THE Senate on Friday welcomed news that the British Government will not be placing a cap on amounts which will ultimately be paid out to the victims of the Windrush immigration débâcle.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said that the ministry was pleased to note that, while the public announcements indicated that compensation was valued at £200 million, the British Government will not put caps on the amounts which will ultimately be paid out to individuals.

“With the announcement of the scheme, it is now possible for persons who have been affected by the crisis to submit claims and to receive compensation in various categories from the British Government, if the claims are successful,” she noted.

Senator Johnson Smith also welcomed the provision of information on the British Home Office’s website which outlines the scope and parameters of the compensation scheme, and encouraged individuals who have been affected to submit their claims.

She said that the ministry will examine the provisions and operationalisation of the scheme in greater detail, in consultation with the Attorney General’s Chamber.

“In the interim, we will ensure that those Jamaicans who sought assistance when the crisis came to our attention last year are made aware of how they may pursue their claims. We will also be placing an ad in the newspapers and on our website, as we did last year, when seeking to help persons understand if they might be eligible for re-entry, etcetera,” Senator Johnson Smith said.