BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Immigration Department launched a surprise operation over the weekend and rounded up a large number of people who the officers suspected to be in the country illegally.
According to information obtained by SKNVibes, the operation was carried out late Saturday evening (Oct. 22) into the early hours of Sunday morning at a number of Spanish entertainment spots in the Newtown area.
Early reports indicated that more than 100 persons were taken into custody, including a large amount from the Dominican Republic and a few from Jamaica.
Information reaching this publication also stated that Immigration Officers had also visited the Latin Festival on Port Zante and several persons were taken into custody.
Director of the Latin Festival Committee and President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Jose Rosa debunked those claims, telling SKNVibes that no such action took place in the Latin Festival Village because there was no major event there Saturday evening.
“We don’t bring any people illegal to St. Kitts and Nevis,” Rosa said.
Unclear as to the circumstances surrounding the operation, Rosa told SKNVibes last evening at the Latin Festival that he did not have any information on what transpired and that he was unable to comment on the situation.
Rosa did however explain that he would make enquiries, following which he would speak with the relevant authorities and the official representatives of the Spanish-speaking community in the Federation to see what could be the best course of action.
The detainees were reportedly held at the Police Training Complex in Basseterre, as many who took to social media questioned the possible location of the number of persons in custody.
On Saturday, several persons took pictures of the operation and circulated them via social media. Some of them took to the same site and criticized the move by the Immigration Department, while others were in full support.
