The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police intercepted a Haitian boat around 3h30pm on Wednesday about seven miles north-east of French Cay. A total of 117 people were on board, some 90 males, 21 females and six female children.

The boat was escorted into South Dock Port, Providenciales, arriving at 7h30pm. Following a search of the sloop by the police, the vessel has been impounded by Immigration officials and has been removed from the water.

In agreement with the with the Turks and Caicos Islands National Contingency Plan all subjects were brought ashore by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police (RTCIP) on other vessels and handed over to TCIG Immigration Officials for detention, processing and repatriation, as appropriate, via the Detention Centre at Five Cays, in Providenciales.

This operation is supported by personnel from the Ministry of Health and Department of Social Development and the Red Cross, in conjunction with the Haitian authorities. Five males required medical treatment at the Cheshire Hall medical facility. The six female children are under the care of Social Development.

Police and immigration officers have questioned migrants Thursday morning and Immigration officials started repatriating the Haitian nationals from Thursday December 29th, 2011, beginning with the children. The repatriation to Haiti is undertaken in conjunction with the Haitian authorities to ensure that proper arrangements are made to receive and resettle the would-be migrants, especially the children and otherwise vulnerable migrants.

Sunday a boat carrying 244 Haitian migrants were apprehended west of Ship Channel Cay, Exuma. Saturday, 45 Haitians drowned to a hundred meters from Punta de Maisi, extreme eastern Cuba while trying to reach the Cuban coast. Friday the U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated a group of 112 Haitian migrants, 87 men, 19 women and 6 children in Cap Haitien, they were intercepted west of Great Inagua, Bahamas.

HL/ HaitiLibre