There has been an uptick in the activities involving the smuggling of migrants
through the countries of the Eastern Caribbean, and there are now discussions at
the regional level to find ways to combat the problem.
Chief of Defense Staff, Colonel Telbert Benjamin made the disclosure on
Thursday, as members of the security services joined Information Minister Melford
Nicholas at the post-Cabinet press briefing, to address the issue surrounding the
incident at sea where several migrants died in one such smuggling operation.
The migrants were among a group of thirty Cameroonians who for the last three
months, resided in Antigua. They were apparently being smuggled to another
jurisdiction. Unfortunately, the vessel in which they were traveling capsized;
sixteen persons were rescued, three bodies recovered, and the remaining, who are
still unaccounted for, are believed to have drowned.
According to Benjamin this problem confronts not only Antigua and Barbuda, but
one that is of concern to other governments in the region. “What we are seeing
currently being observed, not only here in Antigua and Barbuda, but based on the
last meeting of the Regional Security Systems Council, is that across the RSSC
sub-region of the islands, from Barbados in the south, to St. Kitts-Nevis in the
north, there is a notable trend regarding the movement of people from outside and
within the region through unauthorized channels,” he revealed.
A report of this trend was compiled and presented to Cabinet on Wednesday,
which indicated that since 2021, there has been a notable trend of movement using
maritime means to travel throughout the region and to pursue ‘greener pastures.’
“There is an ongoing movement with suggestions that it is being facilitated by
local maritime resources across our sub-region, through whatever means and for
the exchange of whatever resources.” the defense force commandant elaborated.
He further disclosed, that discussions are taking place at the level of the regional
security apparatus, as well as at the level of the ministers with responsibility for
national security, to strategize on ways to tackle the problem.
Meanwhile, head of the UNDCP, Colonel Edward Croft took the time to explain
the difference between human trafficking and migrants smuggling. He described
human trafficking as a situation where someone is being exploited and forced into
labour. That person is said to have no choice in the situation, modern-day slavery.
While migrant smuggling is a service provided by a group of people to persons
wishing to move from one jurisdiction to a next, often times illegally.
He said the situation with the Cameroonians who arrived here on a charter flight in
late December, was not a case of human trafficking.
