TOGETHER IN GRIEF: Mass turnout for funeral of Abaco tragedy victims

Inside the Enoch Beckford Auditorium on Carmichael Road on Sunday.

As of Monday, February 11, 2019

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THEIR coffins draped in the Haitian flag and a bouquet of flowers, 22 Haitian migrants who were killed when their sloop shipwrecked in Abaco more than a week ago were mourned yesterday by hundreds who did not know them but who came to show empathy for the plight that brought them to their demise. The sombre ceremony was punctuated by loud cries that occasionally rang from every part of the Enoch Beckford Auditorium on Carmichael Road.

From the pulpit, speakers pleaded for the deaths to serve as a turning point that discourages future treacherous voyages and leads the Haitian government to embrace policies that uplift its people.

“The death of these individuals desperately seeking a better way of life and trying to help their families brings into focus that we need to look regionally and internationally at ourselves in the Haitian community,” said noted preacher Bishop Simeon Hall. “This tragedy brings into focus the urgent need for the political and economic leaders of the island republic of Haiti to take a deep look at themselves.”

“We are all one,” said Rev Dr William Thompson. “We all came from the same place. We were deposited on different islands but we’re all one. We come to ask the Haitian government to put in place measures that would stop these kind of voyages.

“There’s no question you know of the persons that are doing this ungodly action. They must be weed out and made an example of. These are human beings and our hearts feel for them.”

Herns Mesamours, a consular officer from the Haitian Embassy, said similarly: “This is not a good moment. We want to ask you to serve as an ambassador to discourage, discourage, discourage the people from coming illegally in The Bahamas.”

Some of the heaviest applause was for Bahamas Christian Council president Delton Fernander who highlighted Haiti’s fight against slavery and colonialism during the Haitian revolution and the role that played in the country’s later struggles.

“We cannot and should not judge anyone harshly who would take a drastic measure to try make it better for their families and for those they leave behind,” he said.

In a rare moment of humour, Francois J Michel, Haiti’s charge d’affaires, boasted of his country’s blessings, saying: “The culture of Haiti is rich and valuable, good food, good beaches and there is something else: beautiful women.”

Official Opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis and the Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM Reuben Rahming also brought remarks.

The funeral was a culmination of a week of search and rescue efforts after a sloop reportedly carrying 83 people shipwrecked in the Abaco cays while navigating a dangerous reef on February 1.

Authorities have recovered 31 bodies thus far, nine of which were too badly decomposed to make yesterday’s closed-casket ceremony.

Haitian government representatives said all funeral expenses were covered by their government. The funeral was organised by the League of Haitian Pastors, a local group.

A 19-year-old woman, Gina Francis, was one of many mourners who told The Tribune she did not know the victims.

Explaining why she attended the funeral, she said: “I have the same nationality as them and I would need people to support me as well if I’m in the same situation so I feel I need to support them too.”

She said some Haitians are warned about the treacherous journey by sea to the Bahamas but they come because they believe Haitians living here are “lying to them.”

“If someone living over here with family over there, they does say ‘you living a better life, you just don’t want us come over there,’” she said. “I does fear for my family but I wouldn’t advise them to do something like this. I worry they would try.”

Another woman, Sadilia Simeone, said she has been in the Bahamas since the 1970s and does not know if she still has family in Haiti.

“I come Bahamas in 1979,” she said. “I know nothing about Haiti.”

Still, asked why she attended yesterday’s funeral, she said: “Because I am Haitian and these are Haitians who died. I hate it, because that’s my country.”

The bodies were buried at the Southern Cemetery on Cowpen and Spikenard Roads.

joeblow 5 years, 2 months ago

As sad as this is, I bet another boat load was landing during this service. We need a way to deal with those who pay the passage of these immigrants

Went to to Abaco several months ago and the only thing missing was a Haitian flag at the airport. Sad state of affairs!

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 2 months ago

And here's who we have to thank for the Haitianization by invasion of The Bahamas:

SLOP, Ingraham, Christie and now Minnis; not to mention a whole bunch of dumbed down Bahamian voters who believe, depending on their fancy come general election time, that either the PLP or FNM party has their interest at heart. LMAO

TalRussell 5 years, 2 months ago

Yes or no - all depended what constituencies a solid negative 12,132 bock shift way from 'Honourable' Imperial red shirts 2017 support will spell certain doom at the 2022 polls for comrades Minnis's, KP's and Carl Wilshire's grip on governing power. Yes, no - comrades Minnis and KP will be prime targets gone down 2022 defeat early election day voter returns?

John 5 years, 2 months ago

Basically the Chinese come here for the same reason Haitians are trying to come. But China has more money and so they can better organize their workers to invade a country and take jobs that wold ordinarily go to natives of that country. And then the Dominicans come and raid the fishing grounds.

joeblow 5 years, 2 months ago

at least they have a higher level of education, stay to themselves and pay for most of the services they get in this country. They are not the socioeconomic parasites our 'brothers' from the south are!

John 5 years, 2 months ago

It is the wounded that are strong. You see it by the way they treat others As you speak about the Chinese, there are over 800,000 of them in prison camps in China. They are being 'reeducated" they are being taught English, Western Culture and even being "taught" some traditional Christian hymns, like, "Jesus loves me, t'is I know." The question is "For What?"

sheeprunner12 5 years, 2 months ago

Export to the Caribbean ......... for hire (slavery)

sheeprunner12 5 years, 2 months ago

How did this ricketty boat get all the way to Man O War cay, Abaco???????? ....... The people (Bahamian and Haitian) who can answer this question have these victims' blood on their hands.

TheMadHatter 5 years, 2 months ago

This is a good turnout, but i remember about ten years ago there was a Bahamian fishing boat that capsized and the turnout was over twice as large.

bogart 5 years, 2 months ago

GIVEN THE LOSS OF LIVES SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED...!,,,!!!!!!!.....THAT IS THE SORROWFULL...!!!!!. BUT AS MANY AS PORE .....MAJORITY BAHAMIANS.......EXPERIENCING ALL DIS ...ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ...SUCCESSFULLY....REATEDLY....BAHAMIAN LEASERSHIPS.....OVERSEEING....GOVERNING....OVA ...WE BAHAMIANS....DIS IS QUITE UNSETTLING .....DISENCHANTED...Kerpunkled ip....LIKE THE GOVERNING LEADERS...HIGHFALUTIN PASTOR...SITTING WITH ALL....dese illegals having dere HAITIAN FLAGS......honourong the illegals forreign flags...BREAKING BAHAMIAN LAWS....!!!!!.....RESPECTIFULLY LEADERS ACKNOWLEDGED DEY RECEFECTUALLY THE PASSING OF LIVES !!L! .But in we Bahamian faces...dere ferreign flags persons broken crime.... ova ova ova... WE...BAHAMIAN... cITY...wid dere Haitian flags..!!!!.....what next...next set of illegals passing away in dis sovereign BAHAMAS.....broken Bahsmian Constitutional laws...invading Bahamian ....whoerrer breaking sovereign laws...passing passing away in the Bahamas...being broking Bahamian laws....an Bahamian country...publictly having dere countries flags celebrating dere illegrants .........past SOVEREIGN CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS....bin hardly enforced...last decades.......an MAJOROTY PORE BAHA,MIAN POPULATION.....expects future years to sill be same sackness....an wha next..????....erry illegal migrants passing away gon be having dere ...loving country having odder countries flags drape all over coffin....in face of we pore Bahamian population......leaders approving ....!!!!...MUDDOES TEK SIC...!!!!...

Cas0072 5 years, 2 months ago

And when a suitable period of mourning has passed, alll of the family members that identified the bodies need to be fully investigated and held accountable. It is no coincidence that they were all identified.

sheeprunner12 5 years, 2 months ago

HMMMMMMMM .......... They know how and why these ppl drowned.

Cas0072 5 years, 2 months ago

Their insiders on the RBDF probably knew exactly when the mission Illegal boat ride turned became a rescue operation.

pingmydling 5 years, 2 months ago

In answer to why a Haitian sloop can come all the way through the Bahamas without being detected. Its quite simple. The boat is made entirely of wood with no engine. In modern terminology its a stealth ship making a very small radar signature. Haitians smart eh? Rumor has the next generation of F35 interceptors will be constructed from "dilly " trees.

SP 5 years, 2 months ago

@ Cas0072 Exactly! Every one of the relatives, friends, and acquaintances that assisted these parasitic invaders should be investigated and deported!

No Doubt Minnis and crew are too busy brown-nosing behind Lyford gates to notice a golden opportunity to get a handle on the illegal migrant modus operandi

Cas0072 5 years, 2 months ago

I believe that Minnis and his team and all the repeat politicians are well aware of all points on how illegal immigration is allowed to thrive. Even with this obvious collusion, I have no doubt that Minnis will again play blind to it when he rushes over to his favorite Haitian church to give his personal condolences and to blame Bahamians somehow.

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