Connect with us

Caribbean News

25 TCIs, 426 Bahamians among 95,948 Caribbean Region citizens DEPORTED

Published

on

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

The USA, February 1, 2025 – An unapologetic, unrelenting wave of ICE officers are carrying out the mandate of Donald Trump, the 10-day president of the United States; nearly 4,000 people have been caught, hundreds have already been sent back home.

“America will no longer tolerate illegal immigration and this president expects that every nation on this planet will cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens.

Franz Cadet, 43-year-old citizen of Haiti (DHS photo)

So to foreign nationals who are thinking about trying to illegally enter the United States, think again.” said Karoline Leavitt in her debut as the new press secretary at the White House.

Not surprisingly, it is Cuba and Haiti which top the list as having the most individuals who have been identified and likely rounded up with thousands of others who are in breach of US law.

There are 42,084 Cubans and 32,363 Haitians listed on a US Homeland Security list, which has been publicised.

“On January 22, ICE/Released law enforcement’s officers arrested Franz Cadet, a 43-year-old citizen of Haiti. Cadet was convicted of multiple drug offenses,” informed a Homeland Security report on the mass deportations.

Cadet is the man pictured above.

Also with thousands of deportees on the list are the Dominican Republic with 12,699; Jamaica with 5,120 and Trinidad and Tobago with 1,197. These jurisdictions, despite national progress, are often plagued with significant pull factors including the range of employment opportunities available in the United States.

There are no other identifying characteristics in the information provided but striking is how many, even from top performing small island states, are said to be in the United States illegally.

The Turks and Caicos has 25 on the list; The Bahamas has 426 on the list; from Barbados, there are 151; Antigua and Barbuda has 110 people on the list; 48 citizens of Guyana are also listed with some 202 St. Lucians and 899 citizens of Belize are also facing deportation.

The CBP One App, engineered by the Biden Administration to process asylum requests, was deactivated within the first hours of the Trump Administration.  The ICE mass deportations were threatened by sanctuary cities, where its mayors tried to block the order.  However, the Department of Homeland Security later announced it was able to get the override and moved in, to find, they say, the most heinous felons living in plain sight.

“ICE arrested 308 illegal migrants — including an attempted murderer and a child molester — on Trump’s first full day in office,” reported the New York Post.

Cesar Polanco, 59, from the Dominican Republic, picked up in Massachusetts by ICE. (ERO/ICE photo)

The Caribbean and CARICOM nations were not exempt in falling into this early category, where individuals who were found to have criminal records – whether in their home country or in the United States – were flagged as priority repatriations.

The Boston Herald reported, “A convicted murderer who beat his pregnant girlfriend to death in front of her 5-year-old boy in a booze-and-cocaine-fueled rage only to be paroled was one of the illegal immigrants grabbed by ICE last week just before he left jail.

The Dominican national was set free in December while serving just 17 years of a life sentence, according to the Massachusetts Parole Board. The state says he was held at MCI-Norfolk until his release date on Friday when ICE picked him up.”

The man was identified as Cesar Polanco, who committed the crime in Lawrence, Massachusetts had just gained parole which requested for him to remain in the US, despite the conviction.  US law however mandates a repatriation of convicted felons.  Polanco is now headed back to the DR.  .

With smaller numbers of illegal migrants on the deportation list is Cayman and Aruba with two people each; British Virgin Islands with five; Montserrat with eight; Bermuda with 10 and Guadeloupe with 12 individuals listed for deportation.

In all, 95,948 people from the region were counted on the list, which was compiled since November.  Also included are Dominica with 104 citizens; Grenada with 149 citizens; St Kitts and Nevis has 68 to be deported from the US; St Vincent and the Grenadine are listed wo have 127 of its people on the list and 37 citizens from Suriname, are also caught in this early wave of deportations by the new US government administration.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Caribbean News

Canadian Woman loses two hands, husband fights off shark 

Published

on

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – Some claim that it is an overpopulated ocean which is driving sharks closer to shore to feed, and it is leading to dangerous and deadly encounters with the apex predator in peaceful waters like those in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Seas were choppy, skies were partly cloudy but the white-capped waves and alluring turquoise waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands were the bait for two Canadian visitors whose morning swim was dramatically and tragically upended by a shark.

“There was a shark attack on the beach 10 minutes ago; close to where the horses are… “ informed a social media post shared with Magnetic Media.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross, a couple from Canada was swimming at the beach when Mrs. Ross was attacked by a shark, estimates put the creature at 6ft long.

Mrs. Ross lost both hands and a piece of her thigh.

The Royal TCI Police soon confirmed the tourist was injured, with this statement.

“At 10:33 am today (07th February), the Police Control Room of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force received a report that a female visitor had been injured while swimming.  Medical personnel and the police were dispatched to the given location in Blue Hills, Providenciales.

The 55-year-old victim was brought ashore and rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for Treatment.”

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, DECR was summoned to the scene where they observed an approximately 6 foot long shark circling near where the family of the woman had huddled, distraught and tending to her life-threatening injuries.

By 1:26pm, the Thompson’s Cove Beach was closed by the DECR.

In the Turks and Caicos, this shark is protected as a valued part of the marine ecosystem but some residents speaking to us believe the shark

is a man eater.

“I was there for 40 minutes and it was still lingering.”

In truth, it appeared the shark was still in waters mere feet away from its victim, even as her loved ones struggled to offer medical care until EMS responded.

“That shark bite victim lost both her hands and some forearms.  Her husband tried to fight it off.”

It was reported that the woman, identified as Nathalie Ross, was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Kenya’s Minister of Interior and National Administration Reports on Mission to Haiti

Published

on

February 8, 2025

 

“The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti continues to grow in troop numbers amid assurance of ironclad support from the international community.

This morning, I saw off an additional 144 police officers comprising 120 men and 24 women to bolster the 600 officers deployed earlier who have already made commendable progress in reducing gang violence in the Caribbean nation. Other countries, notably Guatemala and El Salvador, have in recent weeks deployed additional officers. Together with Jamaican and Belizean troops, and supported by Haitian police, we’re making concerted efforts to establish order.

Kenya’s leadership in this noble mission, which is supported by the UN Trust Fund for Haiti established under the UN Security Council Resolution 2699, is in recognition of our long-standing contribution to peacekeeping missions and peace support operations.

We’re constantly in touch with the UN and countries supporting this mission including the USA whose support in equipment and funding has been invaluable and unwavering.

Inspector General National Police Service Mr Douglas Kanja, Internal Security and National Administration PS Dr Raymond Omollo, Foreign and Diaspora Affairs PS Dr Korir Sing’Oei, National Security Advisor to the President Dr Monica Juma and Deputy National Security Advisor Mr Joseph Boinnet, among other senior officials, joined me in seeing off the contingent.”

 

Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen

Ministry of. Interior and National Administration

Kenya

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Concierge Auctions Anticipates Strong Bidding Activity for Unique Short-term Luxury Rental Properties Demand for The Bahamas & Caribbean Soars

Published

on

Coconut Island Estate Listed for $5.4M, a luxurious retreat in Casuarina Point, presents an exceptional beachfront opportunity with proven rental income potential.

The Bahamas, February 8, 2025 – Calling the demand for sophisticated short-term vacation rentals ‘unprecedented,’ a Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions executive anticipates strong activity when bidding opens on two unique Caribbean-based properties – one in The Bahamas, another in Jamaica – this month.

A heated pool overlooks pristine white sand beaches, while the beachfront bar and grill create an ideal entertainment setting. Immaculate landscaping enhances the natural beauty of this one-acre sanctuary.

“It is extraordinary that two distinct properties, each designed with spaciousness, attention to architectural style and detail, as well as amenities that cater to a highly sophisticated luxury market, come to market at the same time,” said Danny Prell, Vice President of Business Development at the world’s largest luxury real estate auction house.

He stated that both properties offer a component critical to the demanding high-end vacation rental client – a unique location with unmatched beauty, privacy and serenity.

One of the properties, Coconut Island Estate in Abaco in the northern Bahamas, already has a proven track record of rental success, generating a significant six-figure income. Situated on a stretch of baby powder soft beach in the chain of islands known as the ‘sailing capital of The Bahamas’, the estate consists of four separate houses with a total of 10 bedrooms and nearly 9,000 square feet of space. The residence features a beachside bar and grill, a heated pool, and ample opportunities for guests to enjoy swimming and snorkeling without leaving the property. For those seeking adventure, nearby charter options offer boating, fishing, diving, or excursions to charming neighboring islands and settlements.

Kenyan Sunset Listed for $3.5M; offers a distinct fusion of Caribbean elegance and African inspiration across two majestic acres in prestigious Caribbean Heights. This exceptional estate comprises three thoughtfully designed structures, each embodying unique charm.

The second offering, Kenyan Sunset in Montego Bay, Jamaica is sprawled across two acres with three residences perched high atop a hill overlooking two world-famous golf courses and the historic Rose Hall Great House. Its fusion of Caribbean and African lends colour and features that give it the appeal of an architectural magazine cover. The main house features three bedrooms, a private office, a fully equipped kitchen designed for entertaining, a wine cellar, a media room, and a gym, all centered around a private pool. A second pool is located at one of the two cottages.

“The short-term vacation rental industry as we know it today was unheard of just a generation ago,” said Prell. “Globally, it is generating upwards of $87 billion annually and there is no sign of a slowdown. What is less well-known is the demand for luxury properties where those of a certain economic standing can enjoy all the family, friends and colleagues they want to have around them in a non-commercial environment. These properties, Coconut Island Estate in the Abacos of The Bahamas and Kenyan Sunset in Montego Bay, are quintessential opportunities for the client who wants everything at his or her fingertips in a location that is easy to access and hard to leave.”

The estate’s elevated position between the renowned White Witch and Cinnamon Hill golf courses delivers spectacular views, while sharing grounds with the historic Rose Hall Great House adds to its prestigious providence.

Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions is working in collaboration with local Sotheby’s associates in both locations. Coconut Island Estate is listed by Mitzi Pearce of Bahamas Sotheby’s International Realty for $5.4 million with bidding expected to start between $1 million–$1.75 million. Kenya Sunset is listed by Coleen Samuels and Julian Dixon of Jamaica Sotheby’s International Realty for $3.5 million with bidding expected to open between $750,000 and $1.25 million. Both auctions are scheduled to open on February 21 and close on March 1 as part of an inaugural live sale event during ModaMiami in Coral Gables, Florida. Prell said he would not be surprised if a single bidder opts for both.

“Finding one revenue generating property at this level in excellent condition is rare, finding two in the same region at the same time is extraordinary,” he said. “It should be exciting and one of the most active auctions we have had in recent history because both lend themselves to the opportunity for owners to enjoy when they want and earn revenue when they wish.”

 

About Concierge Auctions

Concierge Auctions is the world’s largest luxury real estate auction marketplace, with a state-of-the-art digital marketing, property preview, and bidding platform. The firm matches sellers of one-of-a-kind homes with some of the most capable property connoisseurs on the planet. Sellers gain unmatched reach, speed, and certainty. Buyers receive curated opportunities. Agents earn their commission in 30 days. Acquired by Sotheby’s, the world’s premier destination for fine art and luxury goods, and Anywhere Real Estate, Inc (NYSE: HOUS), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, Concierge Auctions continues to operate independently, partnering with real estate agents affiliated with many of the industry’s leading brokerages to host luxury auctions for clients. For Sotheby’s International Realty listings and companies, Concierge Auctions provides Sotheby’s brand exclusivity as Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions. Since inception in 2008, the firm has generated billions of dollars in sales, broken world records for the highest-priced homes ever sold at auction and sold properties in 46 U.S. states and 35 countries. The firm owns one of the most comprehensive and intelligent databases of high-net-worth real estate buyers and sellers in the industry, and it has committed to build more than 300 homes through its Key For Key® giving program in partnership with Giveback Homes™, which funds new homes for families in need from every property the company sells. For more information, visit ConciergeAuctions.com.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING