23 Haitians land in Jamaica
PORT ANTONIO, Portland – The Port Antonio police, immigration and health officials were kept busy yesterday morning when a group of 23 Haitians – 19 men and four women – washed up on Jamaica’s shores in this 20-foot sail boat. The Haitians told Jamaican officials that they were fleeing their homeland because of “violence and kidnapping”. The members of the group, whose ages ranged from 17 to 44, said they were sailing to The Bahamas, but went off course and ended up here. Among the group was a father and son, and a man who claimed that this was his third trip to Jamaica. Dwayne Campbell, Portland CCN officer, said the Haitians were spotted by fishermen, who alerted the police. Caram Ramtulla, chief public health inspector for Portland, said yesterday that the Haitians were under quarantine “in the protection of the police and the health authorities”.
(Photo: Everard Owen)
