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The search continues for 10 missing Jamaicans

André Williams, STAR Writer

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is still trying to determine the whereabouts of 10 Jamaicans who went missing after leaving the Bahamas in an efforts to reach the United States (US).

The men were among a group of people who were on one of the many illegal shipments of people who attempt to go into the United States illegally. But since setting off on March 9, none of them have been seen or heard of.

A Bahamian publication, The Freeport News, recently named as missing among the 10, Howard ‘Wayne’ Pryce, 45, of Chestnut Lane, Kingston 14. He is said to be 6 ft tall and weights 190 lb. He is further said to have a scar in the middle of his chest.

The names of other persons listed as missing among the 10 are Richard Gapour, Micheal Anthony Stephenson, Rumara George Bailey, Claude Walters, Carlton Nelson, Daulton Thomas and David Dean.

According to reports, the 10 had travelled to The Bahamas in late February and March, and had set out on a boat from Freeport to Miami. There has thus far been no reports of any of the 10 missing Jamaicans arrested or found dead. No boating accidents have been reported in Jamaica, The Bahamas or the United States waters.

When THE STAR contacted the Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department in the foreign affairs ministry, our news team was referred to its most recent release which states, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade continues its efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the approximately 10 Jamaican men, who according to reports, set off by boat from Freeport, Bahamas on Friday, March 9, 2012. The ministry is currently in the process of seeking an official report from the Bahamian authorities based on an updated listing.”

However, on the contrary, according to a report from another Bahamian publication, The Tribune 242, a Bahamian police spokesperson Loretta Mackey, said the matter is out of the hands of Bahamian law enforcement.

an obvious trend

There is an obvious trend as in previous years many people who journey the Bahamian route to get across to the US by boat have either been reported dead or accosted by US authorities.

In 2010, it was reported that dancehall personality Mickey Pelpa had allegedly drown while trying to enter the US illegally via boat from The Bahamas.

Based on information obtained, Pelpa, born Michael Augustus Lynch, was among a group of men who took a boat from the Bahamas and tried to enter the United States.

Lynch reportedly jumped from the boat, on the approach of US coast guards, got into difficulties and drowned. The alleged captain of the boat, a Bahamian, was charged with human smuggling.

US Customs and Border Patrol agents, according to reports, have held several Bahamians who have tried to smuggle people into the US. In one particular case, a Bahamian, Captain Kelsey James McQueen, reportedly told immigration agents he was to be paid to ferry immigrants between Nassau and Palm Beach County.

THE STAR contacted a Jamaican now married and living in the United States who entered the US via boat from The Bahamas to get a first-hand account on the passage.

He said, “Yard did ruff and there wasn’t any hope in sight, so a friend tell mi bout the Bahamas route and mi hustle the money … it was US$3,000 (J$239,000) at the time and took on the sea. I left Jamaica for the Bahamas and then we leave the Bahamas for Miami a few days later. It was not an easy trip, but thank God we made it and things looking up”.

Dancehall artiste Flippa Mafia was also allegedly accosted by United States authorities after a failed attempt to enter US soil via boat from the Bahamas in 2010. He has since been released.

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