British MP Livid Over Jamaica’s Decision to Reject Prison Deal
In 2015, the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – David Cameron announced that Britain intended to aid in the construction of a modern prison in Jamaica.
The prison, once completed according to the BBC would be used to house hundreds of Jamaicans currently incarcerated in Britain.
Cameron at the time stressed the need to have the prisoners returned to Jamaica stating:
“It is absolutely right that foreign criminals who break our laws are properly punished but this shouldn’t be at the expense of the hardworking British taxpayer.”
The UK offered £25-million to assist with the construction of the new prison. However that deal did not sit well with many Jamaicans who ridiculed the then PNP led government for even entertaining such a proposition.
In January, 2017, the Andrew Holness led administration rejected the offer with Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith stating that the terms of the offer “were not beneficial to Jamaica as a whole.”
And now a British parliamentarian has shared his displeasure with Jamaica’s decision to reject the offer.
According to a report by UK news company, The Sun:
“Tory MP Philip Hollobone last night said: “The reaction from the Jamaican government is a complete disgrace.
“Their Ambassador should be called in and urgent arrangements should be made or some other solution to deport convicted Jamaican nationals who are taking prison places in our own jails.
“If they won’t accept them we should send the Jamaican government a bill for their annual incarceration.”
The prisoner transfer scheme would reportedly save UK taxpayers approximately £10 million annually.
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