NASSAU-A group of Haitian migrants staged a protest at the immigration detention centre on June 2, demanding a return to their homeland, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) announced.
Around 9am, 75 detainees went on a hunger strike and behaved in a “belligerent” manner as they protested their continued detention at the centre.
Some of the Haitian migrants have been at the centre since February 2020.
The RBDF said marines responsible for security at the detention centre “de-escalated” the situation.
However, two Haitian nationals got into a fight at the centre two hours after the protest..
During this skirmish, some detainees escaped the dormitories.
They destroyed fences and other “minor infrastructure” in the process, according to a press release.
Once again, the marines contained the situation, the release said.
The RBDF said some of the detainees will appear in court for destroying government property.
Additionally, some of them will now be housed at the prison, the release said.
Repatriations are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
