On March 5th 2019, (12) Haitian nationals, (2) Chinese nationals and (1) Colombian national were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court #3 before Magistrate Rengin Johnson. They were convicted of the following charges respectively.

Delise Gedilis, Anne Edith Taris, Rose Widney Fils-Aime, Venant Nixon, Brave Odric, Wislyn Alexis, Guenther Elovidor, Vilnert Lauradin were all convicted of Illegal Entry & Illegal Embarkation and were fined $300.00 each on both counts or in default of payment serve (6) months at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Kerlande Cerizier was convicted of Illegal Entry and fined $300.00 or in default of payment serve (6) months at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Exelane Saint Victor and Kerby Victor were convicted of Illegal Embarkation and fined $300.00 each or in default of payment serve (6) months at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Rodelyn Lamour was convicted of Overstaying and fined $3000.00 or in default of payment serve (9) months at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Limei Zhang and Jie Zhao were convicted of Overstaying & Illegal Embarkation and were both fined $3000.00 and $300.00 respectively on each count or in default of payment serve (9) months at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Nancy Melissa Rengifo Barreiro was convicted of Overstaying and Illegal Embarkation and fined $3000.00 and $300.00 respectively on each count or in default of payment serve (9) months at Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

However fines were not paid by Guenther Elovidor, Rodelyn Lamour, Limei Zhang and Jie Zhao and they were subsequently turned over to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for due process.

On March 3rd 2019 Officers of The Royal Bahamas Defence Force notified The Department of Immigration of a suspected human smuggling attempt at Sunrise Marina in Freeport, Grand Bahama which subsequently led to the arrest of (2) Haitian nationals namely Kerlande Cerizier and Rodelyn Lamour.

Additionally, on March 3rd 2019, members of United States Coast Guard vessel ‘Bernard C. Webber’ turned over (17) foreign nationals inclusive of (4) minors suspected to have made preparatory steps to illegally enter the U.S onboard a twenty-five foot fishing vessel that was intercepted in Grand Bahama waters.

End.