NASSAU, The Bahamas – Officials of the Bahamas Immigration Department in Marsh Harbour, Abaco apprehended 30 illegal Haitian migrants in the area, The Hole in the Wall, Abaco, on Wednesday, July 12, 2012.
According to Director or Immigration Jack Thompson, at about 9 a.m. Immigration Officers at the Marsh Harbour office were alerted about a possible Haitian drop off in that area in Sandy Point. And upon their arrival they apprehended 30 illegal migrants – 26 males and four females – who claimed to have travelled from Port au Paix in a wooden Haitian sloop.
The Haitians were examined by medical officials and were found to be in good condition. They were then taken into custody at the Marsh Harbour office where they are being documented and processed for travel to New Providence and will be housed at the Detention Centre until they are repatriated.
“Officers will remain vigilant and will continue to comb the area for additional illegal migrants,” Mr. Thompson said.
Meanwhile, the illegal migrants apprehended early Tuesday, July 10 in the Joe Farrington Road area are also being detained at the Detention Centre until such time of their repatriation.
Mr. Thompson confirmed that after Immigration Officials completed their exercise one female was found dead and a total of 81 illegal migrants were taken into custody – 56 males, 18 females and seven children. Four males were taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital to be treated for severe dehydration. Three were discharged and taken to the Detention Centre on Tuesday night and the other one remains in the Intensive Care Unit.
Also on Wednesday Defence Force Officers intercepted a wooden Haitian sloop off Cistern Cay in the Exumas with 63 migrants. Those intercepted included: – 53 males, seven females and three children.
The migrants are being transported to New Providence where they will be turned over to Immigration for further processing and repatriation.
“The department is making all efforts for a timely and orderly repatriation,” Mr. Thompson said.
By BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES
Caption: Defence Force marines escorting the Haitian migrants shortly after arriving at the Coral Harbour Base. They are the second group of migrants to be apprehended in the past two days. (RBDF Photo by Petty Officer Jonathan Rolle)
