A boat carrying over 30 persons allegedly of Haitian nationality went aground on a reef in Tortola, BVI, leaving eight persons dead including two young children.
It is alleged that the vessel left the island with the persons onboard. An investigation is currently on-going and several persons on Dutch Sint Maarten have been arrested and are helping law enforcement with their enquiries while a number of locations have been searched.
Senator Gracita Arrindell says that a review of the human smuggling law is needed in order to see what changes can be made so persons will think twice before violating the law.
Human smuggling is not a new phenomenon. Criminal networks which smuggle human beings for financial gain increasingly control the flow of migrants across borders. It is acknowledged that the smuggling of people is a growing global phenomenon. It is not only a trans-national crime, but also an enormous violation of human rights.
"Sint Maarten will not tolerate its territory being used for the facilitation, transportation or illegal entry of a person or persons across an international border, in violation of one or more countries laws," President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell said on Sunday.
