The Portland police have charged 29 Haitian nationals who illegally arrived by boat last week.

They were taken to the Portland parish court, on Tuesday.

The twenty-four men and five women were jointly fined $7 thousand dollars or 3 days of hard labour, after they appeared before the court.

The police say arrangements are being made by the passport, immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) to have the Haitians returned to their homeland.

Police believe that the Haitians had embarked on their journey from Jeremie, Haiti, approximately 14 days ago.

They arrived at Boston Beach in Portland on Monday July 10, at about 1:40 P.M.

Residents reportedly spotted a vessel carrying the group near the beach and helped them ashore.

They were processed and sent to a facility in neighbouring St. Mary for temporary shelter, while assessments were done as to their health and security status.