The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON

Tribune Staff Reporter

cnixon@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Minister Fred Mitchell was in Mangrove Cay, Andros, to thank local residents for assisting illegal immigrants who were shipwrecked last month.

Hosting a thank you luncheon in their honour, Mr Mitchell said the actions of the Mangrove Cay residents are an example of the “country’s finest values of compassion.”

“I wish to commend to the public at large the example of the people of Mangrove Cay in helping out these distressed people from Haiti who ran aground here in Mangrove Cay,” he said.

“They demonstrated commitment to this country’s finest values of compassion while at the same time being firm and patriotic to their country.”

On August 25, it was reported 83 illegal Haitian migrants were in custody after they were picked up when their sloop ran aground off Mangrove Cay, Andros, seven days after leaving Cap Haitien.

Some 200 persons were estimated to be on board, however, it is understood four Haitians drowned early into the voyage when they jumped from the boat carrying them before nearing Andros.

Island Administrator Maxine Duncombe, in her report to NEMA on conditions in Mangrove Cay during Tropical Storm Isaac, reported their arrival.

The same day the Bahamas Department of Meteorology issued a Hurricane Watch for the island of Andros and advised small craft operators to remain in port.

NEMA also reported that the community, headed by Local Government, assisted the stranded Haitians by providing food and clothing.

Mr Mitchell said immigration work cannot be completed without the assistance of the public.

“All over the country, Bahamians assist the work of the department of immigration by reporting any sightings of illegal migrants and ensuring that these migrants are detained and deported,” he said. “The work of immigration cannot be done without this wider cooperation.”

Addressing the larger issue of immigration in the Bahamas, Mr Mitchell said the public can look forward to a “time of change in immigration.”

In the future, he said, efforts will be concentrated in allocating what resources are available to improve the immigration problem, in public relations – to push a campaign where the public becomes informed of their immigration status and updating immigration laws.

“I think,” he said, “we will have to look at the question of additional equipment for the enforcement unit: updating their weapons, weapons training, crowd control measures and people-to-people skills.

“We have to look at the law to see what needs updating, laws like the appeals procedures for people who are detained in immigration lock ups. Perhaps we might have to implement a system of registered or licensed brokers who can deal with immigration applications and also immigration judges.”