A boat carrying 244 Haitian migrants was apprehended west of Ship Channel Cay, Exuma, this Sunday, according to Director of Immigration Jack Thompson.

Origin Deleveaux, Sub-Lieutenant of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) declared that the 60-foot wooden boat was spotted during a surveillance patrol in the Exumas. The vessel was immediately intercepted.

The 187 men, 54 women and three children were transported to HMBS Coral Harbour Base before being turned over to the Department of Immigration. "We observed them and there are some physical signs that we look for, but they have to be tested" declared the Sub-Lieutenant Deleveaux regarding the risks of cholera. " [...] There were one or two persons who were dehydrated but they were overall in good health."

The Director of Immigration declared that the 244 migrants were transported early Monday morning at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre. "A medical team of six persons checked them out and there were no cases of cholera found."

Deleveaux explained that there are a large number of Haitian illegal immigrants, especially during the month of December, "which is consistent with previous years [...] statistics reveal an increase in the number of Haitian migrants illegally landing and attempting to illegally land in The Bahamas since 2009."

A total of 718 Haitian migrants were apprehended during 2009, compared to the 1,258 Haitian migrants apprehended in 2010. 1,093 Haitian migrants have already been apprehended for 2011, without considering those of Sunday.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4327-haiti-social-repatriation-of-172-haitian-migrants.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4191-haiti-social-100-haitians-adrift.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3584-haiti-social-the-bahamas-have-repatriated-152-haitian.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3298-haiti-social-the-bahamas-will-continue-to-repatriate-illegal-haitian.html

S/ HaitiLibre