An expanded post-Cabinet briefing took place on Thursday as members of the
local media sought answers and/or clarifications to their queries regarding the
incident, where West African migrants living in Antigua for the past three months,
experienced tragedy at sea on Tuesday morning during an attempt to relocate under
the ‘cover of night.’
A vessel registered in Guadeloupe, La Belle Michelle II –arrived in Antigua from
Guadeloupe on March 25 just days prior to the tragedy at sea. Reports are that the
migrants were being taken to another jurisdiction, when the vessel capsized some
12 nautical miles from St. Kitts. Sixteen persons were rescued, including three
females and two Antigua and Barbuda nationals. Three bodies were also
recovered. It is believed that as many as thirteen persons are still missing.
Up to late Thursday afternoon, there were no further recoveries of bodies from the
search area. Earlier reports stated that approximately 48 hours after their suspected
drowning the bodies of those missing should resurface.
Information Minister Melford Nicholas presided over the press conference flanked
by members of the national security apparatus, to help provide clarity to this issue
that has consumed the attention of the nation over the past two days.
Nicholas confirmed that ‘bad actors’ had exploited the opportunity provided with
the air services agreement between Antigua and Barbuda and Nigeria. They
arranged their own charters that ferried Cameroonians to Antigua over three flights
in late December last year.
According to Nicholas when the charters were discontinued it became clear that
they were being abused by this other group.
After the discontinuation of those flights, it was disclosed that more than six
hundred African nationals remained in Antigua and Barbuda. It was further
disclosed that that figure has been reduced to 485, as some left the country through
the proper channels.
The minister said it was unfortunate that despite an offer from the government for
those remaining to be assimilated into the society, some had taken it upon
themselves to leave the island surreptitiously, when unfortunately, they
encountered the tragic situation of the boat sinking and the loss of lives.
The head of the Customs Division, Raju Boddu said the records at customs show
that the La Belle Michelle II was recorded as having entered Antigua and Barbuda,
but that there are no records that it had left the jurisdiction legally.
When asked if there was any way to determine whether or not this ill-fated trip was
the first and whether there was need for a ‘head-count’ of those remaining, Chief
Immigration Officer Katrina Yearwood said, “this may pose a problem because the
West Africans move around quite often, and many are no longer staying at the
addresses they gave when they were processed by immigration upon arrival.”
Questions were also posed to Minister Nicholas on the delay in terminating the
charter flights, after it was discovered that there was a problem. He countered by
stating that while the announcement of no more charters was made on January 27,
there were no further flights after December 29.
Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney said there is an active investigation now
underway by the CID into all the circumstances surrounding this voyage, and his
team will leave no stone unturned in trying to arrive at answers.
