Support pours in for Jamaicans fleeing war-torn country

A Jamaican organisation in Florida, Jamaican Men of Florida, has offered to provide financial resources to pay airfares for Jamaican students currently stranded in Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia.

In a statement to The Gleaner, the Florida-based organisation through its president, Dr Rupert Francis, said that the students who had been stranded in the war-torn country should not have the added burden of having to pay their way home by way of a government loan.

“The safety of the students should be first and foremost. Getting them out of Ukraine must be the highest priority and they should not have to deal with getting loans to be able to get home. Loans to which they do not have full details about repayment and interest rates to be charged,” he said.

Francis pointed to the fact that several countries around the world are offering to get foreign nationals and Ukrainians out as a matter of priority.

He said that the Jamaican Government should seek to have the students travel to another country either under the umbrella of the United Nations or under a truce flag and the organisation would raise the necessary funds to either underwrite the government loan or purchase tickets for the students.

“The number one priority of any government is the safety of its citizens and in this instance, the students are caught in a situation, not of their making and the government’s prime focus should be to getting them out safely.”

He said that Jamaican Men of Florida would assist the students to get home safely without the added burden of having to get a loan.

Founder of the Jamaican Men of Florida and Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, Dr Allan Cunningham, said that the offer by the organisation was in keeping with its mandate to try to improve the lives of Jamaicans.

He said that he was confident that members of the organisation would rally to the cause.

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Information, Robert Morgan, said that the Government would accept any assistance offered but pointed out that the issue was not solely about transporting the students home.

“The Jamaican Government will transport the students home if all issues for them are resolved and they make their way to a safe neighbouring country,” he said.

Morgan said that the students faced school issues and residency issues if they leave and were to return to school.

Because of this, he said the students were seeking to have the issues sorted out. The Government, he further stated, has been in contact with countries such as Poland to get the students out of Ukraine.

He stressed that the offer of loans to the students was made before the situation escalated to war.

“The Government will bring them home,” he said.

Gov’t was with students

Morgan insisted that the Government was working with the students to have all issues resolved. He pointed out that some universities in Ukraine have already gone online to make the necessary adjustments to facilitate the students.

Meanwhile, the People’s National Party has raised some US$10,000 to assist the students with transportation, food, and other essentials.

In a press release, Opposition leader and President of the PNP, Mark Golding, said that he has contacted the prime minister to find out if the funds could be routed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the efforts are coordinated and seamless.

“We just want to get the money to them as quickly as possible to help to get them out,” he said.

Pointing out that he has been in contact with the students, Golding said that the situation is challenging and changes rapidly.

Golding said that at the request of the students, he advanced the required sum into the account of one of the students to purchase train tickets for all 25 students who were actively trying to leave.

It was also announced yesterday that Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ Positive Jamaica Foundation has raised some US$11,500 to be used to assist the students in Ukraine.

Morgan told The Gleaner that the funds would be disbursed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the students with anything they need.