Refugees and deportees

EDITOR: The Caribbean is at an important juncture because of the request, or maybe I should say demand, by America to take deportees and refugees into their country. So far there is no definite response by our government here in SVG. In the not too distant future we would be called upon to take some of these persons and a definite response would have to be made.

Accepting them can not only pose a security risk where crimes can rise uncontrollably since some would be criminals and so likely to continue in crimes and also engage locals into committing crimes of various nature. But, it can also pose financial problems. As citizens we must be told what are the deals. Would the American government give financial support to keep these persons here? After all, housing, clothing and feeding them would be of necessity. If there is no help financially from USA, then the government has to provide for them. That is why I say it can pose financial problems.

Money would have to be found, as well as jobs for them, while we have persons who are homeless and persons who are unemployed and also living in poverty who ought to be helped and taken care of but are not. But then these deportees would be taken care of, what an injustice.

Antigua Prime Minister laid out his condition. He said that he could take ten (10) persons, but they must have a skill and do not have a criminal record. The other countries have not given any condition.

As Vincentians we are eagerly awaiting a definite response from our Prime Minister. Accepting deportees can be very detrimental and can send us down a slippery slope, financially, socially and crimes-wise.

I call upon our government to put the interest of Vincentians first, and the security of our people must never be compromised. Failure to say no can result in the downward slope of this nation, something none of us would like to see occur in our life time. We all want this country to move upwards and become a great nation.
Long live SVG.

Kennard King