The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – Grand Bahama police are investigating the death of a Bahamian man at Holmes Rock and a suspected human smuggling operation involving a number of Haitians.

The body of the man and a vessel were discovered on the beach near the Holmes Rock Cemetery sometime around 7am yesterday.

Although the name of the victim has not been released, the dead man is believed to be Bahamian Hayward “Dick” Rolle, of Grand Bahama.

Four people, including three Haitians and one Bahamian, are in police custody.

Inspector Terecita Pinder, press liaison officer, reported that shortly before 7am, police received information that a group of illegal immigrants had landed in the Holmes Rock area, near the cemetery.

She said that officers responded and arrested three Haitian nationals and one Bahamian man.

While making further checks along the beach, Inspector Pinder said officers also discovered the body of a 65-year-old male resident of Holmes Rock.

She reported that the victim had sustained injuries to the head, and was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor.

A number of community members gathered in the area where the body was found.

Some complained that the response from the police was slow. 

An eyewitness reported that when the boat came ashore, a number of Haitians were seen running into nearby bushes to take cover.

The group’s intended destination is unknown.

Holmes Rock residents are no strangers to such incidents. The last human smuggling tragedy there saw the death of eight Haitians in July.

In that incident, the bodies of four women, three men, and one child had washed up along the beach, also near the cemetery. The group was headed to Florida.