Deputy keen for island to give home to Afghan people

Jonathan Le Tocq has made it a personal mission to see if this can happen.

‘We should look to follow the co-ordinated efforts in the international community to prevent a humanitarian crisis engulfing Afghanistan to see what role, no matter how small, we, as a community, can play in that,’ he said.

Deputy Le Tocq, who is Policy and Resources' lead on external relations, took to social media to speak about the Afghan crisis and said Guernsey was in communication with the UK about how the island can assist refugees seeking asylum.

‘Ultimately, the first decision to be made is by the UK – and that is whether or not they will allow us to participate in a resettlement programme,’ he said.

‘If the answer is yes, the next question will be how? As yet, there is no active scheme and we are still discussing it with the UK.’

The Home Office has recently announced plans for its Afghan citizens resettlement scheme, with the government committing to take approximately 5,000 people in the first year and up to 20,000 over coming years. It said the programme would prioritise high risk Afghan citizens, such as women and girls.

‘Now that we are moving into a new phase for resettlement, we are looking at options to ensure that [the programme] provides a safe route for those who are most vulnerable and at risk. Much will depend on the ability of individuals to receive safe passage from Afghanistan. We will also work alongside local authorities to identify accommodation for those that arrive,’ said a Home Office spokesman.

Although Guernsey needs UK approval to participate in the resettlement scheme, Deputy Le Tocq said the decision to take refugees in Guernsey does not lie completely with London.

‘[The decision] doesn’t rest solely with the UK but under our constitutional relationship our involvement in such schemes and immigration policy is their competency,’ he said.

‘We are seeking to persuade the UK Government, under whose remit we would need to come in these instances, to be included in their resettlement programme.’

Deputy Le Tocq said he ‘remains hopeful’ Guernsey will be allowed to participate. However, he said the UK will have the last say as to how, if at all, the island may be able to participate. As of yet, the UK resettlement scheme is not open.