Dear Editor,

In response to Richard Stewart’s concern in his letter of January 29 and to a concern that I have heard from many other Jamaicans, I have to say that I never got the impression that Minister Vaz or anyone else speaking on behalf of the government, was inviting Haitians to seek refuge in Jamaica.

It has taken far less than an earthquake for Haitians to flee to Jamaica or the USA, but in the wake of these earthquakes, Jamaica, the DR and the USA expect a significant increase in the number of Haitians who try to leave their homeland following the January 12 earthquake. I am under the impression that the Jamaican government is simply preparing for the inevitable wave of Haitian refugees that would seek to come to Jamaica.

I personally am thankful the government has had the foresight to make an effort to round up these refugees, rather than have them running free throughout the island, carrying potential health risks, eventually blending into society and finally costing more to us, the taxpayers.

One only has to see that a high-level administrator from the Department of Correctional Services is in charge of the “welcome wagon” to see that they really aren’t that welcome after all.

Sebastian Ogden

Kingston