Bahamian Twins Caught in Fort Lauderdale – WSVN 7News | St John Information, Climate, Sports activities

By Last updated Jan 5, 2021

(WSVN) – Teenage twins are trapped in Fort Lauderdale and unable to return to their family in the Bahamas. Why and what can be done? It’s the first Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser of 2021 and it’s got a happy ending to start this new year.

It’s quiet, beautiful, isolated, and not far from South Florida.

Edwin Mulford, Pigeoncaybahamas.com: “Very small. We only have eight cottages, but it’s on a beautiful stretch of very private beach on Cat Island in the Bahamas. “

Edwin and Leslie have owned Pigeon Cay Beach Club in the Bahamas for 27 years and run a small resort while they raise their twins.

Edwin Mulford: “Our boys grew up here and now they are old enough to help us and that was a great thing for us.”

Boys Griffinn and Elliott Mulford are US citizens like their parents, and growing up in a beach town created a very different life than most children.

Griffinn Mulford: “Everyone knows each other, yes, very friendly. Everyone treats you like family over there. “

When the 18-year-olds’ passports expired last July, the U.S. embassy in Nassau was closed and they had to fly to Fort Lauderdale to have them renewed.

Edwin Mulford: “We tried to get an expedited application, but they wouldn’t.”

After the passports expired, the boys were trapped in Fort Lauderdale and could not return to the Bahamas to be with their parents.

Griffinn Mulford: “Yes, we miss our family very much. It was hard. “

Edwin and Leslie had to rent a place for the boys. At the same time, COVID prevented people from entering the Bahamas.

Edwin Mulford: “Our bank account is now zero, so we have to dive into our retirement account.”

But the business struggles don’t compare to the pain of not being together.

Leslie Mulford: I could cry.

They cannot hug their children and have no idea if or when the US government will issue their passports so they can return home.

Edwin Mulford: “We need someone who can break into the system.”

Elliott Mulford: “It’s the same answer. Every time they say, “It’s going, it’s going,” and nothing changes. “

Edwin Mulford: “We need you at home, Patrick.”

I contacted the State Department and then spoke to US Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott officials. They all answered me and we took a break.

Griffinn Mulford: “Then it came the next day, the two passports came the next day.”

The boys were given the passports they had waited months to receive.

Griffinn Mulford: “I didn’t expect that.”

Elliott Mulford: “We should have called you earlier some time ago.”

Now they are back together in the Bahamas, back with their parents.

Leslie Mulford: “It was great. It was great, and then having her back with us was really great. “

Edwin and Leslie are happy. Her family is together and they hope 2021 will bring their life back and get back to normal.

Edwin Mulford: “We’re COVID-free here, so it’s a very safe environment, and our site is off the beaten track and very private, with just one beautiful beach.”

A nice, quiet vacation on a private beach. Not bad, and it’s nice that we were able to bring a family back together to start 2021 as well.

The key to getting results with the federal government: contact your congressional representative or the offices of Sens. Scott or Rubio. They pulled and they were of great help to us.

Did a problem make you feel like you were alone on an island? Do you want to take the headache to the beach? Use the best result: Contact us for a sunny solution.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: [email protected]
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at [email protected]
St John-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN