In this regard, Jamaican government announced a surge in prevention and surveillance to prevent any of the more than 4,000 Haitian fugitives from entering the country, according to the National Security Minister Horace Chang.

As you know, gang groups have connections in here, so that means there is a problem and we have to keep our intelligence operations open, identify those who are connected locally and what is happening in Haiti, Chang told the Jamaica Observer digital newspaper.

Regarding the need for protection, Chang added that Jamaican authorities have stepped up their patrols on the east coast, particularly in St. Thomas and Portland.

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force has also made plans to set up a blockade in the south of the country to deal with the influx of fugitives, said the head of Defense Forece Raymond King who also praised the collaboration with regional partners to coordinate efforts.

In response to the escalating violence in Haiti, the Dominican Republic suspended all air transportation to Haiti, suspending both cargo and passenger flights between the two countries.

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