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BOYS DEPORTED DESPITE ORDER: Six-year-olds in landmark case were sent to Haiti and now stuck in quake

Tue, Aug 17th 2021, 08:38 AM
Court Disputes Tribune Stories

THE deadly earthquake in Haiti has attorney Wayne Munroe concerned about the well-being of two young boys in a landmark citizenship case who were deported to that island in defiance of a Supreme Court order and not returned to The Bahamas as requested.

Mr Munroe said he has not heard about the condition of Mayson and Nickey Pierre since the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti last week, killing more than 1,300 people and injuring thousands.
#The boys are about six years old and were deported to Haiti even after an immigration officer at Lynden Pindling International Airport was given an injunction order from Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson indicating they must not be deported.
#Mr Munroe said the Bahamian government has since resisted bringing the boys back.
#The children are among five applicants in a major case that saw courts decide that children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men are citizens at birth regardless of the nationality of their mother. Justice Ian Winder’s ruling on the matter was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in June. The Privy Council will hear the matter next.
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Wayne Munroe
#“The problem is, from the time they went down to Haiti, when you had the assassination of President Moise (in July), I was somewhat concerned,” Mr Munroe said yesterday.
#“At the time I had a contact who calls down there to the mother and that contact was able to reach her and she said they were fine and there was no concern. Then this earthquake happened.
#“My concern is, where are these young boys? What is their condition? Wouldn’t it be amazing if the Bahamian government stranded Bahamians in Haiti and what would be worse is if they are injured or killed during these natural disasters.
#“I don’t understand why is it that from the time the judge said these persons should not have been deported, why didn’t the government take steps to return them, if only to be seen as obeying the order of the court? It is a matter of concern because we watch the news and it’s up to 1,000 people now dead and they continue to find scores of people injured.”
#Mr Munroe began representing the Pierres when they were in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Mr Munroe said he has not heard about the condition of Mayson and Nickey Pierre since the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti last week, killing more than 1,300 people and injuring thousands.

The boys are about six years old and were deported to Haiti even after an immigration officer at Lynden Pindling International Airport was given an injunction order from Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson indicating they must not be deported.

Mr Munroe said the Bahamian government has since resisted bringing the boys back.

The children are among five applicants in a major case that saw courts decide that children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men are citizens at birth regardless of the nationality of their mother. Justice Ian Winder’s ruling on the matter was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in June. The Privy Council will hear the matter next.

“The problem is, from the time they went down to Haiti, when you had the assassination of President Moise (in July), I was somewhat concerned,” Mr Munroe said yesterday.

“At the time I had a contact who calls down there to the mother and that contact was able to reach her and she said they were fine and there was no concern. Then this earthquake happened.

“My concern is, where are these young boys? What is their condition? Wouldn’t it be amazing if the Bahamian government stranded Bahamians in Haiti and what would be worse is if they are injured or killed during these natural disasters.

“I don’t understand why is it that from the time the judge said these persons should not have been deported, why didn’t the government take steps to return them, if only to be seen as obeying the order of the court? It is a matter of concern because we watch the news and it’s up to 1,000 people now dead and they continue to find scores of people injured.”

Mr Munroe began representing the Pierres when they were in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

 

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