More illegal migrants from Haiti held in Portland
LESS than 24 hours after permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith warned that Jamaica is likely to see more criminals, illegal migrants, and refugees from Haiti, the police reported that another group of Haitians had been detained in Portland.
But it is believed that they were part of a group which landed in Portland on Sunday and avoided detection at the time.
According to the police, 16 Haitians were picked up in the Anchovy Gardens area of Port Antonio Wednesday morning in a truck which developed mechanical problems.
It is understood that the vehicle was taking the Haitians to Montego Bay, St James, when it stalled and residents in the area went to the driver’s assistance.
The driver was reportedly weary about the assistance offered and suspicious residents saw the group of people hiding inside the truck.
The police were called and the driver of the truck and the Haitians were detained and taken to the Port Antonio Police Station.
It is alleged that the driver of a car, which was piloting the truck with the Haitians, sped off before the police arrived.
On Monday, eight male Haitians were picked up by the police in Hector’s River in Portland and taken to Port Antonio Hospital for health checks. Up to Wednesday they were still being processed by local authorities.
At that time it was suspected that other Haitians, including women and children who were in the group, fled the area after the boat in which they travelled landed.
On Tuesday, Sealy Monteith told Parliament’s Internal and External Affairs Committee that increased infiltration by both documented and undocumented Haitian migrants, some of whom have ill-intent or are involved in transnational organised crime, remains a challenge for Jamaica.
“It should be noted that two of the prime suspects in the assassination of the late Haitian President [Jovenel Moïse] were apprehended in Jamaica following illegal entry,” said Sealy Monteith.
The veteran public servant said the risk for increased migration is heightened due to frequent civil unrest as well as recurring natural and man-made disasters in the violence-torn, French-speaking territory.
