The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is sending additional vessels to the southeast Bahamas in anticipation of a possible mass exodus of migrants fleeing Haiti in the aftermath of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, RBDF Commodore Dr. Raymond King said yesterday.
News of Moïse’s murder shocked the region on Wednesday, with many observers fearing that the attack could plunge the already troubled island nation deeper into a political and social crisis.
King said the increasing instability warrants efforts to shore up Bahamian borders.
“What we are basically doing is enhancing our strategic posture and positioning in the southeastern Bahamas and, in particular, along the windward passage and the waters between Great Inagua and the coast of Haiti,” he said.
King continued, “What we are in the process of doing, and we have already started mobilizing additional vessels, in total we would have a dedication of four surface assets in that area, as well as our aircraft, [which] will be assigned to that area to provide intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance support to our surface vessels.
“And we really beefed up on our human intelligence aspect so we can get proactive or a preemptive idea of what’s going on in Haiti and if any mass exodus is about to occur.
“Once more, we are working collaboratively and in a coordinated fashion with OPBAT, the Police Marine Unit, as well as the United States Coast Guard.
“Their cutters are also out with helicopters onboard to provide air support in tandem with our aircraft to get a bird’s eye view and a very early warning of any pending exodus or movement of migrants to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
Moïse, who has been a controversial figure since being sworn in as Haiti’s president in 2017, was brutally murdered at his home, located in a prominent neighborhood on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince early Wednesday morning.
His wife, Martine Moïse, was also shot and injured during the attack and was flown out of the country to Miami for further medical treatment.
Haiti’s borders and its international airport were closed and martial law was declared in the aftermath of the event.
The Bahamas’ borders have been closed to travelers from Haiti since earlier this year, with the government citing concerns over COVID-19 and the low level of vaccination in Haiti.
With tens of thousands of Haitians migrating to The Bahamas in recent decades, many of them fleeing poverty, the two countries have deep cultural ties.
The ceaseless flow of poor migrants has bred contempt and resentment among many in The Bahamas, who view irregular immigration as one of the most pressing issues facing the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield said in the hours after Moïse’s death that civil unrest will likely provoke more Haitians to leave their country.
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis also shared similar concerns, as he called for the government to work with regional partners to help promote stability in Haiti and also secure The Bahamas’ borders.
King, however, said that in recent months, migrants appear to be less inclined to attempt the journey to The Bahamas.
“Over the past year, what we have actually experienced is that when unrest and things really get chaotic … we have seen an increased movement towards Turks and Caicos islands, primarily because the run time is shorter, it’s more direct and it’s because of our presence in the southeastern and central Bahamas,” he said.
“We are doing a yeoman’s job, and I give thanks to the squadron team for protecting, patrolling, and guarding our borders.
“So, we have had a strong deterrent impact on dissuading them from making the long transit through The Bahamas, because there is less likelihood of success and we are forcing them to use routes that they don’t really want to use that have increased risk associated.
“And they would likely end up on Family Islands that they don’t want to go to. So, it makes it easier to corral and return them.”
The post RBDF prepares for Haitian exodus appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/rbdf-prepares-for-haitian-exodus/
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