Nine illegal Haitians flee to BVI after assassination, earthquake
The Immigration Department has held a little more than half-dozen Haitian nationals who entered the Territory illegally this week.
According to Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn, a motor vessel was spotted on Wednesday, August 25 circling the Beef Island area and then ran aground.
A number of persons were reportedly seen walking along the Beef Island road, which led concerned civilians to notify the Immigration Department.
“The department’s officials in conjunction with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs apprehended, detained and identified a total of nine individuals as Haitian nationals,” a media release from the Immigration Department said.
Penn said preparations are now being made to repatriate the group of illegals.
Meanwhile, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the BVI Health Services Authority were notified for” due process and health screening of the detainees in accordance with protocols”.
This latest incident follows two major events that recently rocked Haiti. The first is the country’s presidential assassination that led to major political tension.
The second is a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14. The disaster destroyed more than 50,000 homes and killed more than 2,000 persons to date.
A number of persons were reportedly seen walking along the Beef Island road, which led concerned civilians to notify the Immigration Department.
“The department’s officials in conjunction with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs apprehended, detained and identified a total of nine individuals as Haitian nationals,” a media release from the Immigration Department said.
Penn said preparations are now being made to repatriate the group of illegals.
Meanwhile, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the BVI Health Services Authority were notified for” due process and health screening of the detainees in accordance with protocols”.
This latest incident follows two major events that recently rocked Haiti. The first is the country’s presidential assassination that led to major political tension.
The second is a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14. The disaster destroyed more than 50,000 homes and killed more than 2,000 persons to date.
