Statement by
The Honourable Vincent A. Peet

Minister of Labour & Immigration
On Detention Centre Incident of 9^th December, 2004

 Issued Friday 10^th December, 2004 

December 13, 2004 

The situation at the Detention Centre on Carmichael Road has returned to some degree of normalcy after the incidents of yesterday.  As we noted in our news release yesterday, the Centre is fully under the control of the lawful authorities. 

Officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force are nursing bruises and lacerations sustained in the line of duty.  Of the detainees taken to hospital, all but 2 have been treated and discharged.  The two who remain have received treatment for injuries from rubber rounds and are recovering under observation.  We are fortunate that there were no serious injuries in the incident. 

Though the exact figure has yet to be determined, the Detention Centre has suffered major damage, certainly into the tens of thousands of dollars. 

The Detention Centre houses irregular migrants until their status is decided and this is done in accordance with relevant laws and conventions.   

Detainees at the Detention Centre are and have been treated fairly.  Impatience with due process is no reason for arson.  There is an issue of the possibility of refugee status, which often arises with respect to Cuban nationals and The Bahamas is attempts to deal with these matters as quickly as possible.  I caution would-be agents of provocation from outside the country that strong representation is expected, but incitement to destroy public property and disrupt public order is unacceptable.