FIFTY-NINE Jamaicans described as "not hardened criminals", many of them women, will be deported today from the United Kingdom, representing the first group of more than 600 who are to be deported to Jamaica from the UK by year-end.

Sources told the Observer late yesterday that "a bloc of 59 seats have been secured" to repatriate the 59 to Jamaica, but it could not be ascertained which of the two airlines would be taking them to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

Jamaican officials expressed concerns last week when Britain announced that it would be allowing foreign prisoners shorter sentences in exchange for early deportation to the homeland.

Permanent secretary in the security ministry Gilbert Scott said last Friday that his ministry was seeking information from British officials on the nature of the offence for which the persons being deported had committed.

It was not clear last night if the security ministry had received the necessary information on the 59 scheduled to arrive today.

However, a police spokesperson, who confirmed the scheduled arrival of the deportees today, told the Observer that they would be processed by the police, as is customary.

Last month, 371 Jamaicans, including 53 women, were deported - mainly from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

But it was not immediately clear yesterday who was responsible for paying the airfare for the deportees.

Head of Immigration at the Canadian High Commission in Kingston James Crowther said the issue of repatriation of deportees was a complex one.

He noted that while some deportees buy their own airline tickets, it was the government of the country the individuals were being deported that should bear the costs.

"Some costs are also absorbed by the airlines, particularly if the individuals travelled on documents that were not in order," he added.

"Not all individuals are criminal deportees. Some have overstayed their time and in those instances they are asked to leave, rather than be 'forcibly deported'. In those instances they buy their tickets to avoid being deported," said Crowther.
He said that in those cases the individuals have a chance of returning as tourists. He was unable to say what the cost of deportation was.

Like the Canadians, the United States Office of Public Affairs in Kingston was unable to put a dollar figure on airline cost for deportees.

Media co-ordinator Natalie Rose said cost would vary, depending upon the point of origin (in the US).

She referred further queries to the Public Affairs Office of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Washington. But that office did not respond to the information requested.

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