Jamaicans in Ukraine, Russia evacuated
By Vinette K. Pryce
Five days after the war began
in Ukraine, and an arduous 13
mile walk from the ravaged,
region, 24 of 28 Jamaican medical
students arrived safely in
Poland.
Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister
Kamina Johnson Smith
delivered the news to parents and
citizens of the worried nation
Monday in an update to Friday’s
report that the students had
evacuated from the bunkered
refuge they inhabited since the
war started last Thursday and
were able to cross the border.
“Giving God thanks that all
24 Jamaican students are on a
bus to Karkow where arrangements
for accommodation and
meals have been made for them,”
she said.
“The Charge’d Affaires is there
and our friends of Jamaica are
there supporting the students,”
she added, “Giving thanks for
their strength and courage and
for the team on the ground.”
Initially reported as ‘hunkered
down in the metro,’ concern was
raised for 27 Jamaicans studying
medicine at the Kyiv Medical
University and Kharviv International
Caribbean L 14 ife, MARCH 4-10, 2022
Medical University in
Ukraine by family members who
contacted the government for
help.
Relatives explained that cell
phone conversations from the
Ukraine were often sporadic and
at times abbreviated due to lack
of service in the underground
subway system.
With limited information
from the European warzone,
it was alleged, some students
hoped to gain visas to Turkey or
Moldova.
Later news surfaced that 23
students were able to board a bus
to a border city but were forced
off by angry migrants.
The foreign affairs minister
said then: “My best information
is that apparently citizens were
angered by the bus overtaking
traffic. It is not clear to me
whether this is vehicular traffic
or foot traffic as we have all been
seeing images of long lines of
people proceeding both on foot
and by vehicle towards various
border points in order to leave
Ukraine.”
Reports from the Jamaica
Gleaner attributed comments
from the minister added “In
any event, it appears that they
would not permit the bus to continue
and the students had to
determine whether they would
remain on the bus and go back
towards L’viv or they would exit
the bus and proceed on foot.”
Twenty-three students decided
to walk 13 miles in the freezing
cold to the Polish border.
“We will be using all our
efforts, all our channels, all our
connections and friendships, to
ensure that we can safely get
our students home,” Prime Minister
Andrew Holness vowed
with assurances his office would
maintain contact with the students
in Ukraine, “while collaborating
with neighboring countries
for assistance with evacuation
efforts.”
Earlier the ministry acknowledged
that initially 15 students
were able to leave Ukraine; 26
remained in the country, and
two had not provided information
on their location.
Since then, updates disclosed
— four Jamaican students are
still in Ukraine — one student
has proceeded to the border with
Romania and that two are in a
part of the country believed to be
Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Jamaica Information Service
more secure; the fourth student
is still in Karkow.
Allegedly, some students were
apprehensive to leave because
of contractual arrangements
restricting breach. Others were
conflicted to choose between
accepting high-interest loans,
losing scholarships and uncertainty
of the diplomatic situation.
Local newspapers on the island
claim that Shamar Nicholson,
a Russia-based Jamaican soccer
player for Spartak Moscow relied
on decisions from his agent and
is reportedly safe in Russia.
American athletes signed
to play for Ukranian basketball
clubs are also facing an uncertain
dilemma because despite
the escalating turmoil, Ukrainian
clubs are unwilling to release
foreign players from their contracts
or grant them permission
to finish the season elsewhere.
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