Perspective: The Windrush Drama Unfolding

Perspective

As the very vexed,  if not distasteful treatment meted out by the UK Home Office to many West Indians unfolds, there are ongoing developments. Most of those negatively impacted are Jamaicans. These are folks who helped to provide labour to restore a ravaged post war UK. There has been local and international outcry  condemning the motherland for their apparent callous treatment to Windrushers.

Progress

The saga is unfolding, there seems to be an attempt on the part the British government to address the hurt. Is it just window dressing?  We hope not.  There have been apologies and Home Secretary Amber Rodd was replaced.  Promised progress to a solution to the problem seems closer each day. Is this really so?

Meeting

I met with a Windrush victim who had just had an interview with the British High Commission, at their Dominica Drive, New Kingston offices, in Jamaica W. I. today August 17, 2018.

SIC: What brings you into Kingston?

LP: “I came in from out of town to keep an appointment with the British authorities regarding my immigration status with the Home Office in the UK.”

SIC: Were you the only one being interviewed?

LP: There were a number of persons,  about 40 of us at this meeting.

SIC: What unfolded, Please?

LP: “They took all our documents including our passports.  You had to give them your old passport or relevant documentation.  They had asked us previously to fill out a form on line.  Then they finger printed us and took our documents.”

Process

I had no problems,  the process seemed okay.  They promised to deliver our passports.  We were not given a time line as to the return of these documents. We expect them back shortly …. in any case.”  The applicant appeared relieved as we chatted upstairs a well known internationally recognised name brand fast food restaurant.

SIC: So would you say the trip was worth it?

LR: I guess so, yes ..

SIC: What is your story, briefly?

LR: “I went to the UK around1967 and returned to Jamaica in1986  I lived in Manchester on my return to Jamaica. Now  we live in an adjoining Manchester district.  I am hopeful things will work out. I lived and worked in UK for years. I returned to Jamaica on the urging of my partner, now my husband. He was apparently home sick and wanted to return to the land of his birth.  I guess he could not take the cold anymore.  So coming home was considered the best option.  My partner is older and retired.”

Left Behind

LP: “You see, my grand kids are there … also I have extended family and relatives back in the UK. “

Passport

LP: I expect in the end of this process to get a British passport so as to enable me to visit with my grand children, as stated before, and my daughter who are in the UK.”

SIC: So what is their status?

LP: They were born there, so they are British citizens.

Background

PM Theresa May as Home Secretary made stringent regulations which adversely affected Windrushers. Was this subtle racism? We may never know.

Commentary

We have no concrete evidence that May et al are racists.

Despite the publicity little seem to have happened by the UK Home Office since the Windrush outcry and lastest interviews in Jamaica. Victims are still hopeful. “Sitting in limbo” as the popular song states.

Name of applicant not stated here as requested by same.

It is now November 2, 2018 and this applicant interviewed herein is still waiting for a reply.  His excellency Ramacon, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Uk has promised to help when we spoke on or about October 18, 2018.

We hope all ends well. What is your perspective? Let us know.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie, SIC Vision Newspaper Canada.