REPORTS THAT SOME RAN OFF NOT CONFIRMED
(The boat that brought at least 35 Haitians)
The Portland Police have in their custody thirty-five Haitian nationals who landed at Long Bay in the parish Sunday, October 15.
The North Coast Times reported Sunday that the Haitians landed in a small boat, about 4:50 p.m. Reports initially were that some of them ran away as the boat landed. Locally residents suggested that some of them appeared to have been familiar with the area.
Police were seen in the hilly areas around Long Bay, Sunday evening, searching for the reported escapees. There was no confirmation that any of the arriving Haitians had indeed run off or had been recaptured.
The thirty-five (35) that are being held at two police stations include twenty-seven (27) adult males, three (3) adult females and five children.
The Haitians were taken to the Port Antonio Health Centre Sunday night for medical checks.
This is the third set of Haitians to arrive in Portland in the last two months. One group was deported and another is being processed after they claimed asylum.
There has been some controversy about the policy relating to Haitians landing here and how they are being handled by the authorities.
