Deportations to Haiti resume, 112 Haitian nationals to be deported today

Deportations to Haiti resume, 112 Haitian nationals to be deported today

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As political unrest begins to quell in Haiti, 112 Haitian nationals are scheduled to depart New Providence today onboard a Bahamasair flight at 7:00 a.m. en route to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

“This will be the first scheduled repatriation flight into Haiti in weeks after the country experienced recent unrest,” outlined a statement released Thursday from the Department of Immigration.

Immigration said the 112 deportees includes the 18 survivors of the recent Abaco tragedy, the 64 Haitian migrants recently apprehended in the Exumas and 30 individuals who were arrested in New Providence and throughout the Family Islands.

“This group of 112 Haitian migrants will be returned to Haiti under heavy security detail. The Department of Immigration stands resolute in its mission to regulate the movement of people across our borders ensuring its security whilst promoting the harmonious social and economic development of our country,” the Immigration statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday advised the general public that following the required consultations, the diplomatic and consular staff of the Embassy of The Bahamas in Port-au-Prince have returned to the Haitian capital and have resumed their normal diplomatic functions and consular services.

The Ministry said it will continue to monitor developments on the ground and keep the general public informed of the same, accordingly.

The reopening of the Embassy of The Bahamas in Port-au-Prince comes on the heels of ongoing political unrest and violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti last week, which led the government to temporarily cease all deportations and recall all diplomatic and consular staff.