15596: Schweissing: 44 Haitians apprehended in Bahamas (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Schweissing <dan_schweissing@hotmail.com>

http://www.thenassauguardian.com

44 Haitians apprehended
By KHASHAN POITIER Guardian Staff Reporter

A total of 44 Haitian immigrants on two separate occasion were apprehended
by Defence Force Officers on Monday.


At about 6:30 a.m., residents on the island of Exuma alerted authorities
after seeing 33 males and five females wandering on the island. Defence
Force officers later discovered a blue 20-foot sloop sailing near Black
Point, Exuma.


While transporting the immigrants to the capital, another group of six
Haitian immigrants, five males and one female, were discovered on a sloop
near Norman's Cay.


Once collected, the 44 migrants were transported to the Coral Harbour Force
base at 4:30 p.m. for processing.


The death of six migrants en route to Miami, Florida, last month proved that
no matter how dangerous the voyage, Haitians are willing to risk their lives
in search of a better one.


Facing high winds on a overcrowded sloop, on April 16, six Haitian nationals
died, 16 went missing and dozens were deported to Haiti when the vessel
capsized.


Following reports of a famine in the poverty-stricken country, Government
officials predicted that we should expect a larger influx of Haitians to The
Bahamas .


Recognizing the need for additional go-fast boats at major Defence Force
bases, the minister said the government would construct a base on Farmer's
Cay, Exuma so that vessels stationed in the southern Bahamas could refuel.


These boats, one officer stated, will lessen the strain on other vessel,
while making patrolling and apprehension of both illegal immigrants and
drugs more effective.


The officer said: "We only have a few boats and they take a lot of beating
from the water. Also, we operate on the 24-hour system, where each officer
work on shifts. So, when a person's shift is over another takes over, but
these boats never take a break. They are constantly being used. So, more
go-fast boats would make a world of difference."


Presently, the Force is need of six more vessels, which total 14. However,
Mrs. Pratt said before additional vessels are purchased, the renovation of
the Inagua base must begin.


Posted Tuesday 13 May, 2003

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus