Nassau, Bahamas -
The following is a press statement submitted on behalf of Fred Mitchell
MP, opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and the
Public Service.
PRESS STATEMENT BY FRED MITCHELL MP
OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ON INCURSION OF ILLEGAL HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26th January 2009
The country is entitled to the fullest explanation from the
Government of The Bahamas about the reported incursion into our
country's capital island of illegal migrants from the republic of
Haiti. The reports that are circulating say the numbers are larger than
what has appeared in the press. The government must say what the full
numbers are, how many were interdicted and why they were able to make
their way to Coral Harbour without detection. It must say what the
security implications of this are.
The only man who did not expect this incursion must have been the
Right Honourable Prime Minister. He predicted that since Haitian
normally come to the country from the north that the country would not
likely suffer these incursions because the earthquake occured in the
south of that country. He has been proven wrong once again.
With the partial destruction of the national prison in
Port-Au-Prince and circulated reports that some 4,000 criminals have
escaped as a result, Bahamians are increasingly concerned about that
criminal element making its way within our borders and the increased
public safety and national security risks this could pose.
The government has a responsibility to ensure in so far as it can
that it takes a responsible attitude toward this issue of illegal
immigration even in the midst of a crisis. It must be humane but it
must also be firm. It must ensure that the country's borders are
secure. It must not drop the ball.
If international help is required to assist then this help must be obtained.
