13524: Schweissing: Nassau Guardian: Haitian immigrants apprehended by RBDF (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Schweissing <dan_schweissing@hotmail.com>

Bahamas

The Nassau Guardian Friday, November 1, 2002


Over 100 illegal Haitian immigrants apprehended by RBDF officers


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY KEVA LIGHTBOURNE

GUARDIAN STAFF REPORTER


A total of 141 Haitian immigrants were apprehended in two separate incidents
by officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on Tuesday, almost a week
after the apprehension of a group of 37 others.

Information reaching the Guardian yesterday stated that a group of 93
immigrants was being detained at the Defence Force Base in Matthew Town,
Inagua.

Reportedly, their 40-foot vessel ran aground near Morton Salt. A round-up
was carried out by the officers and Immigration officials, resulting in the
capture of the 79 males and 14 females.

Later a group of 48 Haitian immigrants were apprehended in the area of
Venice Bay. Their 35-foot vessel ran aground earlier that morning. They were
turned over to immigration authorities for processing.

Between last week Wednesday and Thursday, Defence Force officers apprehended
a group of 37 illegal Haitian immigrants. The first group of three were
captured at about 9:30 p.m., onboard a 30-foot red sloop named "Miss
Nellie."

At 1:40 a.m. on Thursday, a 40-foot green and white wooden sloop named "Miss
Welcome" was searched and five Haitians were discovered. Later, at abut 6:35
a.m. a 42-foot brown and white wooden sloop named "Miss Cynthia" was
apprehended west of Prince George Wharf. Six illegal Haitian immigrants were
found onboard.

At 3 p.m., a 65-foot white wooden sloop was apprehended West of Nassau
Harbour with eight males aboard. At about the same time, two other sloops
were discovered and a total of 14 male immigrants were taken into custody.

About two days before, a group of 85 was apprehended.

Also on Tuesday, millions of television viewers watched in awe as more than
200 illegal Haitian immigrants jumped from a 50-foot vessel, as they made
their way ashore in Miami. The group also included small children.

According to an Associated Press report, the 200 illegal immigrants jumped
overboard, waded ashore and rushed onto a major highway after their wooden
freighter ran aground off Virginia Key.

The report said the Coast Guard spotted the vessel about 2 p.m. and followed
the illegal immigrants. It was stated that they made their way to shore near
the Hobie Beach on the Rickenbacker Causeway, leading to Key Biscayne.

The report noted that the migrants were lowered into the water and ran into
the streets, causing the six-lane Rickenbacker highway to be shut down.

Coast Guard personnel could be seen pulling migrants from the water and
throwing them life preservers. Children could be seen being transferred from
the boat people in the water, the report said.

It was noted that in December, a ship with 187 Haitian migrants went aground
off Elliot Key. Most of the those migrants are still being detained by
immigration officials in South Florida.

© 2002 The Nassau Guardian


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