The integrity of our public servants is again questioned as airport workers are arrested for sneaking Haitians into an unauthorised area of the Nassau International Airport.
Already burdened by a vexing illegal immigration problem, immigration officials are now investigating a security breach at Nassau International Airport involving undocumented Haitians who reportedly avoided checkpoints aided by Bahamian airport workers.
Authorities believe that an undisclosed number of airport workers led a group of Haitians to the international departure lounge Friday, bypassing Customs and Immigration.
Officials report that the immigrants – three men and three women – were found in the early morning hours in the lounge, presumably waiting for the first flight out.
The Haitians reportedly told authorities that they paid $3,000 each to be smuggled out of The Bahamas.
An airport official said Bahamasair workers will also be investigated as the Haitians were due to fly out on the national flag carrier.
Airport Authority officials were locked in meetings all morning discussing the breach and could not be reached for further comment on the matter.
Erold Farquharson, director of security at NIA was not available either because he was in a morning meeting with officials from the U.S. Customs Department.
Immigration Minister Vincent Peet said today he considers the breach serious.
“We are doing everything that we can do to avoid a breach or correct a situation where there are security breaches,” Mr. Peet said.
A well-placed immigration source said the Haitians “could not give a satisfactory account of why they were there. Someone had to assist them in getting to that area first thing in the morning.”
“Obviously, they couldn’t clear U.S. immigration, so when the flight was called they would just present their ticket and board the plane,” he added.
An airport police officer today confirmed that the Haitians are in custody, while the Bahamian airport workers are out on police bail. All are expected to appear before the Magistrate Court tomorrow.
Security was tightened at the Nassau International Airport in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Minister Peet expressed alarm that nearly one year after the beefed up security, the Haitians were allowed to slip through.
“I have warned Bahamians before that anyone involved in human cargo smuggling of any nationality – Haitian, Jamaicans, Cubans, Chinese – will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”
The government is investigating a number of immigrant smuggling matters, the Immigration Minister said.
“Once we have the necessary evidence the government and the Attorney General’s office is prepared to prosecute as smuggling compounds the illegal immigration problem.
“It is something the government will not tolerate. We are making the effort to get to the bottom of this,” Mr. Peet said.
Just last week, Idris Reid, acting general manager of the Airport Authority, said that a soon to come overhaul of the airport would include even tighter security measures.
News of the security breach came as immigration authorities fight to curb the steady influx of Haitian migrants into the Bahamas.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt said recently that security has been increased in the Southern Bahamas to help stem the flow of Haitians.
But the challenge remains great. Already for August, more than 700 Haitians have been apprehended. The latest group of 164 was arrested off Ragged Island and Long Island yesterday.
