Coming Home to Jamaica

Just over a week ago the British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Mr Howard Drake, officially launched the Coming Home to Jamaica DVD at his residence.

The DVD showcases the work financed and implemented by the British High Commission, in partnership with the Jamaican Government, to safely return, reintegrate and rehabilitate deportees returned from the UK.

Jamaican nationals have traditionally constituted the largest number of foreign offenders incarcerated in UK prisons. Those sentenced to over 12 months are subject to an automatic deportation order on completion of their sentence and contribute to the number deported due to breach of immigration conditions or through illegal travel to the UK.

In recognition of the challenges that this creates the British Government in partnership with the Jamaican Government has designed and developed a support programme funded through the UK Reintegration and Rehabilitation Fund (RRF).  The DVD officially launched this week aims to highlight the support provided through the programme to help deportees get their life ‘back on track’.

Services include; transport to reunite and reconnect with family and friends, emergency accommodation for those who need a place to stay, help with re-documentation to enable citizens to access services, and skills training and counselling to help people find work.

Perhaps most importantly the DVD showcases deportees who have successfully come home and re-built their lives. People who have started successful businesses, people who have connected with families and friends, people who have gained new skills and refreshed old ones.

The DVD shows that deportation should not be thought of as a ‘sentence’, but as a second chance to improve their lives, to make a positive contribute to family and friends and the community in which they reside.

Whilst the launch was attended by many official partners within the Jamaican Government whose commitment and support make the programme possible, the attendance of deportees who have turned deportation into a positive opportunity made the event an extremely special evening.

Testimonies and personal experiences were shared on the podium and amongst the crowd. Stories of challenges faced and overcome, of opportunities seized and barriers removed all contributed towards a night of hope, optimism, partnership and support.

In launching the DVD the British High Commission did more than promote awareness of the services on offer to deported migrants they increased awareness on the positive impact deportees can make to the country and the communities in which they live and the need to support and assist people as they make a fresh start in their home country.