As the one year anniversary of Hurricane Dorian approaches, residents of storm-battered Abaco are getting fed up with the growing Haitian population on the island. They feel as if Haitian migrants are taking over, outnumbering Bahamians at businesses around the island and rebuilding illegal wooden structures without consequence.
“People are suffering bad and there are more illegals here than before the hurricane,” said an Abaco resident.
Though the island’s shantytowns were cleared after Hurricane Dorian and a ban was imposed on the reconstruction of illegal homes, images have surfaced of new wooden structures popping up.
“Why isn’t something being done? Driving around in Abaco there are still shanty towns being built but no one is dealing with them.”
Another frustrated resident relived the horror she experienced when she went into Marsh Harbour recently to pay a bill at Cash N Go.
In addition to no proper structure to house the business eleven months after the monster storm, she was shocked by the amount of Haitian nationals who she said were not adhering to social distancing protocols and becoming hostile.
“No social distancing, staring at you like you’re some outcast in your own country,” she said adding, “Not one speaking english, and congregating speaking creole and looking at you with a scornful look on their face.”
However, she said things escalated when the migrants started screaming and shoving each other off of the line.
“The security calmly told them that they need to make a proper line before he can serve any of them. They continued fighting like savages,” she said.
“So the security starts handing out numbers, he is pouring in sweat trying to deal with this herd of Haitians in his face ready to jump on his neck. He then takes off his face mask which was very risky.”
“The security is now fed up and says no more numbers and tells them to go home. They continue to argue. There was this tall Haitian guy that got angry at the security and started threatening him.”
Residents have also sounded the alarm on the amount of illegal Haitian migrants in the Abaco cays. They claim while police have shut down all the Bahamian businesses during the lockdown, Haitians are illegally selling food and alcohol on the down low.
Fears are also mounting as coronavirus cases on the island grow.
“Bahamas Fast Ferries carries hundreds of people to Baker’s Bay every day and they have plenty cases out there.”
With 31 confirmed cases, Abaco has the fourth highest number of cases behind New Providence, Grand Bahama and Bimini.