The scene that unfolded on Potter’s Cay Dock this morning spoke volumes about a pressing national security matter and the desperation that drives thousands out of their homeland on a quest for better lives.
Authorities who picked up more than 300 Haitian nationals in the last two days expressed concerns that the two groups signalled the start of the period when thousands of Haitians attempt to enter the country illegally, because of favourable weather conditions.
The apprehensions were made at a time when the government has already spent about $400,000 on repatriation exercises this year.
Lieutenant Michael Hanna, navigating officer of HMBS Nassau, said the Haitians were apprehended in two groups.
“The first group was picked up 17 nautical miles southeast of New Providence and the second batch came from the Exumas near the Land and Sea Park area,” he said.
Two hundred and fifty immigrants comprised the first group, while the second group was made up of about 56 immigrations, authorities said.
Two RBDF officers are permanently stationed in the Exumas and regularly patrol the Land and Sea Park area.
Lieutenant Hanna said that the immigrants were on unworthy sea craft and HMBS Bahamas was dispatched for safety reasons.
Additionally, five males were apprehended in the area of Crystal Cay.
Immigration officials said they believe that the immigrants were preparing to be smuggled to the United States.
Officials believe that the majority of the Haitian nationals are economic refugees, as the problems of Haiti seem to worsen, compounded by the failure of the Haitian Government to comply with requirements of the international community.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, this inaction is preventing the release of millions of dollars in aid, which could provide the solution and relieve The Bahamas of the burdens that accompany illegal migration.
But not all of the persons who make the often treacherous journey to The Bahamas consider themselves to be illegal immigrants.
Kevin Ocean, who spoke to the Bahama Journal, is one such person.
Mr. Ocean said that he was born in The Bahamas in 1980 and attended Bahamas Academy while living in Nassau.
Mr. Ocean said he did not intend to travel to The Bahamas.
He claims he was fishing in the Port-de-Paix area when he was encouraged to board another boat, which brought him to The Bahamas.
“The most important reason for leaving Haiti is that I don’t belong in Haiti,” he said. “I belong right here because I was born in The Bahamas.” Mr. Ocean said that he left The Bahamas to spend time with his sick mother who lives in Haiti but he tried to have his “travel” [Bahamas Certificate of Identity] renewed at the Bahamas Embassy in Haiti, but was told that he needed to provide the names of four people who could certify that he was born in The Bahamas.
Mr. Ocean’s case is a problematic one for many other Haitian-Bahamians.
Bahamian immigration laws provide that a person born in The Bahamas of non-Bahamian parents after July 10, 1973 have the right to apply for Bahamian citizenship when they reach the age of 18.
At such time they must make application for Bahamian citizenship within one year.
After such time, they forfeit that privilege.
But a number of children born in The Bahamas of Haitian parents are issued with Certificates of Identity to allow them to return to Haiti.
The problem that many persons in that category face is that under Haitian law, which is derived from French law, they are not entitled to Haitian citizenship which renders them stateless.
Assistant Director of Immigration William MacDonald said that the illegal migration problem continues to be a major challenge for immigration officials.
“Every time we clear the [Detention] Centre, they are right back,” Mr. MacDonald said.
He said that there are presently 466 Haitian nationals at the Detention Centre and 132 Haitian nationals were just repatriated last week.
“Around this time of year, we can expect much more to come,” he said.
Mr. MacDonald appealed to Bahamians to assist in minimising the problem because the maintenance of immigrants and repatriating them is costly.
“Every year, we go over budget [for repatriation], but once it happens we have to find money to repatriate them,” he said.
He also said that Bahamians could assist by refraining from assisting Haitian nationals by not making illegitimate applications for employment at the Immigration Department.
By Julian Reid, The Bahama Journal
