23782: (pub) (Arthur) The Bahamas witnesses significant increase in number of illegals (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

Thursday, November 11, 2004

16 women arrested at strip club were illegal Jamaican

By TAMARA McKENZIE, Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter

Among the 76 people arrested at the Cabaret Seduction strip club on Saturday
night, 16 of the 30 females were illegal Jamaican immigrants, revealed
Minister of Labour and Immigration, Vincent Peet on Wednesday. The women were
processed and taken to the Carmichael Rd Detention Center where they will be held
until repatriation.

The police on Monday released some of the people arrested during a drug raid
at a Cable Beach "strip club" while others have been charged with various
crimes ranging from "soliciting for immoral purposes," "breach of the Liquor
License Act," "breach of the Firearms Act," and "breach of the Immigration Act."

Forty-six men and 30 women, including the proprietor of Cabaret's Seduction,
Cable Beach Shopping Centre in the western area of New Providence, were
arrested during the raid. Nationals from Britain, the U.S., Jamaica, Finland, Italy,
Cuba, as well as Bahamians were taken into custody.

Meanwhile, addressing Parliamentarians in the House of Assembly, Mr Peet said
the government has spent approximately $364,336 to repatriate illegal
immigrants as of January to Nov. 8, 2004, of which the majority of immigrants
apprehended and repatriated were Haitian nationals. As of Monday, 104 Haitians were
repatriated to their homeland and the Department was expected to repatriate 20
Cuban nationals to their homeland on Wednesday, revealed the Immigration
Minister.

As of Wednesday, the total number of illegal immigrants remaining at the
Detention Center is 187. The three largest groups housed there are: Haitians (81),
Cubans (76) and Jamaicans (22).

Mr Peet outlined that as a result of the current unrest, political
instability, economic deprivation and favourable weather conditions in Haiti, The
Bahamas has witnessed a significant increase in the number of illegal immigrants to
its shores.

Revealing statistics to support his claims, Mr Peet said during the period
Nov. 3-9, a total of 209 illegal immigrants were apprehended, processed and
taken to the Detention Center. Of this number, 192 were Haitians, 16 were
Jamaicans and one immigrant was of Cuban descent. With the exception of the 16
Jamaican females, the remaining immigrants were arrested either in New Providence,
Exuma or Inagua.

On Nov. 3, a total of 94 Haitians were apprehended on board a vessel. Mr Peet
said the Captain of the vessel was apprehended on Nov. 7, appeared in court
on Nov. 8 and was fined $1,000. His vessel was also confiscated.

Meanwhile, Mr Peet said every effort is being undertaken to control the
influx of illegal immigration in conjunction with the Royal Bahamas Police Force,
the Defence Force and the United States Coast Guard. He lauded the efforts of
the United States Coast Guard and the American Embassy for their "stellar"
performance in the apprehension of over 400 illegal immigrants over the past two
weeks.

"The vigilance and professionalism with which the Coast Guard managed the
situation has saved The Bahamas thousands of dollars in terms of direct and
indirect costs that can be associated with such an undertaking," he said.

Mr Peet also informed Parliamentarians that the U.S. Coast Guard and the
American Embassy, at the request of The Bahamas Government, increased the number
of patrol boats to the Southern Bahamas from one to three. The major ship, "The
Harriet Lane" which is stationed in Great Inagua, also has a H60 helicopter
assigned to it, to assist in the transportation of illegal immigrants, he said,
adding that the number of aircraft surveying the Southern Bahamas have also
increased.

The role of apprehension, processing and repatriation carried out by the
Police, the Defence Force and the Department of Immigration was also commended by
Mr Peet.
______________________________________________

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