Black Londoners Forum (BLF) is urging Home Office minister Vernon Coaker to intervene in the planned deportation tomorrow of Joy Bowman and her daughter, on the grounds of her personal safety. It also wants the Government to back off from targeting vulnerable people, given its failure to remove hardened criminals.
BLF believes that Mrs Bowman, 49, should be allowed to stay because she fears for her safety after fleeing domestic violence in Jamaica where authorities are unable to protect her, according to Amnesty.
BLF contends that Mrs Bowman should be allowed to stay as her sons’ army service brings them an entitlement to British citizenship, and because she has been a model member of her community in Newcastle. Mrs Bowman’s son Leven Bowman, 28, served in Iraq while his brother Damian, 24, was an army poster boy.

The Refugee Council has said removing a woman who had played a full role in British society reflected the Home Office practice of removing soft targets. It has condemned the Government’s focus on returns.
The Liberal Democrats believe Mrs Bowman’s case calls for flexibility because of the role played by her sons for Britain.

Almost exactly three years ago, Deveen Clarke, the wife of a murdered British soldier was forcibly deported back to Jamaica after his death. In 2005, Home Office officials gave 71-year-old black cab driver Peter James ten weeks to get out of Britain where he had lived since 1957 since arriving from Trinidad. He was only saved by the intervention of London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Sylbourne Sydial from Facilitators for a Better Jamaica, is calling for a major emergency meeting within the Caribbean community in London to address the issue. He said: “This is clearly another case of the Home Office not fit for purpose and looking for scapegoats but at the same time the Commonwealth Secretariat in London needs to speak up on these issues.”

Eroll Walters, BLF’s interim director, said: “When immigration minister Liam Byrne opened the new facility near Heathrow Airport West London in February he pledged a fast but fair asylum system.
“Mrs Bowman has clearly made her case on the grounds of her safety. BLF requires the immediate intervention of the Home Office minister to demonstrate that the government is not paying lip service to the BME community in London and elsewhere.”

For more information, please contact Eroll Walters on 07789 175 699.