JULY 20 REPATRIATION OF 139 HAITIAN AND 2 CUBAN

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001365 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR SMIG HA SUBJECT: JULY 20 REPATRIATION OF 139 HAITIAN AND 2 CUBAN MIGRANTS ¶1. According to lead UN Police Maritime advisor, Officer Pat Evans, Haitian Coast Guard Detachment Cap-Haitien intercepted a 40 foot Haitian sailing sloop with 141 persons on board near Point Picholet on July 20 at 0315. The vessel was escorted back to Maritime Operations Center/Coast Guard Station Cap-Haitien where all intended migrants were safely off loaded. On board were 139 Haitian men and women as well as 2 men carrying Cuban passports. Further investigation revealed no person holding claim as master or captain of the vessel. Migrants on board reported that they were en route to Provincial, one of the Caicos islands. Investigation by the Coast Guard personnel confirmed that the vessel was en route to the Island of Caico. Most migrants were believed to have paid about 20,000 Haitian Gourdes (approximately 500 USD) each for the voyage. ¶2. Five persons were detained after all intending migrants were interviewed as possible suspects in the illegal immigration of the migrants: ALAIN Louis, JOLY Joseph, LEONARD Francen, OBNER Alfius, and MAKENSON Prevalus. These persons were detained by Northern Department of the Haitian National Police (DDN PNH). The 2 Cuban passport holders detained into custody of Haitian Immigration authorities were HURUDA Samuel Vital and EROMITA Savon. ¶3. All other intending migrants were released after being interviewed, photographed, and searched for any illegal contraband. Coordination by Haitian National authorities (Coast Guard, Immigration and the Haitian National Police), MINUSTAH UNPOL, NEPAL FPU and Cap Haitien MINUSTAH Regional Staff insured smooth, safe and rapid transition of those on board. The sailing sloop is seized pending disposition investigation by Haitian National authorities. This is the second sailing sloop currently in custody in Cap-Haitien pending disposition. ¶4. Comment: This is the second repatriation in as many months by the Haitian Coast Guard. This successful interdiction and repatriation is the result of projects, funded by INL and Southcom, to re-staff and re-equip the Coast Guard station in Cap Haitien as well as training provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, MINUSTAH and the UN Maritime advisors, including PAE. End Comment. SANDERSON