THREE hundred and sixty-eight Haitians were charged in an Inagua court on Monday with illegal landing.
The group consisted of 294 men and 74 women. They appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt and Magistrate Shaka Serville. The migrants pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal landing.
According to a release from the Department of Immigration, they were granted a conditional discharge on condition they do not return to The Bahamas without the permission of an immigration officer. Early deportation was also recommended.
Last week, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force was informed by a local fisherman that a suspected Haitian vessel had been seen partially submerged off Flamingo Cay. A group of individuals were also sighted on Flamingo and Water Cays, Ragged Island. Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) officials were also informed and responded to the area and confirmed the sighting.
As a result, RBDF assets, as well as the Royal Bahamas Police Force marines and immigration officials were alerted and dispatched to the area. Subsequently, a group of migrants were found and turned over to the Department of Immigration on Friday for processing.
This group consisted of 430 migrants, inclusive of 368 adults and 62 minors.
Repatriations are expected to begin as early as today.
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