Imagery Available: Coast Guard, Royal Bahamas Defence Force rescues 88 Haitian migrants off Little Inagua

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/24/2017 03:35 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

July 24, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: (305) 415-6683
After Hours: (786) 367-7649

Coast Guard, Royal Bahamas Defence Force rescues 88 Haitian migrants off Little Inagua

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, deployed to Great Inagua, Bahamas, lands Friday, July 21, 2017 to assist 88 Haitian migrants off Little Inagua, Bahamas. The Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force embarked 15 of 88 Haitian migrants Friday, July 21, 2017 off Little Inagua, Bahamas. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, deployed to Great Inagua, Bahamas, located the Haitian migrants on the island and received a request to assist by the Bahamian government.

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MIAMI – The Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) rescued 88 Haitian migrants Friday off Little Inagua, Bahamas.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, deployed to Great Inagua, located the Haitian migrants on the island and received a request to assist by the Bahamian government.

The helicopter crew embarked 15 migrants for medical concerns and transported them to Matthew Town for further medical care.

"I am grateful for the continued support of the U.S. Coast Guard and Operations Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) in preventing loss of life at sea and in the continues fight against illicit trafficking in our waters," said Cmdr. Clarence Dean, commander of operations, Royal Bahamas Defence Force. "I anticipate our symbiotic relationship and positive rapport will shine through in future endeavors."

 

The RBDF deployed a marine-asset crew to embark the remaining individuals off Little Inagua for transport to Great Inagua.

“This case highlights the value and professionalism of many crews coming together in support of a multi-nation joint rescue operation,” said Capt. Aldante Vinciguerra, chief of response, Coast Guard’s 7th District. “Illegal migration ventures, such as these, all too often end tragically. Thankfully our Coast Guard and RBDF crews were able to locate and perform this rescue seamlessly.”

The Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Agency and RBDF maintain a 24/7 presence on the island in support of OPBAT – a tri-country agreement between the U.S., Turks and Caicos and U.K. governments to combat drug smuggling to and from the U.S., Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

Coast Guard members assigned to Air Station Clearwater routinely rotate deployments to Andros Island and Great Inagua. Members include maintenance personnel, ground crews, helicopter flight crews and site supervisors. 

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