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Will this work? And I think that 72,000 is incorrect, more like 720,000.
Gov't confirms knowledge of British prisoner rehabilitation scheme
Karyl Walker
Saturday, January 02, 2010
PERMANENT secretary in the National Security Ministry Major Richard Reece Thursday confirmed that the Jamaican Government was aware of the British Facilitated Returns Scheme under which the UK government is offering foreign nationals imprisoned in that country £5,000, (J$72,000) if they accept deportation before their sentences expire.
The revelation came a day after Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kenneth Baugh, and Information Minister Daryl Vaz expressed ignorance about the programme.
"It has been ongoing and what we are trying to do is to enlighten more persons about it. The money is actually for starting businesses and finding housing as some persons who get deported end up displaced," Reece told the Observer.
But the scheme was blasted by a high-ranking police officer, who accused the British government of offloading criminal elements created by their system on Jamaica.
Meanwhile, the British High Commission responded in a release explaining that the scheme was operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and was not exclusive to Jamaicans but all nationals born outside of Europe.
"It is a voluntary scheme, designed to help foreign prisoners of any non-European nationality, (not just Jamaican), resettle on their return home and build a better life," the release stated.
Sexual offenders and others who commit certain violent crimes are barred from benefiting from the scheme. Prisoners also undergo risk assessment before they are allowed to access the grant, the release said.
Apart from housing and business, the grant can be used to pursue educational studies or pay medical bills.
Prisoners who qualify for the grant will receive a first payment of £500 in cash, of which £46 pounds will be paid upon departure from Britain. The remainder will be given in the form of an automated banking card which can be used to make withdrawals from financial institutions in the prisoner's home country.
The remainder of the grant can only be obtained if a criminal offender provides the IOM with evidence of legitimate business plans, rent, educational and/or medical expenses.
Gov't confirms knowledge of British prisoner rehabilitation scheme
Karyl Walker
Saturday, January 02, 2010
PERMANENT secretary in the National Security Ministry Major Richard Reece Thursday confirmed that the Jamaican Government was aware of the British Facilitated Returns Scheme under which the UK government is offering foreign nationals imprisoned in that country £5,000, (J$72,000) if they accept deportation before their sentences expire.
The revelation came a day after Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kenneth Baugh, and Information Minister Daryl Vaz expressed ignorance about the programme.
"It has been ongoing and what we are trying to do is to enlighten more persons about it. The money is actually for starting businesses and finding housing as some persons who get deported end up displaced," Reece told the Observer.
But the scheme was blasted by a high-ranking police officer, who accused the British government of offloading criminal elements created by their system on Jamaica.
Meanwhile, the British High Commission responded in a release explaining that the scheme was operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and was not exclusive to Jamaicans but all nationals born outside of Europe.
"It is a voluntary scheme, designed to help foreign prisoners of any non-European nationality, (not just Jamaican), resettle on their return home and build a better life," the release stated.
Sexual offenders and others who commit certain violent crimes are barred from benefiting from the scheme. Prisoners also undergo risk assessment before they are allowed to access the grant, the release said.
Apart from housing and business, the grant can be used to pursue educational studies or pay medical bills.
Prisoners who qualify for the grant will receive a first payment of £500 in cash, of which £46 pounds will be paid upon departure from Britain. The remainder will be given in the form of an automated banking card which can be used to make withdrawals from financial institutions in the prisoner's home country.
The remainder of the grant can only be obtained if a criminal offender provides the IOM with evidence of legitimate business plans, rent, educational and/or medical expenses.