ARTICLE - MASS HAITIAN ROUND-UP

MASS HAITIAN ROUND-UP
(The Bahama Journal) - By Kendea Smith

After more than five days at sea with no food, water or bathroom facilities, almost 200 Haitian migrants are now at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre awaiting processing.

Yesterday, officials from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officials picked up a group of 167 illegal immigrants – 127 males and 37 females – 18 miles west of Elbow Cay Monday night.

RBDF Commander Clarence Dean said officials received information from locals Monday about a number of sightings in the Ragged Island and Salina Point, Acklins areas.

"We were on a regular patrol and then we diverted to the Exuma Cays, where we observed one of the vessels at about 11:00 p.m. [Monday] night," Commander Dean said.

"What we did notice was that the majority of the migrants were under the age of 30. There were only two migrants that were under the age of 18."

The immigrants were reportedly travelling on a 40-foot vessel.

Commander Dean said despite their ordeal, the immigrants appeared to be in good health.

"From speaking to them they have been out to sea for maybe four or five days. They were in very good condition and there were no reported health conditions," he said.

Officials said they were happy to receive information from locals in order to carry out the round-up.

"What is very important is that when we get this information from the locals, a timeline of which way the vessel was headed and a brief description is very important so that we can actually plot these vessels and we can actually know their course and speed so that we can try to track this vessel," Commander Dean said.

But that was not the only major apprehension exercise officials carried out. On Monday, RBDF officials rounded up 93 illegal Haitians upon a similar vessel in Salina Point.

This occurred around 4:00 a.m.

Sub-Lieutenant Stubbs, navigating and boarding officer, expressed concern about the conditions of both vessels.

"The conditions on the Haitian sailing vessels as you know in the past have no toilet facilities and you can imagine... to have that amount of people on board without having access to a facility to relieve themselves. So it is extremely horrible and we don’t think that is going to change anytime soon. It is a health hazard even for the migrants and in particular for ourselves. But we take all precautions necessary so that we don’t become susceptible to any diseases," he said.

For months, cholera has plagued the impoverished island-nation and even caused The Bahamas to take precautions.

The epidemic in Haiti has killed more than 400,000 people since mid-October.

According to official figures the total number of cases has exceeded 245,000 people, of whom 132,000 were hospitalised.

Officials said currently, the mortality rate has declined significantly, but the situation remains grave.

Meanwhile, RBDF officials said the vessels that the migrants were picked up in would be destroyed because it is deemed a health hazard.

However, Sub-Lieutenant Stubbs added that officials are not keeping their guards down.

"We must be mindful that we do not know who is on board so we must always be alert and prepared for anything to happen," he said.

Once processed, the immigrants are expected to be repatriated sometime this week.