A group of 50 Haitian migrants were apprehended on Saturday about five nautical miles west of Bell Island. The vessel was originally sighted eight miles southwest of Staniel Cay and RBDF assets stationed at Matthew Town, Inagua, were deployed to detain the migrants. Photo: RBDF
By Rashad Rolle
Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the Royal Bahamas Defence Force is deploying significant assets, including surface vessels, aircraft and 120 RBDF personnel, to combat illegal immigration amid Haiti’s deepening crisis and a surge in attempts by undocumented migrants to enter Bahamian waters.
The RBDF has apprehended 247 people in recent weeks, including 50 Haitian migrants about five miles west of Bell Island on Saturday.
Mr Davis said in a statement over the weekend that operations will focus on the northern coast of Haiti, the Old Bahama Channel and the Windward Passage.
He said the United States and the United Kingdom will position assets in the region, and intelligence will be shared among Bahamian officials, the US Coast Guard, the Turks and Caicos and the Cuban Border Patrol.
The recent escape of more than 4,000 prisoners in Haiti has intensified efforts to secure the country’s border.
Mr Davis noted he did not sign an agreement to receive refugees at the 2022 Summit of Americas.
“I continue to believe this is the right decision for our country,” he said. “We Bahamians are a compassionate people, but we simply cannot absorb additional burdens or security risks at home.”
He noted that CARICOM leaders constructed a framework last week for resolving Haiti’s political impasse.
“The first step in the framework is a transitional council, with members chosen by Haitian stakeholders,” he said. “Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has pledged to resign once the council is formed, and the council would appoint an interim Prime Minister.
“As the transitional council works to prepare a path to free and fair elections, a Multinational Security Support Mission, authorized by the United Nations last year, may be formed to reinforce the Haitian National Police in creating the conditions necessary to support humanitarian assistance and safe, secure elections.
“As many of you know, Kenya has offered to lead this mission, and a number of other nations have offered to send officers, equipment, and resources. Because stabilising Haiti is critical to preventing a mass migration crisis, and thus critical to our own country’s national security, The Bahamas may send a contingent of officers to participate in maritime operations in support of the multinational force.
“Some Bahamians will recall that under Prime Minister Ingraham, Bahamian officers participated in a mission to uphold security in Haiti, in 1994. If the multinational force is deployed this year, and if we are able to come to agreement on the parameters of our participation, our Defence Force officers who participate would be restricted to maritime operations, where the RBDF’s experience, expertise and excellence will be a tremendous asset.”
More like this story
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- TROOPS READY TO GO TO HAITI – PM: Bahamas will abide by CARICOM deployment decision
- 10 Haitian migrants apprehended after vessel lands on Eleuthera
- Hundreds of Haitians detained over weekend
- Six undocumented crew members seized on Bahamian boat
Comments
moncurcool 7 months, 3 weeks ago
So sad that it takes a crisis in Haiti for the government to do what was recommended years ago.
Maybe the time has come to move the Defense Force Base to Inagua, and to ensure dusk and dawn patrols are done by helicopter/planes at our southern border daily.
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Maybe this will be similar to tge Cuba-Mariel boat lift in the 1989’s under president Jimmy Carter. America passed what was known as tge ‘wet foot, dry foot’ law where any Cuban reaching American shores were allowed to stay in that country. And since Cuba was going through tough economic times, Castro not only permitted Cubans to leave, but he opened the jails and loaded the hardened criminals on boats and sent them to the US. Thousands of Cubans reached Florida and they were housed in ‘tent cities’ under some of Florida bridges. Initially they veered only released to family members or persons willing to sponsor them. Haitians who arrived on the US coast did not get similar treatment. They were considered economic refugees and most were repatriated to Haiti. Some who entered the US through The bahamas weee sent back here. With the current situation in Haiti, tge Bahamian government says it plans to continue deporting illegal Haitians.
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
The Cuban boat liftt changed the face of Miami because many of these emigrants became rude and arranging and the younger ones because destructive. Painting all the bridges and overpass with graffiti and hanging out at gas stations and convenience stores and assaulting patrons for even looking at them. Many of the Cuban businesses in Miami fired their other workers including Black Americans and Haitian immigrants and hired only Cubans. A lot of the white residents moved out of Miami and further north and places like Hialeah became almost fully Cuban or Hispanic
JokeyJack 7 months, 3 weeks ago
All Bahamians will be kicked out of the Bahamas under orders of the UN. Like Pindling said "...you don't deserve to have it." When i see KFC boxes on the road everywhere, i have to agree with him. Our time is soon coming to an end. The Republic of Northern Haiti will be born.
TalRussell 7 months, 3 weeks ago
[Beautifully so clean sea water!] --- Unlike, what could become a surge of ['awfully nasty'] Nassau on its own undoing, --- Be the next to go. --- Over [a single 5-year] governance mandate. --- Or, will it be just short of [10] years --- [2] General Elections. --- Yes?
birdiestrachan 7 months, 3 weeks ago
It is possible that Hatians will take over the Bahamas
the Bahamas is the only country that allows so many shanty towns. They would not do that in the Dominican Republic
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
You are such an idiot. There are shantytowns all over the US. And the immigrants also take over economic zones. Haven’t you ever heard of Lil China, Little Haiti and Jamaica in New York and California and Florida. And the Mexicans have their Shantytown in Texas and Nee Mexico and other Southern states.
SP 7 months, 3 weeks ago
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Chair of CARICOM, conveniently forgot to tell us about his new CARICOM initiative to immediately begin allowing no visa or work permit required for inter-Caribbean cross border travel and work.
Meaning, any Caribbean citizen from any country will be able to travel, live, and work, in any CARICOM country of their choosing without the need of visas or work permits!
The Bahamas is the only country in the region that failed to educate its people. Which Translates to Bahamians having to now compete with better educated people from Caribbean countries whose governments responsibly educated their populace.
How will "D" average Bahamians compete?
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is committing this nonsense unaware to Bahamians.
SP 7 months, 3 weeks ago
So PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is now trying to convince us that a Haitian boat blockade that the PLP and FNM could not achieve in 50 years, can suddenly be done now?
NOBODY is stupid enough to have an once of faith that Davis is even remotely capable of this!
We're doomed.
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
The illegal immigrants problem is not an easy one to solve. Not for this country or any other country that has to deal with it. When Tge Bahamas gained Independence, it was originally for internal self governance. The British were supposed to continue to handle our foreign ( external) affairs. But after a short while, they threw in the bloody towel and said the problem with illegal immigrants from Haiti and Jamaica was too expensive and too complicated
joeblow 7 months, 3 weeks ago
... people flee where they know they can go! If the Bahamas took a hard stance against illegal immigration decades ago and did not budge we would not have this problem now!
We have allowed tens of thousands of their citizens to be born, immunized, fed, schooled and employed in our country to our own detriment and a rising national debt, only to be faced with ingratitude, violence, entitlement and stolen property. And now we will allow more violent, criminals to skirt the defenses of the RBDF. As a nation, we deserve the calamity that will befall us if we do not force CARICOM to bear a larger portion of this burden!!
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Are ALL the Tribune’s bloggers blind sighted and brain dead? How many illegal immigrants are arrested, detained, processed and deported from this country annually? Even a country, like America, can’t stop the flow of illegal immigrants. So tell the government what else you want them to do or how differently you want them to deal with the Haitian problem . Else stop blowing hot air. And competing with the sun!
joeblow 7 months, 3 weeks ago
... are you brain dead? The real question to ask is how many illegal immigrants have been allowed to run deep roots into this country despite the "efforts" of governments. Those sent back are a token number compared to those that remain. The only logical conclusion is that governments efforts are half hearted at best!
TalRussell 7 months, 3 weeks ago
There's so much more to ['The Say Whaaat Story'] of how the colony's premierships', --- Had remained disinterested and indifferent when it came time to safeguarding the colony's sea waters sovereignty. --- Yes?
birdiestrachan 7 months, 3 weeks ago
There are no hatian shanty homes in new york or Florida but if othe delusioned belives this who can disabuse such as them
birdiestrachan 7 months, 3 weeks ago
There are no Hatian shanty homes in new york or Florida but if the delusioned believes this who can disabuse such a one
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Well if you want to believe this then do a survey of the homeless in every major city in the US. Most ( the majority) are Americans. Many are US war veterans who returned home with physical or mental disabilities or drug and substance abuse and dependence Others are persons ( some professionals) who fell victims to hard times. So where are the illegal immigrants?
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Donald Trump says not everyone crossing the US southern border is human. Some are animals,’ he says. Maybe he is referring to the MS-13 gang members who Trump believes are sneaking back into the US and are planning an attack on mainstream America. This MD-13 gang is a clear product of the US prison system and when members of this gang were released and sent back to their countries in South and Central America, they quickly multiplied gang membership and proved their ability to be ruthless and deadly as they killed thousands and thousands of people, many who were just normal innocent citizens. And Trump had intelligence that some members were trying to escape the violence and sneak back into the US and hide out in the suburbs and more upscale neighborhoods. Hence Trump’s obsession with securing the southern border. Now under Biden the border has become porous and some 5,0000 emigrants cross into the US daily. But that is not the only problem. Some THREE MILLION persons are entering the US by air annually and remaining there illegally.. And now authorities are saying the new trend is persons are entering the US on temporary or visitors visas, committing crimes including burglary of high value homes, then fleeing the country.
John 7 months, 3 weeks ago
The point is how much of The BaHAMAS limited resources should be spent on the Haitians illegal immigration problem? Let’s not forget that once someone enters this country illegally, they remain an illegal immigrant. So if they are not caught upon entry, eventually they will be caught and deported.
SP 7 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree with Joeblow 100%. Long Island is the perfect classic example of how to deal with Haitians.
There are no Haitians in Long Island because Long Islanders do not give them work. It's as simple as that.
Alternatively, the decades of asinine stupidity of the PLP and FNM rewarding illegal Haitians $250.00 (without taxpayers approval) for being caught and deported which is the equivalent one year income in Haiti incentivised tens of thousands of Haitians to relentlessly try entering the Bahamas illegally.
This coupled with absolutely no deterrents such as no fear by employers for hiring illegals and no fear by illegals of being caught and deported for working illegally, is why we have a Haitian invasion in the first place!
The PLP and FNM FAILED POLICIES are principally responsible for the Haitian invasion and this mess we now find ourselves in.
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