Representatives from several international organizations, who spent more than a
week in the country holding interviews with the West Africans living here since
late December, are expected to submit a preliminary report of their findings today.
The seven-member team represent the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR), the International Migration Organisation (IMO), United
Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan
American Health Organisation (PAHO) completed interviews with approximately
one hundred and twenty-five of the migrants living in several areas. Antigua and
Barbuda’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Daven Joseph and Chief Immigration Officer,
Katrina Yearwood were among the local officials accompanying the team on its
visits.
Joseph said, the information gleaned will assist the government to formulate a
policy position of what to do with the West Africans who arrived here in late
December, on charters that operated falsely under the Antigua Airways banner.
“The government is expected to use the findings of the report to make a
determination on whether to repatriate the West Africans to Cameroon, their native
land, or to assimilate them into the local society. For example, if the government
decided to repatriate them to their homeland there are a number of international
obligations to which the government must adhere. Secondly, if the decision is to
assimilate them then the socioeconomic capacity of the country would be called
into question,” Joseph explained.
He confirmed that there is now significant pressure on the government to handle
this matter correctly, especially in light of the tragedy two weeks ago when thirty
migrants took a small vessel on a fateful journey from Antigua, heading to what
was believed to have been the US Virgin Islands. The vessel capsized at sea
leaving three persons dead and another thirteen missing.
During the discussions, Ambassador Joseph said the migrants were advised not to
‘put themselves in harm’s way’ by attempting to leave the country illegally. He
added that several have expressed concerns about their safety here in Antigua and
Barbuda, as their presence has now become a ‘hot button item’.
“They have expressed gratitude at the hospitality they have received and are
thankful for the assistance they have received from some members of the society.
However, they don’t feel comfortable with the fact that they are the cause for some
measure of political divide and they have expressed fears about their own safety,”
he revealed.
Joseph added that one member of the team indicated that from interactions with the
migrants, fears were expressed about having to seek medical attention should they
become ill and what such exposure would do to their safety.
