$1 Million Spent on Repatriating Migrants In The Bahamas

Haitian Migrants brought into Potter's Cay, Nassau Bahamas in August 2009, boarding a bus for transfer to a detention center prior to repatriation

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Immigration Department has spent $1 million repatriating illegal immigrants so far this year, Minister of State for Immigration the Hon Branville McCartney revealed.

He was addressing the national convention of the governing Free National Movement on November 4 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino on Cable Beach.

More than 4,000 migrants have been repatriated following their apprehension in The Bahamas this year, he confirmed

”Unfortunately, many seeking to enter the country are not invited, do not enter legally, and are poorly equipped to assist in our further development,” he said. “Many are often in need of assistance in terms of health care, education and training.

“The cost is becoming too exorbitant in terms of our limited financial resources. In tough economic times the burden is heavier.

“We no longer have the capacity to assimilate the ever-increasing numbers of illegal migrants,” Mr. McCartney said.

The Department, however, “is pleased” to facilitate migrants who will contribute to the growth and expansion of the economy, business opportunities and wealth for Bahamians, he said.

“Some illegal immigrants are involved in the illicit drug trade,” he said. “Others are concerned with the illegal gun trade and others into human smuggling connected to the sex trade.”

The overwhelming majority of illegal immigrants come from Haiti, and The Bahamas “holds no malice against such persons,” he said.

“The Haitian people are our brothers and sisters,” said Mr McCartney. “Our destinies have been linked by proximity, by trade, by family and by friendship.

“But I would be remiss if I did not tell you that we as a country cannot sustain the current levels of illegal migrants from Haiti and elsewhere. In tough economic times, their competition for services and for jobs becomes even more unwelcome.”

In this vein, he said, the national effort is to curtail illegal migration, protect and strengthen national identity, and also to protect migrants from exploitation, and death and to counter the illicit traffic in drugs and light arms. 

Other plans are to expedite the status of long-term residents and the registration of children born abroad to Bahamian women and their foreign spouses, he said.

He also pledged to process more efficiently, work permit applications for expatriate skilled labor or technical expertise required by the country.

The Department has also installed a 24-hour immigration hotline.

By: Lindsay Thompson

Bahamas Information Services