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Posted Tuesday, December 27, 2011
After the tragic death of 38 Haitian migrants less than 3
days ago, at least 244 others, also fleeing Haiti's crushing poverty, captured
A sloop carrying 244 Haitian migrants was apprehended west of Ship Channel Cay,
Exuma on Sunday afternoon, according to Director of Immigration Jack Thompson.
Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Sub-Lieutenant Origin Deleveaux said the
60-foot wooden sloop was sighted around 3:40 p.m. during surveillance patrols in
the Exumas. The sloop was immediately intercepted. “
"They favor traveling within the channel and chain area because it provides some
camouflage, which makes them more difficult to track,” Deleveaux said
yesterday."
"What these vessels tend to do is come up from Haiti to Inagua and hit the chain
of lights from Crooked Island through to Long Island, and up again through the
channel."
The 187 men, 54 women and three children were transported to HMBS Coral Harbour
Base before being turned over to the Department of Immigration for further
processing. “
"We observed them and there are some physical signs that we look for, but they
have to be tested," said Deleveaux when asked if any migrants displayed signs
of cholera.
"They were in good condition from our standpoint. There were one or two persons
who were dehydrated but they were overall in good health."
Thompson told The Nassau Guardian that the 244 migrants were transported to the
Carmichael Road Detention Centre early yesterday morning and were processed. “
A medical team of six persons checked them out and there were no cases of
cholera found,” he said.
Deleveaux explained that there has been a high number of illegal Haitian migrant
landings this year, particularly during the month of December, “which is
consistent with previous years”. “
"The water is very rough in December and it is certainly not a favorable time to
make these kinds of trips," he noted.
"However, they favor around this time because there is a popular belief that the
country is enjoying the festivities and authorities will not be as attentive."
He added, 'We step up patrols around this time because this is when a lot of
them make that trip and attempt to land in The Bahamas."
Defence Force operational statistics reveal an increase in the number of Haitian
migrants illegally landing and attempting to illegally land in The Bahamas since
2009, according to Deleveaux.
A total of 718 Haitian migrants were apprehended during 2009, compared to the
1,258 Haitian migrants apprehended in 2010.
One thousand ninety-three Haitian migrants have been apprehended for 2011 so
far.
Deleveaux pointed out that Haitian migrants are often prepared to be assimilated
into Bahamian society, frequently traveling with additional clothing and
cellular phones.
© 2011 The Nassau Guardian
Published Tuesday, December 26, 2011.
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