Following weeks of discussions with the UK Home Office, Chief Minister Ian Gorst this week announced that allowing a small number of Syrian families into Jersey and granting them employment, housing and public services rights could enable other refugees living legally in the UK to claim similar entitlements.
The claim, he said, could be made under the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that a nation cannot treat one group of refugees differently from another.
Senator Gorst said that he was not prepared to expose Jersey to the risk of potentially thousands of UK-based refugees being able to live and work in the Island.
However, Guernsey Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq said that officials were still assessing whether the island could take a small number of Syrian families and that the issue could be taken to a vote in the States. Up to 40 homes are reportedly willing to provide accommodation to refugees.
‘One of the options being looked at could include helping to resettle a proportionate number of refugees in Guernsey under the UK’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme,’ he said.
‘In addition, former refugees who have been already resettled in the UK may wish to voluntarily relocate to Guernsey because it is part of the Common Travel Area.
‘We are assessing whether there will be sufficient access to health care, welfare, security and employment opportunities in our island for refugees being resettled directly from camps near Syria.
‘Any option that required any change to be taken forward will, of course, also need to be put before the States for deliberation. We will be seriously considering Jersey’s position when formulating our own policy,’ he added.
While reading a statement to the States Assembly, Senator Gorst said that Jersey did not have its own procedures for asylum and that it was therefore reliant on UK processes.
‘If we were to resettle refugees via the UK relocation scheme, we would be obliged to ensure parity with the provisions made under that scheme,’ he said. ‘This would include immediate access to work, education and health services, plus the provision of housing and the provision of benefits, or an equivalent income.
‘We could find ways to make appropriate provision, either by using powers that exist in law, or by bringing forward new statutory provisions. But doing so would present a significant risk because, under the European Convention on Human Rights, as enacted by the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000, we cannot treat one group of refugees differently from another.
‘If we were to make special provision for Syrian refugees, we would leave ourselves vulnerable to a legal challenge on the grounds of discrimination. And this would mean that any refugee, whether or not they were Syrian, who was living legally in the UK and who entered Jersey could potentially, from their point of arrival, be entitled to the same special provisions. Our island simply would not have the capacity to manage the impact on housing stock, on public services, or on the work market,’ he added.
Angela Rosamond: ‘I for one am happy about this as I’ve always said Jersey can’t do it! And legally that was right! On the other hand I do think we should help make families’ lives easier in these camps, particularly those poor children that did not ask to be brought into the world or dragged around the world because of bombings and war! That’s who I feel for – the children!’
Jennie Hamilton: ‘At last, a decision based on good old common sense!’
Steve O’Driscoll: ‘I agree with Gorst. If you feel it is wrong, then make huge donations. What they need is money. The charities said they don’t need any more clothes or bedding, they need money for medical purposes and food.’
Lee Carpenter: ‘A sad day for Jersey and even sadder for the handful of families we could have helped. Let us hope we never need similar assistance in the future.’
Becky Mauger: ‘This disgusts me. I would like to think if we were ever a country in need that others would take us in. Where do you think evacuees went in the war?’
Jeremy Papajoe Foott: ‘Well all those who were in favour of bringing them in can now put put their money where their mouth is and set up a donation plan. Let’s see how much they actually make!’
Wayne Rousseau: ‘Well he has made the right decision but for wrong reasons. Let’s hope he starts listening to the people of this Island along with the other new muppet politicians who supported this ridiculous idea.’
