Two Haitian men detained in St. Catherine after landing near Old Harbour

Two Haitian nationals are in custody in St. Catherine after police found them hiding in bushes near Bushy Park, Old Harbour, following the landing of a small vessel. Several other people who came ashore are believed to have returned to the boat and left the area by sea.

Residents reported seeing a group of men, women and children leave a vessel in waters off Bushy Park and walk inland. Locals estimated there were about 20 people in total. The police were alerted at once.

One resident said the group left their boat and moved toward Old Harbour Bay. When approached, the people indicated they were heading that way, then turned back toward the vessel.

Senior Superintendent Leighton Gray, commanding officer of the St. Catherine South Police, said officers searched the area. A few hours later, two Haitian men were discovered in nearby bushes. They were identified from Haitian passports found with them.

Preliminary inquiries indicate the small craft had left Haiti bound for the United States but ran into trouble en route. As for the others, Gray said it is believed they reboarded and sailed away.

Police sought help from the Marine Police and the Coast Guard, who continued to watch the waterway. Surveillance of the general area found no sign of the vessel, which appeared to have left.

Authorities are reminding the public that assisting or harbouring undocumented migrants is a criminal offence. The two men remain in custody while investigations continue.