MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe. Photo: Dante Carrer
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said Haiti’s deterioration, including the escape of thousands of criminals, shows why helping to stabilise that country is in the security interest of The Bahamas.
Some have criticised the Davis administration for committing 150 defence force officers to a multinational team to help stabilise Haiti.
But Mr Munroe noted yesterday that conditions in Haiti are worsening, with 4000 criminals recently freed from a prison there.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been locked out of his country and remains in Puerto Rico. Gangs vying for political power have demanded that he resign.
“From the deteriorating situation in Haiti, I think the Bahamian public realises why it is in our national security interest that we have peace in Haiti,” Mr Munroe said on Wednesday.
“After the prison outbreak, along with CARICOM, everyone is afraid these criminals will end up in The Bahamas. That is why we need peace in all the countries in this region. The Bahamas, with CARICOM, has committed to assisting in bringing the Haitian solution to their problem.”
Although Kenya has agreed to lead a multinational security force to Haiti, its plans have been stymied in court.
Mr Munroe said The Bahamas is committed to providing the Haitian Coast Guard maritime security training.
“We still hold to that commitment, and with the deteriorating situation in Haiti, you will need maritime security in terms of preventing inflows of contraband and outflows of migrants, and we are committed to that,” he said.
Mr Munroe said if a team is deployed, there would be rotations of 50 people onboard the HMBS Bahamas.
Earlier this week, Bahamasair, which flies to Cap-Haitien, suspended flights to Haiti. Haitian gangs have tried to take over the Port-au-Prince airport.
Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell reiterated that repatriation exercises to Haiti have not been suspended.
“Repatriation,” he said in the House of Assembly, “has not been suspended from our point of view, but if the airport is closed, how do you get people in? So that’s the practical reality of it. Secondly, whoever emerges as the government in Port-au-Prince, we have to deal with, de facto, whether they are good or evil, if we want this repatriation to continue. So we can’t take any sort of high-minded approach and ideological approach on any of these things because we want the repatriation to continue.”
Comments
TalRussell 9 months ago
Hyper for the coloniality of Haiti, Crown Minister Wayne Munroe. --- Meet Gang Leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, [the x-haitian policemans'], who has warned Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry, not to return to Haiti after a long absence as he struggles witth securing his physical safety should he return home.--- There is [speculation as to his aboard whereabouts]. --- Yet, we own, are about to dispatch 150 combat troops to confront. [Comrade "Barbecue"]. --- Yes?
..
sheeprunner12 9 months ago
The poorest country in the Americas with 12 million people, ruled by gangs and overflowing with guns and drugs cannot be fixed by The Bahamas, nor CARICOM ....... The OAS & UN seem not to be interested in fixing Haiti ........... So, this will be a long-term problem until a strong man dictator rises up to control the embattled impoverished and socially dysfunctional nation.
We need to pray to God for deliverance of Haiti
joeblow 9 months ago
... people have complained about violent crime in our country without considering for one minute the role of violent, unvetted illegal immigrants from Haiti who have been pouring into this country for decades. We never considered that when people break laws to enter your country, they are not likely to be law abiding. It is time to close entrance of any sloops into our waters, deny them aid and ask other Caribbean countries to accept "refugees". We have already done far more than we should have concerning that country to our detriment and we a paying a heavy price for it!!
sheeprunner12 9 months ago
Good point ............ Plus remittances to Haiti are draining 242, add that to your list
themessenger 9 months ago
And wouldn't those 150 defense force personnel with all of their high priced vessels and equipment plus all the taxpayer money spent on repatriation of Haitian illegals be put to better use by stepping up maritime and air patrols to intercept these people before they arrive on South beach shores? So much for Sandy Bottom and the vaunted Inagua base, more like go pound sand in your ass .
TalRussell 8 months, 4 weeks ago
Whilst The Colonyland's [Warring Evangelists] --- Committed 150 combat troops] ---To go nation hopping ... The US --- Just moments ago --- Ordered [the shuttering] of its Embassy in Haiti.--- Yes?
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