Jasper Ward, Brian Ellsworth

CORAL HARBOR, The Bahamas (Reuters ) – The Royal Bahamas Defense Force operates a fleet of patrol boats that depart daily from a former luxurious resort hotel. This is to help control a rise in illegal migrants trying to enter the United States via rickety, overloaded vessels.

Bimini island is becoming an increasingly important hub for human traffickers. This small, uninhabited chain of islands is best known as a destination for wealthy tourist on their yachts. One survivor, who was carrying 39 migrants from Bimini to Florida in a capsized boat that capsized on January 1, was discovered clinging onto the vessel.

Officials say that gang violence, increasing poverty, and pandemic-related hardships in Haiti and Latin America are fueling a rising number of voyages through Bahamian waters. There is often a boat deck dangerously overcrowded, and there are migrants crammed in the sweltering holds below.

It takes about three days to sail from northern Haiti, in a small boat, if you have good winds,” said Chief Petty officer Onassis Ferguson as he navigated the boat towards Coral Harbour. They sometimes have very little outboard motors.”

Ferguson explained to Reuters that the ship’s basic design means they are often blown off-course. He pointed at a digital map in the cockpit of the boat on April 20, and said it was prone to being thrown off-course.

The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted 132 migrants from Haiti earlier in the day and gave them over to Bahamian authorities. They arrived at Coral Harbour.

According to Keith Bell, Minister for Labor and Immigration, more than 1,000 migrants entered the country last October. This is the highest number ever recorded. Bell also stated that many were heading toward the United States.

As the United States experiences record levels of border apprehensions, sea migration has increased. It is provoking increasingly bitter debate on an issue which will be central to this year’s U.S. legislative elections.

Coast Guard teams arrested 3,519 Haitian migrants between Oct 1 and April 17 2022, U.S. government records show. That’s more than twice what was recorded for the whole of the previous fiscal year, which ended September 2021.

The 2020 fiscal year saw only 418 Haitian migrants being intercepted. And, going back to 2017, annual numbers never exceeded 1,000.

The Coast Guard didn’t respond to my request for additional statistics.

‘COMPLETELY UNSEAWORTHY’

Bell stated that approximately two- to three thousand people have entered The Bahamas every year since the outbreak of the pandemic.

He stated, “You’ll see them hanging on the sails. Clinging to the mast. Clinging to the sides of your boat.”

Although they are more frequent, these journeys still exist.

Defense Force officials say migrants who are transported below deck often have to take off their clothes to keep the heat at bay.

Bahamian officials have also described “mixed Nationality” smuggling operation that involves migrants from Latin America. These immigrants fly in to the country with valid tourist visas.

The group then traveled to Bimini to check in at hotels before embarking on overnight journeys.

Juan Esteban Montoya from Colombia, the sole survivor in the capsized boat, said that “those criminals make it feel safe.” This was a reference to smugglers. At a press conference, he stated that “they tell you that you (will reach) Miami in three to four hours… It is all a lie.”

Some are taken at sea and handed to the Bahamian authorities. Others are returned via repatriation flight to Haiti.

Bahamian rights activists for migrants say that the Bahamas should offer more assistance to them, given their dire circumstances back home.

Joseph Darville, a human rights activist from Rights Bahamas stated that “these people probably spent the last few bucks of savings to really make their way to Bahamas.” They’re returning to a more terrible situation.”