Marigot:--- An immigration officer from the Police Aux Frontiers (PAF) who was pursuing a Haitian Immigrant during one of their controls is now nursing a double broken jaw bone, the loss of four teeth, and other injuries to his face and body after the immigrant physically attacked the officer when he caught up with him. Even though the attacker has been identified, he managed to escape the long arms of the law. A manhunt is currently underway to find the culprit who attacked the immigration officer.
Prefet Jacques Simonnet has called on both sides of the island to renew their efforts to tackle the influx of illegal immigrants to the islands. Simonnet said he believed the attack was intentional.
Giving details to the event was commandant of the Police Aux Frontiers Philippe Vimbelle who said the officers were conducting controls at construction site on a private property in La Savane on Tuesday when the incident occurred. Vimbelle said four Haitian workers who were working at the construction site attempted to escape. He said one of the workers picked up a rock and threw it in the face of the officer causing serious injuries. The officer he said has been hospitalized and is currently on sick leave.
According to information gathered the four Haitians originated from the Dutch side of the island and was working on the site illegally.
Simonnet said the real criminals are the ones who employ these illegal immigrants but felt more cooperation is needed to rid the island of the illegal workers.
Fully support the cooperation of the French and Dutch to combat crime. This island is to small to dwindle over a little thing as a border when in actuality there is none. We have a serious situation at hand and as body (island) we must work together NOW.