MANY DOMINICANS UNWITTINGLY FACE DRUG CHARGES IN JAMAICA

SANTIAGO. - Most Dominicans who face judicial processes in Jamaica
are for alleged drug trafficking, and for that reason the Dominican
consul in that nation Jose Arturo Tatis blames the proprietors of the
boats on which they work as fishermen.

The consular official said that there are currently 11 Dominicans
waiting for court charges against tem, after being linked to drug
transfers on the high seas. They are free on bail and have hearing
pending on the 26th of this month.

Tatis affirmed that that group was arrested together with people from
other nationalities, when the Jamaica-registered boat where they work
was caught loading drugs from another boat on the high seas.

"Our embassy in Jamaica as the well as the Dominican Foreign Ministry
have followed up on that case, providing them all the legal
facilities and we expect to demonstrate their innocence in a trial,"
he said.

According to the Dominican consul in Jamaica, that type of transfer
has become common, and reiterated his blame of the boats' owners,
alleging that the crews don't know what they are embarking, "but it's
them who end up being arrested, whereas the owners of the business
are not bothered."

Tatis said that many Dominicans, especially from Puerto Plata and Rio
San Juan were contracted to fish for conch.

The Dominican consul added that drug transfers and smuggling have
become commonplace in Jamaica's territorial waters, illicit
activities in which boats registered in different countries take part.