15637: Schweissing: Mass repatriation, coastal watch in works for Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Schweissing <dan_schweissing@hotmail.com>

Mass repatriation, coastal watch in works for Haiti
By KHASHAN POITIER Guardian Staff Reporter

With140 immigrants repatriated to Haiti on Friday, and another 164 scheduled
for deportation today, the Carmichael Road Detention Centre will be left
with a total of 174 Haitian illegals.

And, the release of a $50 million International Monetary Fund aid package to
Haiti may also be followed by a "shiprider agreement" allowing United States
surveillance operations within Haitian territorial waters, in an effort to
contain drug and immigrant smuggling.

Recently, in seven separate seizures, Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers
and United States Coast Guard officials, apprehended 736 Haitians in four
days.

Five Defence Force vessels were dispatched to the southeasterly Bahama
Islands and the U.S. Coast Guard added C-130 four-engine aircraft to its
search team.

Defence Force patrol craft HMBS P-121 and HMBS P-42 made the most recent
arrests, after spotting several Haitian sloops near Belle Island carrying
191 refugees Wednesday evening.

The refugees will be returned on two separate flights, accompanied by two
police, two Defence Force and two Immigration officers to ensure security on
the flights.

The Bahamas may face an even greater than normal influx of Haitian nationals
from northern Haiti, which is considered the poorest area, and is presently
beset by a famine and adverse weather.

According to Immigration Minister Vincent Peet, "From the Defence Force's
intelligence perspective, we are very concerned that the influx that we are
experiencing might continue because of the very poor conditions that exist
in the northern part of Haiti.

"It appears that the central government of Haiti has little or no control on
what goes on in the northern part of Haiti, therefore it might appear, at
this stage, that it is not able to assist that much," he stated.

The minister's remarks come three weeks before the Haitian government is
scheduled to sign an agreement with the International Monetary Fund,
releasing some US$50 million in financial aid, despite no apparent move by
Haiti to meet international demands, including planning new elections and
arresting a wanted fugitive.

Next week, Bahamian Government officials will meet with Haitian president
Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti to continue negotiations with the government
to sign a treaty on immigration issues.

Once signed, a treaty would also allow U.S. law enforcement officials to
conduct sea surveillance missions in helicopters over Haiti's territorial
waters to spot people involved in drug and illegal immigrant smuggling.

Additionally, if an agreement is made between the Bahamas and Haiti, a
commission will be established to monitor and meet bi-annually to discuss
the legal entry of labour into the country.

Bahamian officials expressed optimism that "any improvement in Haiti's
economic conditions would mean a reduction in the numbers of refugees" from
the poverty-stricken country, but that would come only after a more
"proactive approach" by the Haitian Government.

To date, it has cost taxpayers $300,000 to repatriate an estimated 1,981 of
the 2,361 illegal immigrants apprehended so far this year.






Posted Monday 19 May, 2003

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