By TOSHEENA ROBINSON-BLAIR
\nAssociated Press<\/p>\n
\nNASSAU, Bahamas — Four airport workers pleaded innocent to charges of helping Haitian migrants bypass a U.S. immigration checkpoint at Nassau’s airport, authorities said. The Haitians were stopped before boarding a flight to Miami.<\/p>\n
\nThe four men entered their pleas at an arraignment hearing Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\nMagistrate Marilyn Meeres set bail at $5,000 for each worker and scheduled a trial for Nov. 11. All four posted bail, court officials said.<\/p>\n
\nThe four workers allegedly helped six Haitians enter the airport’s U.S. departure lounge early Friday, without the migrants first showing proper documents to U.S. immigration and customs officials.<\/p>\n
\nThe six Haitians were trying to board a Bahamasair flight to Miami. Authorities detained them in the departure lounge.<\/p>\n
\nThe maximum sentence for the charge of abetting migrants in breaking immigration laws is two years in prison or a $3,000 fine, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
\nThe Haitians were charged with breaching the country’s Airport Act and airport security regulations, and were being detained by police.<\/p>\n
\nMany Haitians come to the Bahamas, a wealthier nation off southeastern Florida, seeking opportunity and often a way to reach the United States. Most illegal migrants who are caught are sent back to their impoverished country.<\/p>\n
\nLabor and Immigration Minister Vincent Peet said airport security is a major concern.<\/p>\n
\n“We are doing everything that we can do to avoid a breach or correct a situation were there are security breaches,” he said.<\/p>\n
\nThe workers charged were identified as Clive Kent Schroeter, 30, Harry Timar, 35, Jerome Sands, 30, and Bernard Bowleg, 31.<\/p>\n
\nThe Haitian migrants were identified as Shelley Joseph, 29, Roseline Pierre, 29, Ermitha Estelhomme, 25, Jean Paul, 39, Alfred Lerenfant, 40, and Marc Demas, 28. <\/p>\n
\nCopyright \uffa9 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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