A body is taken from the scene yesterday after at least 17 migrants died after a boat capsized off New Providence. Photo: Leandra Rolle/Tribune Staff
MONDAY UPDATE: A third Bahamian man has been arrested in connection with the alleged human smuggling incident that ended tragically at sea yesterday. He was arrested at a residence in New Providence at around 9pm on Sunday.
From earlier:
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
TWO Bahamian men are in police custody after 17 suspected Haitian migrants, including a minor, died when their boat capsized in rough seas early yesterday morning during a suspected “human smuggling operation”.
Police said the ill-fated vessel – a twin engine speed boat - was carrying somewhere between 50 to 60 passengers when it left a docking facility off West Bay Street around 1am on Sunday.
Officials suspect the boat was headed to Miami, Florida.
However, the trip took a turn for the worse after the vessel overturned just seven miles off New Providence - near Blackbeard’s Cay, resulting in the deaths of nearly 20 of the people on board.
While conducting search and recovery efforts, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force found 17 bodies – including 15 women, one man and a girl believed to be four or five years of age - near the boat’s hull.
Twenty-five people, including two Bahamian men, were also rescued following the accident, while officials believe eight people or more are still missing. It was a heartbreaking scene at the RBDF’s base on East Bay Street, where both survivors and the deceased were taken in the aftermath of the boat tragedy.
The Tribune witnessed numerous wrapped bodies being transferred into several funeral hearses before being driven away.
The tragic incident later prompted officials to hold an emergency press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon.
Among those in attendance included Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis, Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell, Attorney General and Acting Health Minister Ryan Pinder and Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander.
Prime Minister Davis described the incident as a “tragedy at sea,” saying a multi-agency investigation has been launched to determine exactly what happened.
“My government since coming to office has continuously warned against these treacherous voyages,” he said. “We have increased surveillance on land and sea and have intensified patrols. We take this opportunity to strongly condemn the organisation of smuggling operations which risk human life and compromise national security.
“Those found to be involved will face prosecution.”
The prime minister also said while he understood the situation many migrants face, they should still not put their lives at risk and refrain from considering such voyages.
For his part, Commissioner Fernander said police continue to be on high alert for people involved in human smuggling operations, adding the two men in custody following the boating tragedy have been known to officers “for various offences.”
He could not confirm whether the two had been arrested for human smuggling in the past, but noted they were assisting police in their investigations.
As for the costs of the ill-fated trip, immigration officials said survivors told them that they paid between $3,000 to $8,000 for the voyage.
“Twenty persons have been turned over to immigration,” Mr Bell said yesterday. “They are at the detention centre.”
The remaining survivors were said to be in hospital at last report after suffering from symptoms associated with nearly drowning.
Mr Bell added: “As the commissioner indicated, interviews have commenced and as I’m advised by the director, those persons have indicated that they would’ve paid somewhere between three and eight thousand dollars for this fateful voyage and so we anticipate that that information would be turned over to police.”
Mr Pinder added that officials will wait to see the final report of police investigations to determine the next course of legal action.
“To the extent that those investigations reveal criminal culpability, there will be no resistance from the government of The Bahamas in bringing the necessary criminal actions and criminal enforcement actions against those who are deserving for so,” Mr Pinder said.
Sunday’s tragedy also elicited condolences from government officials, opposition members and the wider Bahamian public.
In a statement, Free National Movement leader, Michael Pintard said: “Our prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured. It is difficult to fully grasp the suffering experienced by so many who embark on a perilous journey in search of a better life and then to experience the horror we saw unfold.”
“We are resolute in opposition to any form of human smuggling and support swift and deliberate justice for victims and punishment for any perpetrators.”
Police are appealing to anyone with information on the tragedy or who suspect their loved one was involved to contact them.
Government officials are also communicating with Haitian community leaders to help identify the deceased.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are said to be continuing.
Comments
BMW 1 year, 9 months ago
17 counts of murder and they will get bail!
Sickened 1 year, 9 months ago
And bail will be less than what they charged a single person they killed. Bail should be set at 10 times whatever you may have made. $200k of drugs then bail should be $2million. These guys charged up to $8k per person - 60 persons = $480k - 10 times that... bail should be $4.8 million.
longgone 1 year, 9 months ago
In all my years I have never heard of "Blackbeard's Cay" Can someone please tell me where it is located?? Thank you!
Dawes 1 year, 9 months ago
I think it is the one sandals and the dolphin place is on, opposite Sandyport.
John 1 year, 9 months ago
Blackbeards Cay - Bahamas B2B Located just north west of the eastern end of Nassau, Blackbeard is a charming little tropical island that takes its name from the legendary pirate himself. Is that the cay just past Blue Lagoon with all the coconut trees on it?
longgone 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you John---Much obliged!!
longgone 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you, Dawes and John--Much obliged!
tribanon 1 year, 9 months ago
And to think the U.S. government has a list of the senior Bahamas government officials who are involved in human trafficking but will not release the names to the Bahamian public.
How does the U.S. government expect our country help to put an end to this highly profitable killing trade when it secretly hoards and protects the very information the Bahamian people need to hold all the murderous facilitators fully accountable for their dastardly deeds? Oh well, what can you expect from the U.S. government when its leader is willing to travel abroad to visit and 'fist pump' with a well-known human rights violator and murderer?!
M0J0 1 year, 9 months ago
Shows the holes in the boarder protection. No patrols. Sadly they left from the same spot the police raided a few months back.
TalRussell 1 year, 9 months ago
As a colony of greedy monies sand dollars opportunity passed down generations of whites and blacks that places such low value on Haitian nationals, hasn't yet inspired one the local insurers that underwrites an insurance risk against lost at sea cargo as the English insurers provided for paying financial compensation to those engaging during slaves transport by seawaters in event a lost at sea of the ship's cargo. ― Yes?
realfreethinker 1 year, 9 months ago
I heard the COP say the boat "capside" and he said it more than once
ted4bz 1 year, 9 months ago
Money makes the world go around the world go round the world go round. Money was made to make this happen, and money will be the charged for making this happen. And on and on and on it goes. money money money money money. Peter ways een a bit different than Paul ways.
Sickened 1 year, 9 months ago
Anyone think they will follow the money trail on this to see which officials are getting a piece of the action?
M0J0 1 year, 9 months ago
boat was too full, they tried to make it all in one trip
DiverBelow 1 year, 9 months ago
Another case of 'ignorant, greedy, opportunist' at sea. Hang the slime in the sun to dry!
John 1 year, 9 months ago
Haitians are probably the ones in this part of the world that loses the most lives trying to seek a better life here in The Bahamas and then the US and Canada. At the US ‘ Southern Border it is mostly Mexicans and South Americans who get lost or lose their lives in the jungle trying to journey to the UD. And many also die trying to cross raging rivers at the border. And some die suffocating in trailer trucks or by some other smuggling operation gone wrong. In Europe it’s the South Africans that try to sneak their way into Europe and in Asia various nationalities also try to cross borders illegally to seek a better life. Fortunately for Bahamians, their diaspora is not as treacherous and life threatening and, in fact, some don’t fine it’s better just to stay at home.
quietone 1 year, 9 months ago
My, my, it grieves me greatly to hear about this very sad and bad news... it's like way too many unfortunate incidents are happening in our beloved Bahamas...
BONEFISH 1 year, 9 months ago
A tradegy. RIP to those who died in this most unfortunate incident.
Human smuggling is big business in the Bahamas. It has been so for quite some time it is brought to the public's attention when a tradegy like this happens.
BahamaRed 1 year, 9 months ago
A very tragic situation, RiP to all the lost souls.
But question, I read in another news report that the RBDF had to wait until daybreak to begin search and rescue operations. So from the boat capsized and the distress call was apparently received at 4am, the RBDF had to wait 2-3 hours to begin to render assistance?
I'm not sure how accurate this news report was, but if that was the scenario, why are the RBDF not equipped with SAR lights. This isn't the first time tragedy at sea as occurred and I've heard of the RBDF having to wait for daybreak. Someone make it make sense, where are the SAR floodlights and equipment required to make rescues at night?
tribanon 1 year, 9 months ago
We are probably still waiting on either the government of Haiti or the Clinton Foundation to send us the funds needed to buy those SAR lights among other things.
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