ST GEORGE’S, Grenada — Grenadian Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, says he will continue to appeal to developed countries such as the United States and Britain to reverse the policy of deporting criminals back to the Caribbean.

Thomas, who is also the Chairman of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, said the practice of deporting those that are convicted of criminal activities after they have completed their incarceration is causing significant hardship for the region.

“Generally, Grenada and other Caribbean nations are without the adequate means — counseling, monitoring, and housing — to adequately respond and adapt to the socio-economic impacts of addressing the needs of deportees,” Thomas said.

He noted that the practice of deporting Caribbean nationals has led to an increase in crime and in sophistication of criminal activity and seriously adding pressure on the resources of the police and law enforcement agencies.

“We will continue to discuss this matter at the bilateral and multilateral levels in a bid to bring a resolution to a problem that can have a significant impact on our societies and our economies. At a minimum, we will be seeking from the authorities of the deporting countries, some assistance towards the development of our capacity to deal with the adaptive/re-entry problems that are endemic to deportees with criminal histories, especially those who were convicted for crimes involving violence and/or the sale or use of narcotics,” he said.

Thomas said that while a majority of the deportees actually grew up and were socialised into the culture of the deporting countries, they are often without an accommodating family structure in Grenada and other Caribbean islands.

Every year The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada deport thousands of persons back to the Caribbean after serving jail terms and in 2002, the CARICOM Regional Task Force on Crime and Security had recommended that countries establish offices for the resettlement of deportees.