THE CARIBBEAN Association for the Resettlement of Returning Residents (CARRR), has proposed the establishment of a Centre for Behaviour Modification to benefit Caribbean nationals who are involuntarily returned to their respective countries.
In a written proposal to the British High Commission to fund the £3.5 million project, Percival LaTouche, the association's president, said the facility would, among other things, provide for the smooth re-integration of deportees and would facilitate a public education programme to improve the negative perception towards that group.
He noted that not all persons who were deported to Caribbean nations had committed criminal acts in foreign countries.
According to the Constabulary Communication Network, within the last seven years, more than 15,500 persons have been deported to Jamaica, a significant majority being sent from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Of that number, more than 12,000 were engaged in criminal activities, according to the police, while more than 3,500 were illegal emigrants.
Efforts to obtain the figures for other Caribbean nations were unsuccessful.
In the proposal for the establishment of the behaviour modification centre, the association pointed out that many individuals who were deported from foreign countries have resided there for several decades.
According to Mr. LaTouche, the lack of a structured deportation system to facilitate the reintegration of persons into their country of origin, has resulted in many of the deportees getting involved in illegal activities.
"CARRR recognises that most of the deportees are young men and women, who, if given the appropriate assistance, can make substantial contribution to the countries to which they return," LaTouche said.
A copy of the project proposal has been sent to the Ministries of National Security and Foreign Affairs respectively and the resident representatives of Haiti, Nigeria, Barbados, Cuba, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
During the launch of the CARRR at the Jamaica Pegasus last July, the organisation noted its intentions to lobby for a structured system for the deportation of Caribbean nationals from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
And Phil Sinkinson, Deputy British High Commissioner to Jamaica, indicated his support for the move. "We are definitely on the same page," Sinkinson had said.
