By Latonya Linton
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Jamaicans overseas are being encouraged to adhere to the laws governing the countries where they reside, comes from prime minister, Andrew Holness, who was addressing Thursday’s National Security Council Seminar at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston.
Since the new United States administration’s inauguration last month, they have been following through on their plan to deport criminal offenders living in the US illegally, which includes a number of Jamaicans.
“Let me be clear, we respect the sovereign right of any country to determine their internal security, public order and social policy. We encourage all our Jamaicans who live in foreign countries to follow the law of the country in which you are resident, but never forget that Jamaica is your homeland,” Holness said. “You are not homeless or stateless. What we are trying to build here is a place where every Jamaican can feel proud and comfortable to come back home… that is what we want to build here. If you’re finding it difficult where you are, come back here. Ackee and saltfish was always good; it (ackee) is on the tree; you can get it. Don’t stay there and suffer, come back home.”
However, the prime minister warned deportees against coming back to Jamaica with criminal intentions.
“Don’t come back here to destroy your homeland and what we have been working very hard to create so that you wouldn’t have had to leave in the first place. So expect to be dealt with a firm hand if your intent is criminal. Come back and let us build your homeland so that you can stand up with pride with the citizens of the world about your country, that you don’t have to be economic refugees. That’s what it is about,” Holness declared. “Disabuse yourself of this notion that you can only make it through crime and, therefore, you’re going to join a gang and become a part of the problem. I appeal to all of you who have been exposed overseas and see what prosperity is like, come back home and let us work together to build the prosperous nation that Jamaica is destined to be.”
The prime minister also addressed media reports that the US state of Florida is contemplating a stipulation requiring persons sending remittances to provide proof that they are not undocumented immigrants.
“We respect the sovereign rights of any country to pursue their public order, citizen security and social policies. But it would be very useful, however, if the intention is to find criminals who are also illegal migrants, to put some effort on those who are trying to send back guns to Jamaica. The remittance coming back to Jamaica is helping grandma in some remote community to survive an extra day; so, too, is the barrel with rice; but it is unfortunate when the gun is in that rice,” Holness said.
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