SOLDIERS guard the entrance of the international airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. Authorities ordered a 72-hour state of emergency starting Sunday night following violence in which armed gang members overran the two biggest prisons and freed thousands of inmates over the weekend. Photos: Odelyn Joseph/AP
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
ALTHOUGH Bahamasair has suspended flights to Haiti, Immigration Acting Director William Pratt said repatriation flights to Haiti will continue even though that country declared a state of emergency after thousands of inmates escaped prison.
Haiti declared a three-day state of emergency and a night-time curfew after armed gangs stormed the country’s two biggest jails, allowing more than 3,000 criminals to escape and inflame the country’s crisis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that five members of the country’s diplomatic staff in Haiti have returned to The Bahamas for consultations. The United States has advised its citizens to leave Haiti as soon as possible, and Canada has closed its embassy there.
Bahamasair managing director Tracy Cooper told reporters yesterday that the security risk within Haiti has led the airline to suspend flights.
“We are understanding that the unrest in Haiti is more concentrated around Port-au-Price relating to gang violence and also where there is some encroachment upon the jail and some releasing of prisoners,” he said.
“Bahamasair doesn’t fly into Port-au-Prince at this time, we fly into Cap-Haitien, but out of an abundance of caution and with collaboration and consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have decided that we would suspend our operation into Cap-Haitien for the immediate future.”
Mr Pratt noted Bahamasair planes carry 50 to 70 people to Haiti per trip. He said other planes the government charter can have a maximum of 25 people.
“We utilise the smaller flights along with Bahamasair and so if Bahamasair is 100 per cent suspended and the other flights are still operating we will utilise the smaller flights,” he said.
Mr Pratt said 70 Haitians are currently awaiting deportation.
As for the detention centre, he said: “We are not going to stop picking up illegal immigrants for sure. We are not going to let it overflow. We are hoping that Bahamasair will be able to resume flights in a few weeks or so.”
In a recent statement, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the situation in Haiti “deteriorated to the point where leaders of the Caribbean had to be called into an emergency meeting”.
However, The Bahamas has resisted calls to suspend repatriations amid instability in Haiti.
Comments
Sickened 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Sink All Boats!!
bahamianson 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Suspended flights to Haiti, totally racist and xenophobic
DJBarr 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Please explain how that is racist or xenophobic?
SP 9 months, 4 weeks ago
The asinine PLP and FNM allowed this crises to brew for 50 years. Now that Haitian gangs relentless murder spree is affecting tourism the PLP is trying to put bandaid fixes on gunshot wounds.
Too little too late!
When some of the 4000 new Haitian jail break escapees start filtering into the Bahamas to hide and join Haitian gangs, they will unleash the same terror in the Bahamas as they are accustomed to in Haiti.
We the people have begged, warned, and pleaded, with the complicit Haitian leaders of the PLP and FNM for 50 years that allowing Haitians to proliferate in the Bahamas will inevitably lead to Haitians dragging the Bahamas down to Haiti's level and here we are today afraid to live in our own country!
Linden Pindling, Hubert Ingraham, Perry Christie, Hubert Minnis, and Brave Davis. All admit to Haitian decent and are Haitian sympathizers.
Not a true 100% Bahamian among the whole lot!
The United Nations encouraged these 5 jackasses we called "leaders" to cater to illegal Haitian migration.
Now Brave better call the United Nations and beg for help to save the Bahamas from the 4000 dangerous Haitian prison escapees and ongoing Haitian gang slaughtering of Bahamian youth that is rapidly destroying our countries number one industry!
We desperately need a "REAL BAHAMIAN LEADER" to deal with issues important to "REAL BAHAMIAN CITIZENS"!
birdiestrachan 9 months, 4 weeks ago
The Bahamas should be careful that the Haitians do not take over the Bahamas it appears they out smart the Bahamas always
TalRussell 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Give us something real! ... If Haiti's president [was shot, dead, murdered at his home] outside of Port-au-Prince, --- What [level of protection] can the two lone Bahamian polcemans' attaches remaining in post --- Possibly offer to Charge d’ Affairs at the Embassy, Captain Godfrey Rolle. --- Yes?
John 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Any time you hear ‘GANGS’ you better believe America is involved and it is always in a sinister. But can America and France avoid the inevitable when it comes to Haiti. This country’s economy and freedom and peace and progress has been kidnapped, ravaged and pilfered since the 1700’s. But those who called the tune will have to pay the piper… eventually
SP 9 months, 3 weeks ago
@ John...Lol....you must be kidding! America promised freed slaves 40 acres and a mule Jan. 16, 1865 as a form of reparations to newly freed slaves.
After 159 years black Americans have gotten ZERO and are still treated as less than human! So I wouldn't count on anything tangible from the U.S. ever!
America, France and the rest of NATO countries will very soon be eating crow as Africa dumps them and continues expanding relationships with to Russia, China, and Arab countries for equitable business partnerships.
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