By: Staff Writer
July 26, 2022
Haitian Presidential candidate Jude Elie says dozens more boats leave Haiti on their way to other countries and that the 17 dead in Sunday’s tragedy in Bahamian waters is just but a few out of the many leave Haiti every month and disappear without a trace.
Mr Elie, in an emailed response to Caribbean Magazine Plus in the aftermath of the tragedy at sea where 17 Haitians lost their lives in Bahamian waters en route to Miami, said: “Despair forces Haitians to take enormous risks. The youth of Haiti today is in dire straits. They are battling four insurmountable obstacles with no possible solutions: high level of insecurity and violence, 2- zero possibility of employment, 3- very high cost of living, 4- hunger and general misery.”
He continued, “Faced with the impossibility to help their parents and unwilling to continue watching their younger siblings suffer any more, they take any and all risks.
“Many Haitian youth today opt to board unsafe and un-seaworthy boats to find these solutions elsewhere. Dozens of boats leave Haitian shores every month. Many capsize on the way to The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Puerto-Rico and Miami.
“This is creating havoc, and instability in the whole Caribbean basin.
“Only a dedicated, incorruptible, elected government can bring about the changes necessary to alleviate these inhuman living conditions the Haitian youth is going through today. My people are crying and my heart is crying with them. Change is coming!”
A boat capsized in Bahamian waters carrying nearly 60 Haitian migrants leaving 17 dead, including a toddler, as they were making their desperate dash to a better life in Miami, Florida, authorities in The Bahamas have said.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Prime Minister Philip Davis said the vessel left a docking facility off West Bay Street at around 1am with approximately 60 people on board and was believed to be headed for Miami before it capsized in rough seas. The Royal Bahamas Police Force and Defence Force responded to reports of a boating incident seven miles off New Providence shortly after.
Two Bahamian men, who were among those rescued, are in police custody and are reportedly “known to authorities.” The search is continuing for others who were on board.
Mr Davis said he wanted to convey the condolences of the government and the people of the Bahamas to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. He also warned against smuggling operations.
“My government, since the time it came into office, has continually warned against these treacherous voyages,” Mr Davis said. “We have increased surveillance on land and sea and intensified patrols. We take this opportunity to strongly condemn the organisation of smuggling operations which risk human life and comprise our national security. Those found to be involved face prosecution.”
Twenty survivors were turned over to immigration officials yesterday, according to Minister of Immigration Keith Bell, who added that they were being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.
Some survivors indicated that they spent $3,000 to $8,000 for the deadly voyage.
It´s a tragedy,RIP!!!