NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Two Colombians and one Haitian were arraigned in the Freeport magistrate’s court #2 before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson on March 29, 2019. Gary Alexander Paez Manotas and Diana Mireya Quintero Briceno were arrested on March 28, 2019 in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The duo was charged with Overstaying and both were fined $3,000 each […]
Recently reported sightings of poachers in Bahamian waters turned out to be a false alarm. On Thursday, August 23, the Defence Force received information that two foreign vessels were spotted by Bahamian fishermen and locals around 10:00 a.m. approximately two nautical miles east of Cape Santa Maria, Long Island. An RBDF patrol craft was directed to investigate […]
Two boaters are grateful to be home after they were rescued from their disabled vessel by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force late Thursday night. The Bahamian men left Riverwatch Marine in Florida on Wednesday morning en route to Abaco onboard a 29-ft Cabin Cruiser. After they did not arrive at their destination within the expected time, concerned […]
ASSAMAKA, Niger (AP) — From this isolated frontier post deep in the sands of the Sahara, the expelled migrants can be seen coming over the horizon by the hundreds. They look like specks in the distance, trudging miserably across some of the world’s most unforgiving terrain in the blistering sun. They are the ones who […]
Immigrants that breach Bahamian borders and are caught “will be dealt with on site”, Attorney General Carl Bethel declared Sunday and said “the idea of bringing in a load of people to Nassau is over.” Bethel was responding to criticisms raised by Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell, who questioned the government’s rationale for […]
Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officers captured nearly 300 illegal Haitian migrants in three separate incidents waters surrounding Inagua over the weekend, officers said. RBDF reported that the first incident, which occurred on Friday, saw the capture of nearly 100 migrants shortly before 8:00 p.m. on a sloop just over 20 miles south east of […]
“Argue until the cows come home,” said former immigration minister, Fred Mitchell, referring to lawyers and QCs, “but you are either Bahamian or you are not.” Mitchell’s sentiment was clear as he called for a line to be drawn when it comes to the country’s immigration laws to ensure that persons who were born in […]
Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain chastised the Department of Immigration Officers yesterday, after they were accused of leaving several minor children in an immigration bus outside of court while their mothers’ were being arraigned. Fourteen persons, seven men and seven women stood before Magistrate Swain, each charged with a single count of illegal landing, stemming […]
Bahamas Immigration officers yesterday processed nine Chinese nationals found in Bahamian waters. According to Immigration Director, Clarence Russell, the migrants were believed to have been heading to the United States when they were intercepted by a United States Coast Guard cutter. Immigration officers rendezvoused with the vessel at the Lucayan Harbour to collect the migrants […]
Bishop Simeon Hall, yesterday, called on the Department of Immigration to treat Haitians ‘fairly and humanely’. The mandate came as part of his address to members of the Berean Evangelical Baptist Church. “I believe every Haitian who can meet the legitimate policies set down by the Immigration Department should be given favourable consideration and regularized […]
The Government does not have to issue immediate status to Bahamian-born Jean Rony Jean Charles, according to a Supreme Court ruling on Friday. Supreme Court Justice, Gregory Hilton, granted a partial stay of his previous landmark ruling, releasing the government from the order pending its appeal of his original judgement. In the meantime, Hilton ordered that […]
The Department of Immigration was outfitted on new state of the art equipment aimed at assisting Immigration Officers with better carrying out their duties. Immigration Director Clarence Russell said the equipment, which includes body cams, dash cams, and two-way radios – will ensure the safety of the officers while carrying out their duties and also […]
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is currently enhancing its detection, tracking and interdiction capabilities according to RBDF Commodore, Telis Bethel, who expressed concern for the recent landing of a Haitian Sloop in the capital on Friday. Last week, Royal Bahamas Police Force officers patrolling the Marshall Road area discovered three undocumented Haitian nationals walking […]
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) marines discovered a wooden sailing sloop packed with 25 Haitian nationals shortly before 4 a.m. this morning. The marines were acting on a tip from police after the officers apprehended three other undocumented Haitian nationals in the Marshall Road area. Immigration officers also joined the search and investigations are ongoing. […]
Jean Rony Jean-Charles tearfully embraced his family for the first time in months, moments after he was released from custody pending the outcome of the government’s stay application. After approximately 45 minutes of arguments before Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hilton, legal counsel for the government agreed that Jean-Charles would also not be deported while a […]
PLP Senator Fred Mitchell is calling for The Bahamas Government to make an immediate emergency amendment to the immigration laws following the court-ordered return of Jean Rony Jean-Charles to the country. Rony was deported last year and his family and legal team including attorney, Fred Smith, QC, have called his deportation unlawful as he was […]
As the debate over immigration matters continue to rage in the country, Brent Symonette, Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Immigration, said The Bahamas Government intends to appeal a recent court ruling that will allow foreign national, Jean Rony Jean-Charles, to return The Bahamas and apply for status in the country at the Government’s expense. […]
A group of Haitian migrants are on the way to the capital after they were apprehended in Bahamian waters on Monday evening by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). The 70 undocumented Haitian migrants aboard the sailing vessel, “ISLAND GIRL” were detained by HMBS Rolly Gray after being discovered by a defence force aircraft (P-68) […]
