St. Martin News Network

Philipsburg: --- Members of the Chamber of Labour Unions as well as Attorney at law Bonita Hart met with a large number of Haitians at the WIFOL building on Sunday evening as they updated the Haitian community on how to process their legal documents. Hart in an invited comment said several members of the Haitian community contacted her office as they are trying to process their documents now that the Brooks Tower Accord is over.
"Most of these people are trying get some sort of document so that they can go back to their country which was devastated by earthquake on January 12." Hart said she saw an interview where the Minister Jacoba gave detailed information which she believed the Haitians need to know and thus they at the WIFOL has decided to hold some information session. "Last week we had over 120 persons who came here for information and tonight it was full again." Hart explained that Haitians nationals can visit them at the WIFOL as of Tuesday so they can begin preparing letters to send to the BTA committee, where they would claim humanitarians' grounds under the BTA for Haitians nationals. She said while the Minister of Justice made clear that there would be no extension on the BTA due to lack of funds the Minister also said that people can send a letter to the committee, furthermore the Minister acknowledged that the largest group of people who did not get help were from category three. She said there are people who came here after 2006 and are working and they are not legal.
Asked if there is a legal fee attached by her law firm? Hart said there are no legal fees attached but those seeking assistance from the Chamber of Labour Unions and her will be asked to provide a donation since they have to buy paper, ink and materials do the work that will be asked of them. She said they as a group is trying to offer the Haitians some sort of assistance due to the earthquake.
Hart said while the BTA process is over people who are here since 2001 still have a chance to submit a letter and their documents to the BTA committee so they can get one last chance to become legal.

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