Thirteen Haitian immigrants who were found in Keys Village, St. Kitts and taken into police custody were tested for COVID-19.
This announcement was made by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws.
She said, “The Haitians who would have come ashore on Monday, at first we found 10 and the 10 were tested for COVID-19, the additional three persons will be tested tomorrow.”
Originally, there were only 10 Haitians taken into custody, however, three more were detained thereafter.
Currently, the Immigration Department and the Police are working closely to investigate the matter of the illegal immigrants.
Putting our island at risk is not the way to seek asylum or amnesty. Essentially, they were only thinking of themselves and not about all of the citizens on the island. Why not turn yourself over to the government immediately for testing or go through the proper channels? The island is generally welcoming and has warm, open hearts, but this is simply not fair to put others at such risk by sneaking in on boats in the night and hiding in houses – this is not the way. We have a population of people at high risk and you just waltz in because you don’t want to live where you live anymore? This virus is not only about you – very inconsiderate and dangerous to act like this – just leave a known hotspot and travel secretly to potentially harm others. Our systems are not much stronger than in Haiti – why put our health system and workers at risk – we did our part to stop the spread and now people want to take advantage of that – it is just not right. We should all help each other as a region, but this is not a responsible and fair way to get help. You shouldn’t harm others just to save yourself! Plus, who smuggled them in and hid them – shouldn’t there be an investigation and criminal charges? Send supplies and help to Haiti, but right now, our closed borders is what is keeping us safe. We have not even experienced the worst of the economic crisis and these people never considered that they could make things much worse for everyone here. I understand the desperation, but not the inconsideration.