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Repatriations delayed by issues at Haiti airport

Fri, Oct 1st 2021, 02:37 PM
Crime Tribune Stories

LABOUR and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said the government will begin repatriations of some 1,000 Haitian migrants between today and tomorrow after the process was halted yesterday due to technical issues at the Port-de-Paix airport in Haiti.

Mr Bell spoke to reporters after another Haitian sloop, with 137 migrants onboard, was intercepted off Ragged Island on Wednesday morning.
#Royal Bahamas Defence Force officials said the group, along with 292 Haitians found in the Ragged Island chain last week, was being transported to Inagua for further processing.
#The latest group now joins more than 400 Haitians who are already being housed on the island after being apprehended from Bahamians waters.
#According to Mr Bell yesterday, more than 1,000 Haitians have been taken into custody by local authorities over the last several days.
#He said most of the apprehended individuals are men.
#“As you would recall, we had 501 plus (migrants) that (were) initially there in Inagua,” he told reporters yesterday. “We had 415 on the (Flamingo) Cay. That number is a bit fluid because we know that there was less than anticipated on the cay. I think the number was 377 if I’m not mistaken and then added to the 137.”
#He said the government had hoped to have some of those individuals returned home yesterday but explained that repatriation exercises had to be pushed back due to some “serious” technical issues at the airport in Haiti.
#“As it stands now, I’ve spoken with the honourable Fred Mitchell and from all indications, the Haitian government has indicated that they’re having some serious technical issues with the airport on Port-de-Paix. Therefore, we were unable to commence repatriation this morning.” Mr Bell added.
#“However, despite that, we anticipate that we’ll be able to repatriate all those that are being tried by Saturday. We will commence the repatriation exercise no later than by tomorrow (Friday) if we get word from the Haitian government (because) I think they’re going to use an alternative airport so if that gets sorted out today then we will do that today.

Mr Bell spoke to reporters after another Haitian sloop, with 137 migrants onboard, was intercepted off Ragged Island on Wednesday morning.

Royal Bahamas Defence Force officials said the group, along with 292 Haitians found in the Ragged Island chain last week, was being transported to Inagua for further processing.

The latest group now joins more than 400 Haitians who are already being housed on the island after being apprehended from Bahamians waters.

According to Mr Bell yesterday, more than 1,000 Haitians have been taken into custody by local authorities over the last several days.

He said most of the apprehended individuals are men.

“As you would recall, we had 501 plus (migrants) that (were) initially there in Inagua,” he told reporters yesterday. “We had 415 on the (Flamingo) Cay. That number is a bit fluid because we know that there was less than anticipated on the cay. I think the number was 377 if I’m not mistaken and then added to the 137.”

He said the government had hoped to have some of those individuals returned home yesterday but explained that repatriation exercises had to be pushed back due to some “serious” technical issues at the airport in Haiti.

“As it stands now, I’ve spoken with the honourable Fred Mitchell and from all indications, the Haitian government has indicated that they’re having some serious technical issues with the airport on Port-de-Paix. Therefore, we were unable to commence repatriation this morning.” Mr Bell added.

“However, despite that, we anticipate that we’ll be able to repatriate all those that are being tried by Saturday. We will commence the repatriation exercise no later than by tomorrow (Friday) if we get word from the Haitian government (because) I think they’re going to use an alternative airport so if that gets sorted out today then we will do that today.

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