Dear Editor,

No one could have imagined the destruction and massive loss of life that the people of Haiti would have suffered, when a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked that country on January 12.

Like Haiti, Jamaica is no stranger to disaster, having taken a battering in recent years from a slew of storms and hurricanes, such as Dean, Emily, Gustav and Ivan, and exposing our extremely fragile infrastructure.

For this reason, I am bewildered at the indifference of some Jamaicans at news that Haitians may flee their earthquake-ravaged country to seek refuge on our shores.

The comments which range from a wave of panic about Haitians descending on us with diseases and warnings for the government to seal off our ports of entry to prevent them from infiltrating our country are nothing short of inhumane. Equally shocking was the response of some Portlanders on a recent TVJ programme of their reluctance to welcome Haitians into their community for fear that they would put a strain on the parish’s limited resources.

While we cannot ignore Jamaica’s current fiscal situation, and the realities that such a disaster presents to proper health care, coupled with the possibility that escaped prisoners may number among those seeking refuge here, we should be mindful of the urgent humanitarian call of the Haitians.

I recall the deep sense of sadness I felt in 1988, on seeing the suffering of many Jamaicans after Hurricane Gilbert had devastated our island.

There was agreat deal of damage, scores of lives were lost, thousands displaced, and our agriculture and tourism industries were crippled. The humanitarian response then was overwhelming, and Jamaica began the process of rebuilding.

Haiti is facing a similar fate and it is important that we recognise that their disaster could have been our own.

The compassion of the vast majority of the Jamaican people has been unwavering in times of crisis, and this has been evident in the donation of items of clothing, food, water, and money from corporate Jamaica and Jamaicans from all walks of life. In responding to the Haitian crisis, the government, through ODPEM, could probably consider redirecting some of these resources to its refugee operations to defray the costs associated with housing the Haitians until they are returned home.

Most important, the Haitian people must be allowed to regain their dignity with our help, even as they come to terms with their loss and grapple with the Herculean task of rebuilding their lives and their country.

Robyn Miller

Kingston