Opposition demands full disclosure of TCN agreement and transfer schedule

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) is renewing its demand for the Government to immediately disclose the full details of the Third Country Nationals (TCN) arrangement with the United States, including the memorandum of understanding (MOU), transfer schedule and security protocols governing the arrival and temporary accommodation of individuals in Jamaica. In a statement on Tuesday, the Opposition said it is unacceptable that the Government has announced the imminent arrival of the first group of third-country nationals without first tabling the agreement in Parliament or providing Jamaicans with a comprehensive account of its terms and implications. “The Government is asking Jamaicans to accept a security arrangement they have not been allowed to see,” said Opposition Spokesperson on National Security, Fitz Jackson. “We have not been told where these individuals will be housed, under what security conditions or who will be responsible for monitoring them. Before a single flight lands, Parliament must see this agreement.” Jackson said the Government must also disclose the operational procedures governing the arrangement, the legal liabilities Jamaica may assume and the contingency measures in place should a receiving country refuse to accept any of the individuals transferred. He further questioned how the costs associated with security, healthcare, accommodation and logistical support would be met, particularly in light of the Government’s assurance that Jamaica would bear no financial responsibility for the arrangement. “The Government must also define what it calls a transit arrangement and provide full details of the persons who will be arriving on a batch-by-batch basis,” the statement added. The Opposition is particularly concerned that, despite confirming that the first flight is expected shortly, the Government has yet to provide critical information about the implementation of the arrangement and its potential implications for national security and affected communities. The PNP maintains that information of this significance should not be communicated through fragmented press releases and statements from various ministries. Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign, Regional and Diaspora Affairs, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, said the Government’s handling of the matter raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability and Jamaica’s international obligations. “Jamaicans deserve full transparency on an agreement with serious implications for our national security, our international obligations and our reputation as a country that upholds the rule of law. Announcing a cap of 25 persons per fortnight and a suspension trigger of 10 asylum applications, without showing Jamaicans the legal agreement, is not transparency. It is policy by press release, and that is unacceptable on a matter of this magnitude,” she said. The PNP reaffirmed its support for safe, orderly and lawful migration, as well as the importance of maintaining Jamaica’s longstanding partnership with the United States. However, the party maintained that international cooperation cannot come at the expense of transparency, parliamentary oversight or the protection of Jamaica’s national interests. The Opposition is therefore calling on the Government to immediately table the full agreement in Parliament.