The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is aware of the deportation of 42 Jamaicans from the United Kingdom today, by way of Charter flight. The Ministry is also aware of protest action taken yesterday by a small group of persons outside the Jamaican High Commission in London, in respect of this matter.
We have been advised by the Ministry of National Security, which has lead responsibility for such matters, that such flights have previously been used over the past several years, under a June 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Jamaica and the United Kingdom, which addresses such matters.
The Ministry will remain in contact with both the Jamaican High Commission in London, as well as the Ministry of National Security, to address any issues which might arise for our attention.
In the interim, we wish to also assure the Jamaicans at home and abroad that while the appointment of a new Jamaican High Commissioner is being finalized, the staff of the High Commission, including an Acting High Commissioner, are seized with the circumstances and remain available to advise members of the Diaspora in the United Kingdom who have specific concerns in respect of relatives, of any appropriate action which may be open to them.
