Responding to the needs of Caribbean migrants returned to their
countries of origin from the United States, IOM will open offices
in The Bahamas and Guyana as part of a pilot programme to assist
migrants to successfully reintegrate into society.

The programme, which was designed to provide assistance on a
voluntary basis, includes awareness raising campaigns, orientation
for returnees, psycho-social counseling, professional, vocational
and business management training and job placement, drug
rehabilitation for those who need it, and grants to start
businesses.

"In general the focus is on jobs," explains Richard Scott, IOM
Regional Representative for North America and the Caribbean. 
"Providing productive employment for returnees is one of the
critical factors for successful reintegration."

The Governments of The Bahamas and Guyana both recently signed
cooperative agreements with IOM, which allows the Organization to
open offices in each country and begin providing services to
returnees shortly.

IOM expects to register an average of 75 returnees in The
Bahamas and 250 returnees in Guyana each year.

IOM began a similar programme in Haiti in April 2008.  One
year later, IOM staff had registered 510 returnees.  Of these,
307 received goods and equipment to help establish small
businesses.  The most popular business ventures chosen by
beneficiaries are: food and drink sales, mobile phone cards,
Internet cafes, hen rearing, transportation and agricultural
product processing.

While the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states recognize
the sovereign right of the U.S. to remove any migrant who does not
abide by its laws, the members requested assistance in mitigating
the negative impacts of those returns during a June 2007 meeting
with former President Bush and former Secretary of State Rice in
Washington, D.C.   In response to this appeal, the U.S.
Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)
requested IOM to develop this pilot programme in cooperation with
the governments concerned and agreed to provide funding.

For further information, please contact:

Frantz Celestin

IOM Washington

Tel: +1 (202)862-1826 ext.233

Email "mailto:fcelestin@iom.int" target="" title=
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