US Coast Guard repatriates 259 Caribbean migrants

The United States Coast Guard says it has repatriated 259 Caribbean migrants, including 166 to Haiti and 66 to the Bahamas, following five interdictions off the coasts of Florida, Haiti and Cuba.

“The Coast Guard, along with Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast partners, maintains a continual presence with air, land and sea assets in South Florida, the Florida Straits and the Caribbean Sea, collaborating to protect safety of life at sea,” said the US Coast Guard in a statement

“With their combined multi-layered approach, they were able to interdict several illegal maritime migration events over the past week,” he added

The US Coast Guard said the Cutter Dependable had intercepted two Haitian vessels, Monday, about 40 miles north of Ile de la Tortue, Haiti

It said another Coast Guard Cutter, Hamilton (WMSL 753) stopped a vessel 30 miles north of Cayo Cruz Del Padre, Cuba

In addition, the US Coast Guard said Miami-Dade Police Department reported that a recreational boat had been moored at Crandon Park with suspected migrants aboard

“Our highest priority is to prevent loss of life at sea Our Coast Guard crews, alongside Customs and Border Protection and our other mission partners across the Florida Straits, Windward Pass and the Mona Pass collaborated to act expeditiously in saving these 259 lives and repatriating them back to their country of origin,” said Commander Ernest Brown, deputy incident commander, Operation Vigilant Sentry

Since October 1, last year, the US Coast Guard said its crews have encountered 6,537 Cuban migrants and 4,458 Haitian migrants

Jamaica’s South Coast deemed a ‘phenomenal’ destination for travelers

Jamaica’s south coast tourism offerings and experience are becoming increasingly diverse and expansive

This, according to Portfolio Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett, who says the region has undergone significant development and transformation over the years to become a “phenomenal” destination for travelers’ seeking warm hospitality as well as an authentic Jamaican experience

He was addressing journalists following a

Destination Assurance tour of several locations in St Elizabeth with Ministry officials and tourism stakeholders, on April 28

“As I went along the coast by boat and we looked at the development and we see the number of new and high-end villas that have now donned our shoreline, we are now satisfied that Treasure Beach is emerging as that highend high net-worth destination,” Mr Bartlett indicated

He also highlighted the activities of persons operating small-scale establishments, noting that these form part of another program, “looking at little treasures that we have, dotting our coastline where we can bring a special type of visitor”

The Minister advised of plans to further highlight the south coast’s potential as a worldclass destination, noting that locations between the Great Pedro Bluff and Parottee Bay are prime for development

This undertaking will also reflect Jamaica’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism that benefits visitors and locals “It is about finding little areas of interest that will bring different demographics to Jamaica, and the south coast does provide that opportunity for that niche of the market So, we can, in short order, fully diversify the tourism experience that we can market to every demographic,” Mr Bartlett outlined