The Detention Centre at Carmichael Road.
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE lawyer for a 31-year-old Haitian man held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre says his client had to be revived twice by hospital staff after being brutally punched, slapped and beaten about the face and body by immigrations officers both at the facility and on the bus on the way there.
In calling for an inquiry into the alleged mistreatment, attorney Martin Lundy said that although his client, Fegens Laguerre is alive, he is “not well” after suffering serious mistreatment in immigration custody and needing emergency medical care after his arrest last week.
Questions about Mr Laguerre’s condition emerged earlier this week after reports that he had been taken to hospital before a court appearance and then could not be located for three days. Mr Lundy said relatives “camped out” at the airport with a ticket for his self-deportation, expecting him to be placed on a flight, but he did not arrive.
“When he entered the custody of the Department of Immigration, he was healthy and walking upright and experiencing no pain,” Mr Lundy said. “Now you have a man that’s doubled over in pain, cannot open his mouth too wide, cannot eat, very dizzy, pains in his spine.”
Mr Lunday said his client has also experienced nausea, vomiting, pain in his spine, and difficulty hearing in his left ear. “The doctors at the hospital had to tell him that he actually died twice,” he said. “They had to revive him.”
He said Mr Laguerre was X-rayed and that relatives are waiting for those results. He claimed doctors prescribed up to five medications that the Detention Centre could not supply, telling family members they would need to locate them themselves. He said some have been sourced, and added that Mr Laguerre “really needs” to see a private doctor.
“He’s very concerned about his mother not knowing about his condition, so he’s very clear about that — he knows that she’s going to worry,” Mr Lundy said.
A long-time resident in the community where Mr Laguerre was picked up said he knew the 30-year-old personally and described him as “very respectable, sociable”.
The resident, who requested anonymity, said he often spoke with Mr Laguerre and saw him as someone the same age as his own daughters.
“He just turned 30, so my two daughters are also 30,” said the resident. “They’re my babies, so he could’ve been my son. I always see him and talk with him and if I could help him in any way.”
He said he once watched Mr Laguerre call his son in Haiti and heard the child cry out “Papa! Papa!”
He said he spent days trying to find out where Mr Laguerre was.
Mr Lundy said he and Mr Laguerre’s relatives are now planning their next steps after meeting with him. He said “something needs to be done” and that they intend to pursue whatever measures are necessary to secure care, accountability and justice for the injured detainee.
Comments
Sickened 1 day, 15 hours ago
And many Bahamians consider Haitians as brutal and savage. I think this proves that some Bahamians are the same - maybe worse.
birdiestrachan 1 day, 9 hours ago
Why are they treating this man that way as his relatives report. If true the authorities are wrong no need for this treatment But Did his relatives know he was in the Bahamas illegally and what part did they play in breaking the laws of the Bahamas??
hrysippus 1 day, 8 hours ago
The almost unimaginable depths of evil depravity exercised by these uniformed members of the State Security system should engender the most serious consequences to the scum who perpetuated it. Nothing will probably happen because that's just how things go in The Bahamas of 2025. Sigh.......
ThisIsOurs 21 hours, 29 minutes ago
This is what happens when people without power in their personal lives are given absolute control of other individuals with no oversight. It's happening in plain sight on thousands of job sites and homes today. The gruesomeness of the attack increases based on the number of onlookers, less visible, more gruesome. And it's not just relegated to the poor, Nygard and Epstein for example. Its also particularly common in "detention" centers of all kinds prisons, jails, remedial schools, psychiatry wards and hospitals.
Unfortunately for the Bahamas we have a system that appoints majority representatives to our house of governance who cant read well, comprehend written text or analyze anything. They can give good zingers at a rally, dance, rummage in a garbage can and give out turkeys and rent money. If all else fails talk about junkanoo.
Nobody is watching
ThisIsOurs 21 hours, 19 minutes ago
The above notwithstanding, the govt needs to put an immediate pause on naturalization of all Haitian nationals and a moratorium on birthright citizenship for Haitian nations as allowed by the constitution. This man is 30, how long has he been here? No Haitian national should be on work permit (or tourist visa) for longer than 8years and their children born during that time should be citizens of their home country. No child born to an illegally residing individual should be given Citizenship.
This is not xenophobia it is addressing the most critical national security threat.
Nobody is watching and a big bomb is being constructed throughout our islands
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