At approximately 7:26AM, on Thursday, October 14, a Bahamasair charter flight departed New Providence, for Matthew Town, Inagua. The flight carrying fifty-three (53) males and eleven (11) female migrants, boarded an additional sixty-four (64) male migrants upon arrival into Matthew Town, totaling one hundred twenty-eight (128) Haitian nationals for this repatriation exercise into Cap-Haitien, Haiti.
Additionally, a second Bahamasair flight departed Matthew Town, Inagua at approximately 11:40AM, with one hundred six (106) Haitian males, also en route to Cap-Haitien.
Both groups were heavily escorted by a joint law enforcement team of Bahamas Immigration officers, and marines from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. All Ministry of Health COVID-19 protocols were strictly enforced, as the health, welfare and safety of our officers, law enforcement counterparts, and migrants remain the highest priority in this COVID-19 environment.
The Department of Immigration extends special thanks to the Haitian Embassy for their usual and full cooperation; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Social Services, Bahamasair Holdings Limited, the Royal Bahamas Defence and Police Forces, the Island Administrator and, the residents of Great Inagua for their support, resilience, persistence and patience throughout these proceedings.
Further, special recognition and commendation are extended to our team of hardworking and dedicated officers on the ground in Inagua, headed by Assistant Director Stewart Curtis and Superintendent Peter Joseph.
The public is reminded that the Department is committed to executing the mandates of our agency by effectively coordinating efforts with other Law Enforcement agencies, and international stakeholders to ensure compliance with the Statute Laws of our country.
