The Justice Commission of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, in a letter to National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips, has asked the Government to review the way in which it is treating the 23 Haitians who recently arrived in Jamaica.

In a letter dated March 2, Father Jim Webb, chairman of the Justice Commission, wrote to Minister Phillips raising three concerns.

In the letter Father Webb argued that, if the impression given by the media is correct, the Permanent Secretary of the National Security Ministry, Gilbert Scott, "instructed that these persons were to be treated as common criminals" and be charged with illegal entry into Jamaica.

"This is not in accord with our international obligations, especially in light of the present circumstances in Haiti, where reports are that armed gangs are moving out of the capital to rural areas," he said. "In addition, our history is to accord to Haitians adjudication of claims for asylum/refugee status."

Father Webb also argued that reports indicated that access to the Haitians has been denied to the Honorary Consul of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

"In light of the course of events that have taken place, the claims that access was denied on medical grounds appear to be blatantly spurious," he said.

Due legal process

He also said it did not appear that the Haitians were accorded "due legal process with respect to their rights to claim asylum or have access to legal counsel".

Father Webb's letter went on to say that, since Dr. Phillips had treated these matters in the past in a humanitarian way, with respect for Jamaican and international law, he hoped that the Haitians would be accorded the rights and respect that they deserve.