Bahamas News
02-03-05, - 07:26 AM
Illegal Immigration Growing
Bianca Symonette
The number of Haitians leaving their country to seek a better way of life is steadily increasing, Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Peet announced yesterday, while adding that the government is redoubling its efforts to address the problem.
“But let me also say here that there are increasing numbers of other nationalities illegally landing on our shores,” the Minister revealed during a press conference at his office on East Hill Street.
In January, authorities apprehended 362 illegal immigrants, he indicated.
Minister Peet said of that number, 293 were interdicted at sea and 69 on land. He also indicated that 328 of the immigrants apprehended last month were Haitians, 22 were Jamaicans and 12 were other nationals.
These individuals were found on or in waters near New Providence, Athol Island, Rose Island, Inagua, Highbourne Cay, and Long Cay, off the Exuma Cays, he said.
The Department of Immigration repatriated 430 illegal immigrants last month, including 388 Haitians, 31 Jamaicans, four Columbians, three Guyanese, three Americans and one Mongolian, the Minister revealed.
The government spent $67,735 repatriating them, Minister Peet told reporters.
In January 2004, 272 Haitians were picked up, according to figures from the Department of Immigration.
Last year, 3,034 immigrants were repatriated, according to the Department. Of that number, 2,500 were said to be Haitian.
Minister Peet told reporters that the Ministry of Labour and Immigration has pledged its commitment to “stem the flow of illegal immigrants to our shores.”
“It is important for the country to understand that the immigration officers are on the job along with the other law enforcement officers to ensure that those interdicted are sent back to their homeland in the [shortest possible] period of time and also those residing here illegally are being pursued in a systematic way by the Department,” the Minister said.
He noted that the illegal immigration problem is nothing new and the government remains challenged in trying to address it.
“This is a problem that has been with us for many years and the government has recently engaged the services of an expert from the International Organization on Migration who is currently in The Bahamas,” Minister Peet said.
The IMO representative is trying to find a formula to identify the number of illegal immigrants currently in the country, he said.
“The government takes this illegal immigration problem quite seriously,” Minister Peet said. “Never before has there been a technical or sustained effort to identify the numbers because it is very difficult to do so. But the prime minister believes strongly that it can be done and should be done.”
As of yesterday, there were 46 illegal immigrants at the Detention Centre, Minister Peet said. They included 29 Cubans, seven Haitians, two Jamaicans, two Dominicans, two Phillipinos, two Sri Lankans, one Nigerian and one American.
Bianca Symonette
The number of Haitians leaving their country to seek a better way of life is steadily increasing, Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Peet announced yesterday, while adding that the government is redoubling its efforts to address the problem.
“But let me also say here that there are increasing numbers of other nationalities illegally landing on our shores,” the Minister revealed during a press conference at his office on East Hill Street.
In January, authorities apprehended 362 illegal immigrants, he indicated.
Minister Peet said of that number, 293 were interdicted at sea and 69 on land. He also indicated that 328 of the immigrants apprehended last month were Haitians, 22 were Jamaicans and 12 were other nationals.
These individuals were found on or in waters near New Providence, Athol Island, Rose Island, Inagua, Highbourne Cay, and Long Cay, off the Exuma Cays, he said.
The Department of Immigration repatriated 430 illegal immigrants last month, including 388 Haitians, 31 Jamaicans, four Columbians, three Guyanese, three Americans and one Mongolian, the Minister revealed.
The government spent $67,735 repatriating them, Minister Peet told reporters.
In January 2004, 272 Haitians were picked up, according to figures from the Department of Immigration.
Last year, 3,034 immigrants were repatriated, according to the Department. Of that number, 2,500 were said to be Haitian.
Minister Peet told reporters that the Ministry of Labour and Immigration has pledged its commitment to “stem the flow of illegal immigrants to our shores.”
“It is important for the country to understand that the immigration officers are on the job along with the other law enforcement officers to ensure that those interdicted are sent back to their homeland in the [shortest possible] period of time and also those residing here illegally are being pursued in a systematic way by the Department,” the Minister said.
He noted that the illegal immigration problem is nothing new and the government remains challenged in trying to address it.
“This is a problem that has been with us for many years and the government has recently engaged the services of an expert from the International Organization on Migration who is currently in The Bahamas,” Minister Peet said.
The IMO representative is trying to find a formula to identify the number of illegal immigrants currently in the country, he said.
“The government takes this illegal immigration problem quite seriously,” Minister Peet said. “Never before has there been a technical or sustained effort to identify the numbers because it is very difficult to do so. But the prime minister believes strongly that it can be done and should be done.”
As of yesterday, there were 46 illegal immigrants at the Detention Centre, Minister Peet said. They included 29 Cubans, seven Haitians, two Jamaicans, two Dominicans, two Phillipinos, two Sri Lankans, one Nigerian and one American.