ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Contrary to the belief emanating from some quarters, deportees do not head the list of crime perpetrators in Antigua & Barbuda.
National Security Minister Dr Errol Cort said these individuals are not at the forefront of the criminal activities that “we are currently experiencing.”
In an exclusive interview with OBSERVER Media, Dr Cort said based on reports from the various law enforcement agencies, “The suggestion is that perhaps they might be more behind the scenes organising and arranging, but they are certainly not at the forefront.”
In 2012, 62 citizens of Antigua & Barbuda were deported back to the state.
Twenty of that number was from the United States of America, 20 from the United Kingdom and 20 from Canada, with the remainder from other Caribbean islands.
In 2011, that number was 45 with twenty persons coming from the United States of America.
The category of offences which caused their deportation includes, aggravated felony, child molestation, denied entry, narcotics, overstaying, rape, robbery and larceny and working illegally.
The national security minister said citizens are removed from other countries after they would have served time for the alleged offence.
He said upon their return to the island, “serious offenders are monitored by the respective agencies to ensure that they don’t break the law.
The number of illegal immigrants to the island is minuscule when compared to other islands such as Jamaica and Guyana.
Seven Hundred and Fifty (750) Guyanese were deported from various countries last year.
A release from Guyana’s police department indicated the deportees were mainly from the USA (158), Canada (112), Trinidad (128), Barbados (82) and Suriname (234).
In Jamaica, a review of country’s migration situation highlighted that between 2000 and 2012 more than 34,199 persons were deported to the island.
(More in today’s Daily OBSERVER)
It is not clear here if the policy makers are trying to determine if the rise in criminal activity is directly related to the increase in deported Antiguans from places like the USA, Canada or the UK.
The reference to illegal returnees being higher in Jamaica and Guyana should be related to their larger population abroad. Also, they should not be referred to as illegals, they are returning to their home countries.
Policy makers should try to determine if the spike in crime rates is home grown and what causes it. I have heard this situation discussed here in NY as being related to the return of Antiguan criminals from major US cities, but your data on the Island seems not to support that position.
There seems to be a breakdown of morals and a larger decline in opportunities. Also, most of your crime (from what I’m reading in your newspapaer) is being committed by immigrants from the other Carribean islands. If these are former residents of major US cities, Canada, and the UK, deported back to their home countries, who later find their way to Antigua, then Antigua has to find a way to deny them entry even with your trans-carribean immigration and labor agreements.
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IT would be interesting to find out how many of the deportees are naturalized antiguans.
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Even though the crime that was committed by the individuals may not be the focal point at this moment, what should be the main concern is that, 45 individuals were deported back to Antigua in 2011 and then 62 in in 2012, That indicates that there is an increase in criminal activities among Antiguans abroad. It indicates that there is a disconnect between what and whom we think we are and what is being taught too our poeple and what is being upheld.
This tells us its time that we begin to rally together a nation and bring back the pride in our people that has kept us under the radar all these years. Deportation of individuals back to Antigua is one thing that we should not be seeing an increase in, but instead we should be seeing a natural decrease on an annual basis. I pray that we as a nation can rise to the challenge of making sure that we are teaching our new generations that we must first love each other before sneakers become the pivotal point of who we are, and teach them to reign in their carnal desires, so that wiser decisions can be made pertaining to moral issues. Its time for us to bring back the slogan and live by it my people IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE ONE CHILD. Its time for us to stop living by one hand on top the table while the other is working under the table. If we don’t start practicing integrity as individuals how can we portray integrity as a nation? Remember my brothers an sisters, it takes one to make a positive change.
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