Haitians who landed in Portland sent home

The 35 Haitians who landed by boat on a beach at Kensington in Portland Sunday morning were sent home less than 24 hours after arriving. 

The group, which comprised 29 men, five women and a child, landed in Kensington shortly before 5 a.m. and the police were alerted.

It is understood that the Haitians, who underwent screening and were medically examined, were sent back to their homeland aboard a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) coast guard vessel Sunday afternoon, which sailed from the Boundbrook Wharf in Port Antonio. 

The Haitians reportedly claimed that they were fleeing persecution, civil unrest, gang warfare, and economic hardships in their country.

In February, the government refused an application for asylum for 37 Haitians, who are currently being housed at a non-custodial facility in St Mary.

But in June the government announced that it was developing a humanitarian stay option for Haitians fleeing their war-torn homeland.

- Gareth Davis Snr

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