Deportation and the sword of Damocles

THE EDITOR, Sir:

As another 60 Jamaicans await deportation from the land of Brexit, I am reminded of the story of the sword of Damocles which I hope that readers will check. People often have a sword above their heads waiting to make something happy and good end suddenly. Deportation is like the sword of Damocles for many in our Diasporas. 

I hope that these Jamaicans had anticipated that one day they might be on their way "home"; as I know that some of these people have thought England was their home.

Seventy years after Windrush and after perhaps thousands of Jamaicans have been deported over the decades, we are still in the same position.

Some of those who thought they were settled in the cynically described motherland were being sent home. Some had committed criminal acts but others were simply being deported for having the wrong colour.

I have been on those flights where I see the faces and hear the accents of Jamaicans and their descendants furtively looking around the departure lounge with a small plastic bag with their belongings in hand. In addition, there is a party of British police or other officials guarding those being sent on their way. I cannot believe that in the same newspaper report when I heard of the sixty Jamaicans, I read that more that 190 British officials were going to be on the flight from England.

Little of the discussion about Diasporas, returning migrants, remittances and so on deals with the many issues surrounding deportation. It is time for us to face the many challenges that we have as a nation instead of seeming to be in a haze or a cloud. 

What has happened to the thousands of deportees over the decades and what has happened to their families? What about the famous prison and the possibilities for rehabilitation and reintegration?
 

HILARY ROBERTSON-HICKLING 
UWI