 months, were denied entry, triggering calls from human rights lawyer Malene Alleyne to give the refugees a chance to seek asylum.
Alleyne has maintained that the Jamaican Government is breaking international law by sending the refugees back to the violence-plagued country.
Tencea, however, told The Gleaner that he understands the decision being taken by the leaders of the country. He pointed out that the Jamaican Government’s stance to deny Haitians entry may have been encouraged by the high levels of crime and civil unrest in his home country.
Haiti has been a victim of natural disasters and political sabotage for many years. Its last president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021, and just last week, embattled Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned as leader of the violence-torn country.
KILLER CAUGHT IN JAMAICA
John Joël Joseph, a former Haitian senator, has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of Moïse. The former senator was extradited from Jamaica to the United States to answer to his crimes.
Joseph, his wife, and their two sons were found hiding in St Elizabeth in January 2022. It was reported that they had entered the island illegally. The asylum request made on behalf of his wife and children was denied.
“Some of the Haitians who leave Haiti and come to Jamaica are good people. Mi come a Jamaica in 2000 and mi build mi house a Jamaica, plus mi work at a hotel because mi a mek life a Jamaica. Jamaica a nuh my country. A come mi come fi mek life‘ cause my country nuh good,” explained Tencea.
Jamaica is no stranger to Haitian refugees as many have travelled by sea in small boats, seeking a better life as they leave gang warfare, economic hardships, and starvation behind. There was an influx of Haitians in 2004, and many of them have made Mountpelier in St James their home for many years.
Haitian national Lemu Luver told The Gleaner that he moved to Jamaica in search of greener pastures in 1991. Luver said he has since “made life in Jamaica” and is now a naturalised Jamaican.
While expressing love for the country of his birth, Luver said he would not be a hypocrite and pretend that the crime and civil unrest being experienced in Haiti is not a cause for concern. He explained that this was his reason for supporting the Government’s decision to deny entry.
“I cannot give dem any wrong because based on what gwaan in Haiti, everybody ‘fraid fi tek dem in. Haitians who come Jamaica in 1991 are different from who deh come now. Is a different Haiti mi see now,” Luver bemoaned.
“If the prime minister decide fi tek dem, I agree, but if him nuh want dem here, I agree
same way because too much things a gwaan inna Haiti, so no country nuh trust Haitians again,” he added.
Pointing to the recent prison break at Haiti’s national penitentiary, where gang members orchestrated an attack to release hundreds of prisoners, Luver said the Jamaican Government’s reluctance to accept Haitian refugees is justified.
“Dem mash up prison. Mi nuh see that nowhere else. No security nuh over deh. Wul heap a prisoners lef, and we nuh know if some a dem nah go try come here to Jamaica, so Andrew affi do wah him a do,” said Luver.
Another Haitian national, Saint Ange Lorinda, told that Jamaica should be on high alert now that the prisoners are on the loose.
“A lot of gangster and criminal man wah dem ketch wid gun were in there. Right now dem out, so you don’t know which type of person is trying to come to Jamaica. I don’t disagree with the Government for sending them back right now,” said Lorinda.
Luver, however, supported the recent report that Jamaica would welcome approximately 50 Haitian orphans.
“The pickney dem nuh do anything, and dem can come grow into good somebody here in Jamaica,” said Luver.
Osnel Cherie, a woodworker living i n Jamaica since 1991, shared that he, too, understands why Haitians are being turned back.
“Right ya now, what mi see a happen inna my country ya now, I never lef it like that. It is up to Jamaican Government. Mi cya tell dem fi send dem back or even keep dem here. That is up to the prime minister, but every country ‘fraid a wah gwaan wid my country now,” Cherie said.
“I see more people a dead and the crime inna the country tan up strong every day. If him want to help dem, mi woulda glad because the country want help, but I understand if he doesn’t want to,” he added.