By Gareth Davis, Gleaner WriterPORTLAND:
LOCAL FISHERMEN in Long Bay, Portland, yesterday rescued 58 Haitians, following the capsizing of the refugees' 20-foot rowboat off the coast of Panton Hope in the parish.
The group, inclusive of 32 males, 13 females and 13 children, was taken ashore by local fishermen at about 12:45 p.m. They said they had left Haiti the night before. "I was out at sea fishing when I saw the overcrowded boat," said a fisherman, who gave his name only as Calvin. He and another fisherman in the boat saw that the other vessel was in difficulty.
"We saw their struggle," Calvin said. They called other fishermen in the area at the time to help with the rescue.
Three of the Haitians in the group are believed to be among those who were recently repatriated, and were making a return journey to Jamaica accompanied by other family members.
"We are beginning to be concerned because we are observing that in these last batches that have come in the last two or three weeks there are numbers of them who were here and had returned voluntarily, and have now come back with other members of their family," said Gilbert Scott, permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security. "That now is beginning to be a matter of concern."
The refugees said they were fleeing political persecution and the economic hardships being experienced in their country.
