Posted by Maddie on June 22, 2001 at 16:00:52:
This came from Dick Malcolm, a very reliable Brilander:
Haitian refugees ...very very sad. About a 25 foot old wooden sloop came in on north end of Man Island about noon on father's day.
Strangely I had some friends About 3oo yards away from that spot same
day till about 1 pm. That night much mis-information (as you know can
happen here) floating around. Apparently about 30 Haitians were on the
boat which had been as sea for 22 days. 6 days before landing at Man
they ran out of food and water. Medical teams from here (who did a
fantastic job with equipment, medicines, and what and who they had to
work with) went to the island... did what they could. One was already
dead on the boat.. three more died within hours of landing... right on the
beach. They buried the four up in the bushes just beyond the dunes.
I have photos of the grave (1 big grave). The rest were taken the next
day to Nassau by Defense Force Boat... having spent the entire night in
the clinic with being nursed a bit back from dehydration and exposure.
Some still in criltical unit Govt hospital in Nassau. Very sad.
So yesterday... two days later.. I went back of Man and found the sloop
easily. Went ashore.... it smelled....flies everywhere... clothes,
old pot stove where they cooked... old fishing lines... wet flour,shoes... and general stench of dying humanity. Took photos.. also
got Haitian flag off of mast.. plus home hued tiller from wooden rudder
which was tied down with rope... Walked up to grave site, took photos.
Came home...silent and tired. You know, till you are in the middle of
this sort of thing...not seeing it on ABC evening news... it doesnt
hit you. This is my second encounter..last time was actuially involved
with feeding them... holding cups for them.. Biggest ironony here..just
before one died he asked person attending him.....MIAMI ??? This Miami?