KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) this morning called on the Government to indicate what steps are being taken to accommodate and reintegrate deportees into Jamaican society.

The concerns were raised as the authorities prepare to meet a chartered flight with deportees from the United Kingdom later today.

The PNP claimed in its release that more than 100 Jamaicans are expected to arrive on that flight despite the Ministry of Foreign Affair and Foreign Trade previously saying it was unable to confirm a number.

The Opposition also renewed a previous call, asking “the Government to indicate what arrangements have been made to reintegrate the deportees into the society having regard to the reports that many have been living in the UK for many years and may not have any current relatives in the island”.

Yesterday, the Ministry of National Security indicated that the deportees would be met by Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) personnel and an officer of the Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs Division of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as well as representatives of the National Organisation for Deported Migrants (NODM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) funded by the British High Commission.

It also said a case manager has been assigned to assist the deportees with reintegration and they will also be provided with a publication titled ‘Coming Home to Jamaica,’ which contains information on how to reintegrate in Jamaica.

However, Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Dr Morais Guy found the Governments insufficient, saying, “The country cannot be comforted by the statement from the Jamaican authorities that they will be met by the JCF as well as by personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a non-government organisation”.

“More needs to be said”, he argued, adding that “the numbers this time are more than two fold of those deported last year and it is not certain whether the Jamaican government has made provisions for accommodation and social intervention resources for these displaced Jamaicans”.

The Opposition also expressed concern that people with appeals pending prior to 2014 might be in this group of deportees.

The party requested that the foreign affairs ministry, through the UK High Commission, ensures that adequate due diligence is undertaken to guarantee that this present group does not include any of those individuals.

Guy further asked the Government to “indicate that it is satisfied that all the deportees are in fact Jamaicans and did the Jamaican High Commission in the UK do the necessary investigations to ascertain this?”

The Opposition also called on the Government to indicate the current situation of deportees from September 2016 and the reporting or monitoring mechanisms that have been followed to ensure their safety and re-socialisation into the Jamaican society.

“Is there any tracking mechanism in place or are the displaced deportees just left by themselves. Is the government able to say what has been the fate of the members of that group and if there is no information, how can the country be assured that the measures being put in place now are adequate?” Guy questioned.