15605: Benodin: More boat people arrive. Over 600 Haitian illegals caught within 24 hours (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

More boat people arrive. Over 600 Haitian illegals caught within 24 hours
15 may 2003
Nassau Bahamas: As 310 Haitian immigrants were being transported to the
Detention Centre on Carmichael Road, Wednesday morning, more than 300 others
were discovered near the Exuma Cays.
The immigrants were found within a 24-hour period in three separate
incidents. Of those apprehended, 317 were transported to Nassau by the HMBS
Nassau vessel on Wednesday, adding to the 243 already held at the Detention
Centre.
The first arrests occurred late Tuesday evening as officers of the HMBS
P-42, commanded by Mario Bain, discovered 68 immigrants in a sloop near the
Exuma Cays.
Hours later, the HMBS P-121, captained by Force Chief Hubert Smith,
discovered a sloop carrying 242 Haitians about 17 miles south of East End
Point, New Providence.
And, according to Department of Immigration Director Vernon Burrows,
Wednesday afternoon RBDF officers discovered five sloops carrying over 300
Haitian immigrants.
"This is a serious exodus coming out of Haiti and our men are doing all they
can to defend the country from it," Mr. Burrows said.
RBDF officers described the immigrants that arrived in the capital as a
"young, vibrant group," ranging in age between 19 and 27 years, in addition
to a two-year-old.
The immigrants, clothed in sleeveless shirts and plaid pants or blue jeans,
were taken off their vessel and transported in two RBDF buses.
Lieutenant Michael Hanna said that most of the immigrants said that they
were hungry and thirsty, with most of them eating "everything off their
plate."
Attending Medical Officer Dr. Evaneth McPhee said most of the immigrants did
not show any signs of dehydration or severe injuries or sickness. However,
many did show signs of pink eye, including redness.
"There was no one that needed to be lifted or assisted in any way," she
said. "They appeared to be quite healthy. Many of them had some redness in
their eyes, but we cannot confirm whether it may be because of infection or
something else," she said.
As a routine procedure, RBDF officers wore gloves and facemasks covering
their mouths and noses.
The Ministry of Immigration recently reported that some 156 immigrants have
been deported to their homelands, including 132 Haitians, 17 Jamaicans, five
Guyanese, one American and one Brazilian.
Bahamian officials have expressed "cautious optimism" that the influx of
Haitian immigrants may diminish when Haiti receives US $50 million in
financial aid being released by the International Monetary Fund.
The agreement will be signed in three weeks, despite no apparent move by
Haiti to meet CARICOM and other international demands, including holding new
elections.
Minister of State for Finance Senator James Smith has stated that, "Any
improvement in Haiti's economic conditions should mean a reduction in the
numbers of boat people to The Bahamas."
Caption :BLEAK PROSPECTS - A group of 317 Haitian immigrants sit on the deck
of the HMBS Nassau yesterday awaiting transport to the Carmichael Road
Detention Centre, many showing symptoms of pink eye.
KHASHAN POITIER