Rolle needs better

radar, air coverage

By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE

Guardian Staff Reporter

One of the problems facing the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in combating the illegal Haitian trade is the deficiency of ship-borne radar in spotting illegal immigrant sloops.

"These ships emit a faint, or no radar return," said Commodore Davy Rolle, as he addressed the Rotary Club of West Nassau at their weekly luncheon held at Buena Vista Restaurant.

However, he said with improved air surveillance, the Force's chances of detection will greatly improve.

For the year, the United States Coast Guard has intercepted 657 Haitian immigrants. Meanwhile the Defence Force has intercepted a total of 3,744 illegal Haitian immigrants as of the end of October, which represents a significant increase over last year's figures.

Commodore Rolle explained that there are several possible reasons as to how an unseaworthy sloop can sail from Haiti and land in New Providence undetected.

He listed three: First, he said, "It is important to realise that the RBDF is not equipped to patrol on a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year the southerly approaches to The Bahamas. Even with RBDF craft on station in strategic locations, these sloops can go undetected."

The second, the Defence Force chief said, is that there are "navigational aids, lights, which guide craft safely throughout The Bahamas."

Third, he said, is the fact that the largest source of intelligence, the people of The Bahamas, is largely untapped.

"Smuggling in human cargo is big business," Commodore Rolle said. "An elaborate network that extends from Haiti to The Bahamas, to the United States helps refugees leave the island. Friends and relatives send money for the trip. Smugglers and middlemen, in the business of human cargo carry out the plan."

Their destinations, he said, include the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas and South Florida.

"Unlike large developed countries, The Bahamas do not have the economic base or physical infrastructure to absorb a large migrant population," Commodore Rolle observed.

Geographically, The Bahamas is situated southeast of Florida, and just north of the island of Hispanola. The geographical situation of The Bahamas therefore, through no fault of its own, lends itself to being an obvious, natural stepping-stone to North America, often stated as the preferred destination. But, he said, in many instances, The Bahamas becomes the final destination for thousands of undetected illegal immigrants.

Commodore Rolle pointed to an earlier study conducted by Jean Pierre Guengant, which stated that The Bahamas was known to have the highest number of Haitian migrants in the world, with the exception of the Turks and Caicos Islands. At that time the ratio was 7 Bahamians to 1 Haitian.

According to the Bahamas Immigration Department, the 1994 estimate placed the Haitian migrant population at 40,000, of which 36,000 were said to be illegal immigrants, and 4,000 representing those Haitian nationals that possessed legal status.

And, in its most recent assessment of the geographical dispersion of illegal Haitian nationals, the Department placed the largest Haitian communities in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and North Eleuthera.

"It should be noted that on the island of Abaco in the settlement of Marsh Harbour, the Haitian population was estimated to be 40 per cent of that community before the government initiated its repatriation policy in 1994/95," Commodore Rolle said.

The Government's plan, he said, includes:

* The establishment of a fully-functional base in Matthew Town, Great Inagua. The base will be capable of berthing and supporting RBDF ships and aircraft, and their crews; and constructing a detention centre so as to obviate the expense of transporting migrants to New Providence.

The RBDF presently maintains a satellite base in Matthew Town Inagua.

* Engaging in dialogue with the Haitian Government in order to devise diplomatic measures to alleviate the migration.

* Encouraging the major powers to consider disbursement of funds withheld to the Haitian people which can assist with internal economic and social development.

* Initiating joint anti-migration patrols by the RBDF and the US Coast Guard.

* The conduct of joint operations by all Bahamian Law Enforcement Agencies.

* Making diligent and intelligent use of all other available resources.

Unless the economic situation in Haiti improves, migration to The Bahamas will continue, Commodore Rolle said.

"The overall solution," he suggested, "would be for Haiti, with assistance, to devise a long-term economic development and growth plan. It is in our best interest to work with hemispheric partners to ensure that Haiti empowers itself."