TNAG-2401-FCO40-3488-Vietnamese-migrants-Orderly-Repatriation-Programme-(ORP)-1992 — Page 57

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the Caymans or TCI. We declined. DT Governments, who constitutionally have responsibility for immigration, were

implacably opposed. They feared their small societies would

be swamped and that being characterised as refugee centres

would ruin their tourist industries. These fears are well

grounded: the population of the TCI is only 13,000, water

supplies are scarce, and tourism is the main source of

revenue.

3. Nothing has changed to make the new US request more

palatable. With ODA help, a holding centre has been set up in

the TCI for Haitian boat people. But it can hold only 200 at

most, and has to be kept free for any boat people who arrive

there of their own accord. No suitable alternative site is

readily available, and catering for the numbers that would be

needed to make a significant impact on the US problem would

swamp the more inhabited islands or turn the

turn the less-habitated

ones into ghettoes, even if water supply difficulties could be

overcome. We would have to ensure that the camp had decent

facilities, to meet international obligations and forestall

possible criticism. But, in doing so, we would run the risk

of inviting more Haitian refugees to target the islands.

4. The TCI already has a serious problem with illegal

immigrants from Haiti, as distinct from boat people. This has

exacerbated local feelings against Haitians, which are currently running high. We have been at considerable plains

to establish a good working relationship with the TCI

Government, which we hope may serve as a model in managing our

other Caribbean DTs. If we attempt to run roughshod over them

to please the Americans, the whole of that effort will be

wasted.

5. Other Caribbean and Latin American states have not stepped

forward, though many of them are immeasurably better-equipped

to help than our small DTS. And the US may not fully

nt dan the UKT KHAISO 9:30 MurC1977 C1000 27021

appreciate

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