Millions allocated to help returned migrants

A sum of $10 million has been budgeted by the Government to strengthen the policy, legislative and institutional framework that guides the management and treatment of involuntary returned migrants to the island.

The money has been allocated in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

It will go towards preparing a framework and protocol for tracking the reintegration of returned migrants; develop and submit to Cabinet a reintegration and rehabilitation strategy; revise the National Deportation Policy; develop minimum standard operating procedures for managing the reintegration of deported migrants; and conduct a baseline study and spatial mapping on deported persons.

The allocation will also be used to develop a strategy for reintegration of returned migrants in the local sustainable development planning process; prepare public education materials for distribution at help desks in local authorities; and increase the capacity of non-governmental organisations to provide more efficient and effective services to returned migrants.

The programme, which falls under the Ministry of National Security, is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme.