haiti

The Bahamas’ new Smuggling of Migrants Bill sparked debate across the country, particularly because of Clause 11, which addresses the immunity of migrants, which was eventually removed following public backlash. However, one word in the bill has caused more confusion: Non-refoulement.

Here’s the breakdown of what it actually means and why it matters now more than ever.

What non-refoulement means

Non-refoulement is a human rights term that says a country must not send a person back to a place where their life or safety is at serious risk.

The bill defines it as a ban against returning someone to a country where they may face: torture, persecution, serious danger, inhuman treatment and life-threatening conditions.

These protections apply specifically when a migrant is being smuggled and is intercepted by Bahamian authorities.

If a migrant boat is intercepted off Inagua, under non-refoulement, Bahamian authorities must ask:

1. Will sending them back expose them to danger?

If yes, they cannot be immediately returned. If no, they can be repatriated as usual.

2. Are they fleeing political violence, persecution, or threats to life?

If yes, the migrant qualifies for protected status under international law.

3. Are they being exploited or abused by smugglers?

If so, they are treated as victims under the Act.

READ MORE: The principle of non-refoulement under international human rights law

Human rights activists say non-refoulement does not give automatic citizenship, permanent residency, and that migrants cannot be repatriated.

The girlfriend of a man shot and killed on Wednesday is reeling from grief.

Nadia Petite Freya is still in disbelief but because she is not fluent in the English Language, all she does is sob and whine for Noel Vilma, 43, who was killed at the scrap metal yard in Carmichael.

Her brother Eric Uteel speaks on her behalf, hoping to relay her overwhelming loss.

Speaking of Vilma, he said, “He [was] a very humble guy. He never mess[ed] with [anyone]. He just come to work, stay home, don’t go out like that,” he told the Nassau Guardian.

“He [didn’t] trouble [anyone].”

Authorities believe it was an attempted armed robbery turned deadly when they found Vilma lying on the ground of the compound after gunshots rang out around 12:30 pm.

A white hatchback-style vehicle was seen fleeing in a westerly direction from the scene after the occupant demanded cash from Vilma.

This is not the first time Vilma reportedly was targeted. Two weeks ago, he was robbed, and while in the Sea Breeze area, he was robbed twice, Uteel said.

“He was nice to everyone. He [didn’t] mess with people like that.

“You need something, he has it. He [gave] it to you.

Superintendent Deno Josey, the officer in charge of Western Police Station said on the scene, “We are going to find out who did this, why it happened. We’re going to bring those persons to justice.”

Vilma leaves behind a wife and child in Haiti.

His death brings the country’s murder count to 84.

The heartbroken fans of Haitian rapper MechansT officially known as Wens Jonathan Desir, who vanished two weeks ago have not given up hope he’ll be found alive—even though reports circulate that he could have been a passenger on a sunken vessel on its way to Eleuthera.

Haitian fans took to social media to express shock that the popular rapper with over 1 million views on TikTok and Instagram vanished weeks after attending a party in Abaco, Bahamas in honor of Haitian Flag Day.

“We are waiting for you champion. We can’t lose you like that. May God protect you wherever you are,” one Instagram user said in Haitian Creole.

As the missing case garners attention, authorities in the Bahamas said they are still searching for the 32-year-old though “there are no official records of Desir entering or leaving the country.”

According to the Haitian Times, the famed rapper, along with his brother Steeven Desir, another brother, a disc jockey, fellow artist Marshelle, and her manager arrived in Abaco, Bahamas on May 14 for a “short vacation.”

Steeven returned to Haiti on May 23 but Mechans-T stayed behind to prepare for his 2025 album. Steevin said Mechans-T told him, “If I go back to the country, I won’t be able to focus…It’s calmer here. I’m staying here for a short vacation.”

But Mechans-T reportedly stayed for approximately two months while the two brothers remained in contact via WhatsApp until July 4, when Mechan-T stopped responding to messages and phone calls.

Now Bahamian authorities are investigating a recent tragedy at sea that saw four people overturned in a boat on its way from Ocean Cay to Andros around 2 am on Thursday. They remain missing at sea. Only four Hondurans and one Haitian national were rescued by local fishermen, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The captain is also missing.

Chance Boudreaux, a social media user said in Creole, “The artist did not go to the party on the boat. The artist was on a trip to Miami. There are many people from Port de Paix La Tortue who died in the same boat as well.”

Another user said, “Strength my brother wherever you are. We are waiting for good news from you.”

“You can’t disappear like that,” one cried as another said, “What is that Mech? You forgot that you are a superstar man? My heart is torn.”

Jahnezzy Eltime asked for the Haitian Foreign Minister to actively investigate his whereabouts. “Millions of Haitians around the world are trying to find out what happened to Mechans-T one of the biggest rappers in Haitian music industry. Despite this, the Foreign Minister of Haiti has remained silent on the matter…Regardless of any personal issues with Mechans-T, it is her duty to respond to the concerns of these Haitians asking for information about him.”

Floods and an earthquake hit Haiti this week–killing over 40 people, and displacing thousands.

The heavy downpour caused massive flooding, claiming 42 lives over the weekend, while the 5.5 magnitude earthquake killed three people on Tuesday.

The United Nations expressed sadness as the troubled island-nation continues to be bombarded with more ills and natural disasters.

The UN said it stood ready to cooperate with Haitian authorities to provide aid to Haitians affected, providing hot meals, ready-to-eat rations and dry food.

Photo credit: Getty and United Nations

A wife and seven children are seeking $15,000 for travel costs to bury their loved one who was tragically killed in a traffic fatality early Wednesday.

The eight family members including the victim’s mother from Haiti, want an opportunity to bid farewell to 47-year-old Nesly Prophete Mazard who died instantly at 4 am on Wednesday when his blue Suzuki Swift hit a parked wrecker on Cowpen Road near Golden Isles Road.

Sister-in-law Sylvia Alfred speaking on behalf of the family said, “My husband and I are reaching out to friends and family for financial help to cover his memorial and funeral services because we are unable to cover the full costs.”

Mazard was a soccer player for a local team in Nassau, Seventeen F.C, and was expecting to play his final match against players of the University of The Bahamas Mingoes, the day he died.

Before coming to the Bahamas from Haiti, the soccer enthusiast played for the Holiday League Basin Bleu in Port de Paix.

Alfred said Mazard was returning home from an outing on that rainy day when he met his demise, which devastated his family in Haiti. She is hoping to raise $15,000 to cover the travel and visa cost for his family to attend his funeral in Nassau.

“Anything you guys can do will greatly be appreciated,” she pleaded.

Mazard moved to the Bahamas 10 years ago and worked as a carpenter in Nassau and Abaco.

“Even if he was having a bad day, you wouldn’t know. He was always in good spirits, always the life of the party, and energetic. He loved his family. He always extended his hand out to help whoever he can,” his brother Carlton Taylot told the Nassau Guardian.

Friend Kervenson Jacques referred to him as the “good defender of Port de Paix.”

“He never got angry easily. There’s no one better than him.”

Many friends and family including his son Pradtzley Mazard, took to social media to remember him.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have disappointed Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry at CARICOM on Thursday when he fell short of offering military presence on the ground in Haiti to quash the surge of unimaginable gang violence in the troubled island nation.

Trudeau instead, promised to deploy two Royal Canadian Navy ships to conduct surveillance and gather intelligence for Haitian police, to assist with quelling the violence –HMCS Glace Bay and Moncton from West Africa, along with 90 sailors.

“Today, I am announcing that Canada will also deploy Royal Canadian Navy vessels to conduct surveillance, gather intelligence and maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast in the coming weeks. Canada continues to reinforce the capacities of the Haitian police to overpower armed gangs and hold those who support them accountable.”

Henry, who also participated in the meetings, asked for a foreign military intervention, which the United Nations supports. Instead, the United States suggested that Canada lead the discussions of military operations.

“Canada is elbows deep in terms of trying to help. The best thing we can do to help is enable the Haitian leadership and the patient people themselves to be driving their pathway out of this crisis,” he said in the Bahamas when pressed by reporters.

Trudeau has since stated that Haiti’s restoration must be led by the Haitian people and has left the idea of military intervention as a last resort indicating that Caribbean countries must play a role in “legitimizing” international help, otherwise military operations by the US or Canada can be viewed as “colonialist” interventions.

He also added two other influential Haitians to a list of 15–accused of corruption and gang ties. This group of sanctioned individuals is banned from making economic dealings in Canada—former interim president Jocelerme Privert and ex-political aide Salim Succar.

An additional 12.3 million dollars will be given for humanitarian help and 10 million dollars to assist the International Office on Migration to protect Haitian women and children along the borders.

“The toll of human suffering in Haiti weighs heavily on me.”

Haiti is an embattled country fighting humanitarian, political, and social ills, and since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, it has descended into further chaos with the raping of Haitian women and children, kidnappings for ransom, and the killing of law enforcement officers.

Photo credits: New York Times, The Guardian

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was chastised over his visit to the Bahamas to attend the 44^th CARICOM meeting where he was a guest speaker on the deepening crisis in Haiti.

Many Canadians, critical of his leadership, took to social media to express their fury.

“The worst prime minister in the history of Canada,” a user posted on Trudeau’s social media page.

Steve Lavell said, “How about clean up the mess you created here in Canada? Canadians are fed up with you.”

Trudeau won a third term in Canada’s snap election, in 2021, but fell short of regaining the majority in the House of Assembly. Most of his support came from smaller parties.

He and his minority Liberal government then brokered a deal with the left-leaning New Democrats to keep his government in power until 2025.

Canada, not a member of the Caribbean, like the United States, is a regional leader and was prompted by the United Nations, to help ease tensions in Haiti. His attendance at CARICOM suggests his country’s partnership to solve the political, security and humanitarian crisis in the beleaguered country, where extreme violence has further destabilized its society since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in 2021.

A sarcastic Carm Baglieri said, “Enjoy your vacation (in the Bahamas) on our dime. So glad you deserve it, working so hard for us.”

“How much is this one going to cost us?” another asked.

Rob Schultz added, “Resign. Do Canada proud, stay there.”

During his visit at the Caribbean community summit, Trudeau made an additional $12.3 million donation for humanitarian help in Haiti and $10 million dollars to assist the International Office on Migration to protect Haitian women and children along the Dominican borders.

Many Canadians are critical of the move.

“The only reason you were invited is that they know you are going to give them hard-earned Canadian taxpayers’ money.”

Sarah Philips said, “Trudeau wants to waste our money on Haiti. Perhaps he should go there in person and roll up his sleeves and do some actual work on the ground.”

“He runs away from responsibilities in Canada, for praise, while our country falls apart. He is shallow and is afraid to work, and is not smart enough to run a country. He throws our money at other countries so he can have his ego stroked,” Marie Anne said.

Some Canadians determined that Trudeau could have conducted his meeting with CARICOM over a video conferencing application.

“Whatever happened to Zoom meetings?” a social media user asked on Twitter.

Another demanded, “Quit traveling and stay home. Use Zoom.”

Murray Jones said, “There’s a thing called Zoom and it’s less expensive.”

Trudeau returned to Canada late Thursday.

Photo credit: CTV News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s arrival in the Bahamas on Wednesday means the beginning of talks on Haiti’s deepening crisis after the US suggested it lead the intervention in the failed island nation.

When Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who will also participate in the CARICOM meetings, asked for a foreign military intervention due to the strangled hold gangs have on his country’s resources, the United States immediately suggested that Canada lead the discussions and send military troops on the ground.

Trudeau has since stated that any effort to restore Haiti must be led by the Haitian people and has left the idea of military intervention as a last resort, though the US said it should lead one.

Before his arrival to the Bahamas, Trudeau’s office said his discussions at the Caribbean summit, will allow leaders to consider political, security, and humanitarian assistance to Haiti and seek “Haitian-led solutions to the ongoing situation.”

According to Canadian media, Trudeau, when speaking in French, stated before his arrival, that Caribbean countries must play a role in “legitimizing” international help for Haitian people after decades of failed “colonialist” interventions.

In a prèss conference on Tuesday, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said Canada and the United States must step up to assist Haiti since the Bahamas has felt the brunt of Haiti’s economic and social instability, through the influx of thousands of Haitians fleeing the troubled state.

“We (The Bahamas) do not have the resources to be able to deal with the Haiti problem ourselves and we do need outside help.”

Davis hinted that the Bahamas would be willing to send personnel to a security mission if it’s needed.

Waves of violence have swept Haiti marked by poverty, the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise in 2021, rising energy prices, corruption, and civil unrest.

Trudeau will speak to the Caribbean panel on Thursday and leave for Ottawa later in the evening.

Photo: Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Ariel Henry arrive in the Bahamas on Wednesday to attend the Caribbean Summit

Haitian police officers rioted in the streets of Port-au-Prince on Thursday, demanding its government act after armed gangs killed 14 of their colleagues.

Dressed as civilians, officers blocked the streets and entrance to the country’s main airport as Prime Minister Ariel Henry arrived from Argentina where he attended the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Summit(CELAC).

Before flooding the airport, the rioters invaded Henry’s home where gunshots rang off.

Earlier in the day, reports were that police had stopped the local charge d’affairs and taken their vehicles and weapons.

Since then, Prime Minister Philip Davis who returned From Argentina on Wednesday ordered an immediate involuntary departure for Bahamian diplomatic personnel.

All diplomats are reportedly safe.

The National Union of Haitian Police Officers says 14 officers have been killed since the beginning of the year in gang attacks on police stations.

Seven officers were killed in a shootout on Wednesday alone, according to Haiti’s National Police. And in other instances, two officers were killed inside a police station in the country’s northern state, while four were killed execution-style in the streets of Port-au-Prince.

Video circulating social media shows the naked and bloodied bodies of six men stretched out in the street as their guns lay on their chests. Another video shows two masked men smoking cigarettes from the dismembered hands and feet of the dead men.

The gang who killed them, known as Gan Grif, still has the bodies, police said.

As the political and social conditions in Haiti continue to deteriorate, its citizens leave the embattled country in droves for greener pastures like the Bahamas and Florida.

Featured photos: Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol