Some of the 92 Haitian migrants detained by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force at Exuma after their sloop sank. See page five for the full story. Photo: Marine Seaman Stefan McDonald/RBDF Public Relations
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS of Staniel Cay, Exuma, provided food and water as well as a change of clothing for the nearly 100 Haitians who made their way into the settlement after their sloop sank, Royal Bahamas Police Force officials said yesterday.
In total, authorities arrested 92 migrants yesterday.
Superintendent Mactavaus Daniels, officer-in-charge of the George Town, Exuma Police Station, said the undocumented migrants “walked through” the town of Staniel Cay before being noticed by residents, who subsequently notified the authorities.
However, Superintendent Daniels said local residents were “quite hospitable and accommodating,” providing the migrants with food, water and fresh clothing after the ordeal.
He added that the undocumented migrants offered no resistance or hostility, and were “cooperative” with officials while being taken into custody.
Superintendent Daniels said the discovery was made around 5am yesterday. The group consisted of 92 migrants - 72 adult males, six juvenile males, 12 adult females and two juvenile females.
“They came right into Staniel Cay on the ocean side,” he said. “Once they made (it to) shore then the boat submerged. They walked through the town and residents noticed these people, and they alerted other residents, they alerted the police, and then they started rounding them up. We were able to get everybody.”
Superintendent Daniels added: “(The Haitian nationals) were quite cooperative. We didn’t have any problem at all with that. No one was injured. The people in Staniel Cay were quite hospitable and accommodating, they made sure that they had food and water, gave them clothing, etc, and everything went well. We feel pretty sure that we were able to get everybody.”
Last month, ten Haitians were apprehended by Royal Bahamas Defence Force officials in waters near Inagua.
The undocumented migrants were reportedly found aboard a 40-foot American registered sailing vessel anchored off Inagua.
That apprehension came after 170 Haitian migrants were apprehended in waters off Bimini two days earlier.
Comments
birdiestrachan 8 years, 11 months ago
I do not understand why they take the illegals to Nassau put them in the detention centers and then send them back home. Why not take them back from the islands where they are found?
duppyVAT 8 years, 11 months ago
How in the hell do these illegal immigrants continue to penetrate 250 miles into our sovereign waters before we can locate them ................ with the four new RBDF craft out on patrol????????????
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