Date Posted: November 25, 2008.

This past weekend some 95 Haitians were apprehended in Bahamian waters by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). The migrants were aboard a 30-ft Haitian sailing sloop about three-quarter miles north of Seal Cay, in the Ragged Island Chain of the Central Bahamas. The group consisted of 66 males, 18 females and 11 children and all were reported to be in good health.

The migrants were apprehended on Saturday by the HMBS Nassau - a 198ft RBDF vessel. They were brought into the Capital Nassau on Monday morning shortly after 8:00 am where they were turned over to immigration officers for further processing.

Ninety-five Haitian migrants huddled together on Prince George Wharf in Nassau Bahamas after being apprehended at sea by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. In the Background is Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Photo by Leading RBDF Seaman Jonathan Rolle

There are 10's of thousands of Haitian immigrants, many illegal, in the Bahamas. The problem is compounded by the fact that many residents employ the migrants who generally accept low wages for labour intensive tasks. Children born to the migrants often strive to excel in school but many find it difficult to fully integrate into a society where being Haitian brings with it a very distinct stigma.

To battle the ongoing problem of illegal migration as well as others such as  illegal drugs, gun trade and  human smuggling the Bahamas has invested heavily over the past months in upgrading it's seafaring capabilities. Just over one week ago the government announced that it had purchased two new 40-foot coastal patrol boats that were built at a cost of $1.6million. The acquisition brought the number of seagoing assets the  Royal Bahamas Defence Force has received over an eleven-month period to ten.

Bahamas' Minister of National Security, the Hon. Tommy Turnquest said the boats are part of the Government of The Bahamas’ strategy to “systematically remove constraints” from the capacity of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to counter transnational crime - including transnational organized crime - by providing the Force with the sea and air assets necessary for it to carry out its mandate.

Bahamas' Minister of National Security, the Hon. Tommy Turnquest inspects the Honour Guard during the commissioning ceremonies of boats P-44 and P-45 Friday, November 14, 2008 at HMBS Coral Harbour Base in New Providence.

The National Security Minister said the Force is expected to “soon take delivery” of two aircraft that have been purchased to assist it in its mission and mandate. He said the Force will be provided with additional seagoing assets as part of the Government’s “phased acquisition plan for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.”