NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC- Law enforcement officials say they have apprehended nearly 100 illegal Haitian immigrants after landing at Landrail Point in Crooked Island.

Police said that they have so far detained 92 people and “along with residents are continuing their search for the remaining immigrants”.

The police did not say how many others were had entered Crooked island illegally after the “Haitian sloop” landed at Landrail Point late on Tuesday.

The arrival of the Haitians comes less than a week after Haiti’s Ambassador to The Bahamas A. Antonio Rodrigue met with the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville to discuss various issues including “huge” Haitian population here.

“One of the things I am certain that we would go into discussion with is the immigration aspects. We would also go into discussion on documentation and the ease of translation of documents from French to English and for them to be notarised in Haiti or the possibility of being notarised in The Bahamas so that our Department of Immigration would be in a position to expedite matters as it relates to immigration,” Darville said.

He said “one of the things we realise, in the Haitian community there are issues about citizenship for children who were born in this country of both Haitian parents.

“That is something that our government is looking at because we definitely want to make sure that we do not have individuals in our country who are stateless, and in order for them to be a part of this country we have to find ways to expedite their citizenship in The Bahamas.

“Also, we would have the opportunity to discuss matters of possible business investment opportunities in Haiti and the fact that with your rich agricultural sector, as well as your thriving manufacturing sector, it creates opportunity for Bahamian businessmen to invest in Haiti and to be able for us to benefit from each other as neighbours,” he added.