Monique Hepburn, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. JAMES Police have launched a massive manhunt to apprehend more than 40 Haitians who have escaped the Montpelier Camp in St. James over a one-month period.
"The matter is being investigated by the St. James Police," Superintendent Warren Clarke told The Gleaner yesterday after 10 Haitians reportedly fled the facility about 1:00 a.m., ahead of being repatriated to their homeland.
"We received reports that the camp administration was carrying out a muster and it was discovered that they were missing."
Superintendent Clarke explained that there are challenges to securing the camp but added that the police are equipped to find the missing Haitians.
"There are limitations as to properly securing the Haitians but certainly, we are prepared to deploy the resources to search and find those that are outside the camp," the Superintendent stated.
Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security told The Gleaner yesterday that three of the Haitians who had absconded have since been recaptured and that the others were being aggressively sought.
Mr. Scott explained that the escape of the Haitians is due mainly to their habitual breach of security restrictions at the camp as well as the assistance of residents of nearby communities.
"I think when we made the last major repatriation move, more than 30 had absconded and from that bunch - three have been recaptured by the police," said Mr. Scott. "We do the best we can but the people in the camp continue to breach security arrangements and the citizens in and around the community also aid and abet the escape of the people," he added.
Mr. Scoot warned that the Haitians are now in breach of immigration laws and are regarded as illegal immigrants.
