fp Turks and Caicos

Three sloops full of Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands were intercepted over the holidays by the Marine Division and the U.S. Coast Guard.

A 40-foot sloop was intercepted about seven miles northeast of French Cay on the evening of Dec. 28, police said. The vessel was towed to South Dock, where 121 passengers were handed over to immigration authorities.

Passengers included 90 males, 21 females and 10 children. Five males required medical treatment at the Cheshire Hall medical facility.

The children were under the care of the Department of Social Development until they were sent back to Haitian officials on Dec. 30, and most of the others were returned by Dec. 31.

But before passengers on the first sloop could be processed completely, another boatload was nabbed Dec. 30 within two miles of French Cay.
Marine police said they intercepted a 45-foot wooden sloop powered with an outboard engine that was carrying 139 immigrants, including 115 males and 24 females. The boat was towed to South Dock, and they were handed over to immigration authorities.

Government officials confirmed that a dozen of the latest arrivals escaped from the detention centre, but no further details were provided.

Ten illegal Haitian immigrants escaped from the Five Cays detention center on Providenciales sometime between Sept. 24-25. Security at the facility is handled by a private company, but government is seeking a new contract and discussing with the owner assurances to comply with minimum standards. Government also is considering a long term multi-purpose detention centre.

On Jan. 2, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued approximately 125 individuals from a grossly overloaded vessel in international waters off the north coast of Haiti.

“The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work closely with TCI Marine Division and Police Force personnel while continuing patrols in the waters between the Turks and Caicos and Haiti and the Windward Pass in order to protect life at sea,” the Coast Guard said.

Boatloads of Haitians often brave the 90-mile trip from one of the poorest Caribbean countries to one of the wealthiest. Many are caught, some make it and others perish.

In September, 10 Haitian immigrants drowned when they were being transferred from a commercial vessel to shore by a smaller boat near West Caicos.

“Attempting to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands illegally by boat is dangerous and unwise,” said Clara Gardiner, permanent secretary for Border Control and Labour. “Acting together, the authorities in the islands will continue to respond swiftly, humanely and firmly to any such attempts.”

A new radar system that will help detect illegal vessels has been stalled for nearly a year, but border control expects it to be operational by April.

Those caught trying to enter the country are handled under the country’s National Contingency Plan. They are handed over to immigration officials for detention at a centre at Five Cays, processing and repatriation.

Processing of illegal immigrants is handled by the Ministry of Health, the Department of Social Development and the Red Cross in conjunction with Haitian authorities.

“Repatriation to Haiti is undertaken in conjunction with the Haitian authorities to ensure that proper arrangements are made to receive and resettle the would-be migrants, especially the children and otherwise vulnerable migrants,” the government said.