Following the damning report from the Independent Inspector of Borders and Immigration on the use of Penally and Napier Camps for asylum seekers, Alistair Cameron Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire has called for Penally Camp to be closed and for the UK and Welsh Governments to find suitable and safe long term accommodation for the asylum seekers so that they can start to rebuild their lives.
Alistair Cameron said: “The Independent Inspector has highlighted the complete failure by the Home Office to plan and provide appropriate and safe accommodation to vulnerable asylum seekers during a pandemic. Its failure to consult with key local services such as healthcare is inexcusable as its total failure to understand or regard what impact this would have at a local level.
“The Home Office went ahead in spite of the concerns from Public Health Wales about the COVID-safety of the accommodation. To use a military barracks with 6 people sleeping in a room shows a complete neglect of its duty of care towards the residents.”
“The report also highlights the failure to recognise the impact on residents of prolonged isolation in accommodation that was not designed or intended for long-term stays. I have seen for myself how this has affected the residents as they have become depressed due to their isolation.”
“The camp must now be closed and the asylum seekers moved to more appropriate and safe accommodation. The Home Office must act urgently to deal with the “fundamental failures of leadership and planning” highlighted by this report.”
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