One thousand of those migrants would be accommodated at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre and the other thousand at Inagua, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.
The United States said, meanwhile, it can accommodate 60,000 immigrants, but not on the U.S. mainland. A centre is being prepared at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for that purpose.
With no end in sight to the civil strife in Haiti, the government has also asked the National Disaster Preparedness Committee “to review the country’s available assets.”
Giving a communication in the House of Assembly Wednesday, Minister Mitchell also revealed that the government will liaise with the United States to put in place emergency measures.
Addressing members of the press Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt acknowledged that there are threats to the country’s national security.
Armed rebels have taken control of large parts of northern Haiti, and more than 50 people have been killed.
The rebels, who are demanding the resignation of President Jean-Betrand Aristide, have said they will take their revolt all the way to the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince.
Hoping to prevent an all-out implosion in Haiti, Minister Mitchell told House Members that the international community continues to push for an end to the crisis, but has recognized the complexity of the situation.
Minister Mitchell said: “Caricom is proceeding in concert with its international partners – the Organization of American States (OAS), U.S., Canada and the French government – on the issue, and that a progress statement should be issued shortly on how the Haitian government has begun to comply with various measures as outlined by the Caricom group of Caribbean nations.”
Discussions, he said, are taking place to determine how best this can be accomplished, including the provision of any material or any manpower requirements to assist in maintaining order.
Despite increasing tensions in Haiti, Minister Mitchell told House members that Bahamas Ambassador to Haiti Dr. Eugene Newry has indicated he, as well as the other staff members and dependents presently feel no threat to their safety, which would require their evacuation.
The Minister pointed out that the matter is under “constant review.”
Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
