Late last month, in this space, this newspaper made the obvious point that our Caribbean country neighbour Haiti “desperately needs some good news, after the travesty in Springfield, Ohio (USA), where ridiculous lies have been spread that their migrants are eating pets”.

Close to three weeks later we see no evidence of the hoped-for good news. In fact, quite the contrary seems closer to the truth.

In the case of the disgraceful allegations about migrants eating cats and dogs, what has followed is predictable threatening, intimidatory and discriminatory behaviour towards Haitians living in the US.

In Haiti, a push towards suppression of criminal gangs and connected safety/security — which it was hoped would have been accelerated by the arrival of a Kenya-led international security force — is yet to gain momentum.

Thus far, only a small contingent, which also includes Jamaicans and Belizeans, has been deployed under the umbrella of the United Nations to assist the poorly resourced Haitian security forces in restoring law and order.

We hear of an inadequacy of funding for the security mission to Haiti. And Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mrs Kamina Johnson Smith referred recently to the need for more funding.

To compound matters, there was dreadful news recently that the Dominican Republic, with which Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola, has committed to the mass deportation of Haitian refugees.

News reports out of the Dominican Republic say that country is intent on deporting 10,000 Haitians every week as part of the drive to lighten the burden on its social services.

But there are allegations that what’s intended is “ethnic cleansing” and the gradual removal of black people of Haitian origin.

Against that backdrop, we are disturbed by news that a group of Haitians who arrived by boat in Portland, eastern Jamaica, just over a week ago, were deported within two days.

This newspaper reported that about 20 people, including women and children, arrived about 2:00 pm Saturday, October 5, and were sent back to Haiti the following night.

For us, what’s especially disturbing is the reported allegation by human rights lawyer and founder of the advocacy group Freedom Imaginaries, Ms Malene Alleyne, that she was prevented from speaking to the Haitians at the Port Antonio Police Station some time after their arrival.

The Gleaner newspaper reported Ms Alleyne as saying that “when I asked to speak with them [Haitians], I was denied access and I wasn’t provided reasons for why my request to provide legal assistance was refused”.

Also, Freedom Imaginaries has alleged that since July 2023 more than 130 newly arrived Haitians were expelled from Jamaica without due process.

All of that seems at odds with the reported assertion by Mrs Johnson Smith that arriving Haitians are treated humanely, decently, and that actions by responsible authorities are compliant with Jamaica’s refugee policy and “best practice”.

We recognise the need for a “delicate balancing act” and we have no doubt that some of those arriving are probably criminals, as suggested by Mrs Johnson Smith. But how is that decided? Who decides? And how is that process completed in much less than 48 hours?

Jamaicans and their leaders must be very careful that in treating with sisters and brothers from Haiti there is due process, due diligence, in every respect, morally and legally.