Last week the JEP revealed that the government was ‘examining’ the possibility of bringing unaccompanied child refugees into Jersey and it is believed that civil servants are liaising with UK officials over the matter.
Separately, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft has lodged proposals calling for the government to make accepting unaccompanied child refugees one of its strategic priorities. His actions come following a meeting with Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, a former child refugee who called for the Crown Dependencies – Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man – to share the UK’s responsibility for taking child refugees from Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
In 2015, former Chief Minister Ian Gorst withdrew plans to bring a handful of refugee families to Jersey, claiming that it could lead to large numbers of UK-based refugees coming to the Island under the European Convention on Human Rights.
On social media, many Islanders have come out in support of the latest move to bring unaccompanied children to Jersey, claiming that the Island needs to show its compassionate side and pointing out that many children were evacuated from Jersey during the Second World War.
But those opposed to the move have also been vocal, saying that Jersey still has lessons to learn about looking after its own children before accepting possibly traumatised children from elsewhere.
Others have warned that adult migrants may pose as minors to gain access to the Island and that large numbers of relatives could become entitled to come to Jersey under European law, if a child refugee settles in the Island.
Life coach Mark Baker, who has previously spoken out against Jersey accepting refugees, said that he while he ‘wholeheartedly’ backed support for children in war zones he believed that there could be ‘unintended consequences’ if child refugees were allowed here.
‘There is the European Rights Act, which has a very clear view on the family’s right to join their relatives,’ he said.
‘Middle-eastern families can be anything from a dozen people to over 50 per family, so it would only take several families exercising their right to join to cause this idea to get out of hand very quickly.’
Mr Baker said that he was ‘disappointed’ with Mr Crowcroft for relying on the opinion of Lord Dubs with regard to the Crown Dependencies.
‘The man clearly has no understanding of the Islands, as he blindly wishes to see us succumb to the massive problems in Europe caused by this kind of feckless faulty thinking,’ he said.
‘[They] believe everyone coming across the sea to Europe is a refugee, when in fact in excess of 80% are economic migrants with no legitimate reason to be there.’
He added: ‘We have children in Jersey urgently in need of adoption and fostering. It was reported only last week that there are record numbers of young people in Jersey who are homeless, yet once more we look further afield while ignoring the needs of our own young.
‘Does this mean I think we should turn our backs on children in need? Absolutely not. I just believe with all my heart that given the wider issues that this is very likely to have catastrophic consequences for Jersey. Therefore, we should help but we should help at arm’s length.’
A number of States Members were contacted for comment on the matter but declined to respond.
