National

Nearly $10M Spent on Repatriations In Last Four Years

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Immigration Department now carries out repatriation exercises on a daily basis but how much taxpayer dollars is spent on deportations?

Published

1 year ago

June 21, 2023

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Immigration Department now carries out repatriation exercises on a daily basis but how much taxpayer dollars is spent on deportations?

Ongoing economic and political turmoil in Haiti having a domino effect on neighboring countries like The Bahamas, which has seen an influx in migrant apprehensions in recent months.

The influx means more resources are needed to protect our borders, and more money is needed for repatriations.

Our News looked at the data and it shows government spends millions annually on repatriations alone.

According to Immigration Minister Keith Bell, between July 1, 2022 and April 30th, 2023 $1.9 million was spent on repatriations.

While it’s unclear how much was spent for 2022 alone, in October, Immigration Director Keturah Ferguson told the Nassau Guardian $2.3 million was spent up to that point.

She also revealed $2.4 million was spent in 2021, $1.3 million in 2020, $1.6 million in 2019, and $2.2 million in 2018.

That means between 2018 and April 2023, more than $9.4 million was spent on deportation exercises.

Last October, the immigration minister admitted it’s difficult to budget for these types of situations.

But, each year funds are earmarked for repatriations. Ahead of the 2023/2024 fiscal year which starts in July, $1.9 million is allocated for repatriations; that’s the same figure spent on repatriations between July 2022 and April 2023.

Should more funds be needed, the department will have to go to cabinet. In the meantime, the government is seeking international assistance.

While the majority of migrants come from Haiti, officials say other nationalities like Brazilians, Colombians, Dominicans, Ecuadorians, Chinese, Guyanese, and Filipinos also face deportation.