The Immigration Department and Police are currently processing 34 additional Haitian immigrants who were brought to St. Kitts Wednesday night during a rescue mission.
Authorities say the Dutch Coast Guard rescued the M.V. Ocean King which sent an emergency distress signal Wednesday night and handed the vessel over to the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard as the closest port to the boat. The St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard escorted the vessel to the pier at the Coast Guard base in Basseterre at about 9 p.m. There were thirty-five persons – thirty-four nationals believed to be from Haiti and one believed to be from Dominica. One of the individuals is a juvenile. Four persons were taken to the J.N.F. Hospital for treatment and observation, however, two of them have since been discharged and joined the others who are currently in custody.
Immigration Chief Merclyn Hughes said the Immigration Department is in the process of conducting interviews with the individuals to ascertain the details of their circumstances and to verify their port of embarkation, as well as the intended port of disembarkation.
Freedom FM inquired about the 15 Haitians who entered St. Kitts illegally by boat Sunday night and was told they remain detained for safekeeping and that processing them is a significant undertaking that would take some time.
Former Minister of National Security Dwyer Astaphan says the issue of illegal Haitian immigrants is likely to continue as they flee the socio-economic crisis in their country. He says however St. Kitts and Nevis does not have the resources to accommodate a mass influx of immigrants. He pointed out that the arrival of the illegal immigrants at Newtown Bay on Sunday highlights the fact that the country’s borders are not sufficiently protected.
He called on CARICOM to help Haiti restore economic stability and growth in order to stem the problem of Haitian nationals risking everything to find refuge in other countries.