Illegal Sloop Intercepted

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS — You will be caught. A promise being kept as the coastal radar continues to foil illegal landings confirmed Minister of Border Control, Hon DonHue Gardiner, who confirmed that a sloop carrying 82 so called would be illegal immigrants was intercepted by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF).

Though the 60 males and 22 females were brought safely to port at South Dock, Providenciales around 10am, two from the group were taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center (hospital) for treatment for extreme fatigue and a second with a laceration to the leg when that person tried to jump overboard to flee capture.

The coastal radar, immigration and police worked together to bring in the overloaded sloop at South Dock.

Minister DonHue Gardiner had a message for the Haitian authorities: “… stop these attempts at illegal migration from their shores to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not only is it extremely dangerous for those concerned – this vessel was taking on water when we caught it – but, it is a disproportionate burden on the resources of this country. It must stop.”

The Turks and Caicos Islands, last fiscal year spent well over $1.2 million dollars on repatriation of illegal Haitians and TCIG awaits the formal signing of an MOU between our country and Haiti; a negotiation which started August 2013.

There was commendation from the Minister for the responders and agencies.

That sloop is already out of the water and ready to be destroyed as is the customary practice in these cases.

That sloop is already out of the water and ready to be destroyed as is the customary practice in these cases.