Are we doing enough to fight crime?
thenassauguardian editorial
Last Saturday’s triple homicide off Carmichael Road has shocked many Bahamians and residents of New Providence already reeling from a rising murder count that is certain to far outpace last year’s record of 94.
In what marked the 83rd, 84th and 85th murders for the year, two women, one of whom was pregnant, and a man were gunned down in an apartment on Montgomery Avenue early Saturday morning.
Police are investigating the possibility that the murders are connected to a double homicide that took place several weeks ago, not far from the site of the triple murder.
Police believe that many of the recent murders are connected and that generally speaking random killings are rare. This is the line that has often been used by senior officials trying to calm the fears of New Providence residents.
The murder rate for a country the size of The Bahamas has reached a crisis point. It is unacceptable.
By the end of July last year the murder count was at 54. This year that number had jumped by 31 by the end of July. Last month a recorded-breaking 20 murders were recorded.
Our average so far for the year is 12 murders per month. On that pace we could surpass the 94 mark before this month is up. It could also mean that we could record more than 140 murders this year.
We know that this point is not lost on police and government officials who have invested efforts and resources in the crime fight. And who obviously want to see crime brought under control.
The Gun Court has been an important step in the right direction and has so far been productive in helping to deal with our significant case backlog. There has also been a significant investment to increase resources for our police officers. And steps have been taken to improve the physical infrastructure of the judiciary.
But have those efforts and resources been enough? Obviously not.
More needs to be done to bring down crime in the country.
We acknowledge that the onus is not just on the government or police to come up with solutions, the community must also do its part.
However, the commissioner of police and minister of national security have been given as a part of their mandate the management and prevention of crime to the highest extent possible.
It is a difficult task, but we must do better than we are doing now.
The crime phenomenon is not unique to The Bahamas, the Caribbean or anywhere else.
We need to look at how other developed countries are approaching their fight against the scourge of crime and violence.
Jamaica, which has had one of the highest murder rates in the world, has seen a significant drop in its murder count this year after a gang crackdown, according to officials.
Based on what is often said by our local police and government officials, it would seem that a similar approach could prove successful here.
It may also be time to look at how existing youth, community and rehabilitation programs can be improved.
Perhaps it is time to consider — as some cities in the U.S. have done — the appointment of a crime prevention coordinator who works closely with the commissioner of police and Ministry of National Security to help implement crime prevention programs, among other things.
We do not have the answers, nor do we pretend to have them.
But we must do something more, and quickly.
Aug 05, 2011
thenassauguardian editorial
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Suggestions for lowering crime in The Bahamas
Limiting the number of children a woman can have 'could fight crime'
tribune242
LIMITING the number of children a woman can have to two could be one way of fighting the growing crime problem, a panel hosted by the New Covenant Baptist Church suggested.
The proposal is one of more than a dozen that the group presented to those attending a community meeting at the East West Highway church last night. The meeting was held to get public input on ways to curb the escalating murder rate.
Bishop Simeon Hall, who did not come up with the suggestion, said such a policy could be instrumental in limiting the number of unwanted children in the country - who often end up as statistics or in penal institutions.
"The person who proffered that idea is suggesting that at the core of our social problems is the indiscriminate way Bahamian women have children - now obviously women can't have children by themselves so the blanket statement (should be) the indiscriminate way we have children," said Bishop Hall, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church.
"Since the majority of our children are born to unwed parents, we need to look at the unwed parents who have the children and just lean on the rest of society to care for the children.
"What we are saying is in the long term, a child who is born to parents who didn't want them and is left to rear himself, he is likely to become a statistic so there is some merit to that (idea)," he told The Tribune.
The panel's other suggestions for lowering crime include:
* carry out capital punishment;
* give life sentences without the possibility of parole to more classes of convict;
* institute a national curfew for minors;
* bring foreign officers into the Royal Bahamas Police Force;
* remove the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal;
* charge parents in connection with the minor criminal offences committed by their children;
* radically restructure the country's educational system.
August 05, 2011
tribune242
tribune242
LIMITING the number of children a woman can have to two could be one way of fighting the growing crime problem, a panel hosted by the New Covenant Baptist Church suggested.
The proposal is one of more than a dozen that the group presented to those attending a community meeting at the East West Highway church last night. The meeting was held to get public input on ways to curb the escalating murder rate.
Bishop Simeon Hall, who did not come up with the suggestion, said such a policy could be instrumental in limiting the number of unwanted children in the country - who often end up as statistics or in penal institutions.
"The person who proffered that idea is suggesting that at the core of our social problems is the indiscriminate way Bahamian women have children - now obviously women can't have children by themselves so the blanket statement (should be) the indiscriminate way we have children," said Bishop Hall, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church.
"Since the majority of our children are born to unwed parents, we need to look at the unwed parents who have the children and just lean on the rest of society to care for the children.
"What we are saying is in the long term, a child who is born to parents who didn't want them and is left to rear himself, he is likely to become a statistic so there is some merit to that (idea)," he told The Tribune.
The panel's other suggestions for lowering crime include:
* carry out capital punishment;
* give life sentences without the possibility of parole to more classes of convict;
* institute a national curfew for minors;
* bring foreign officers into the Royal Bahamas Police Force;
* remove the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal;
* charge parents in connection with the minor criminal offences committed by their children;
* radically restructure the country's educational system.
August 05, 2011
tribune242
Friday, August 5, 2011
Poor education results persist in Bahamian schools... Most students continue to average D’s and E’s
Poor education results continue
Students average D in English and E in math in BGCSEs
KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com
Student performance declined in more than half of the 27 Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exam categories, with students continuing to average D’s and E’s, respectively in English language and mathematics, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education.
According to Education Minister Desmond Bannister, who addressed the media at a news conference at the Ministry of Education, 34.3 percent of the 5,373 students who took the English language examination received a grade of C or above, while only 24.6 percent of the 5,200 students who took the maths BGCSE exam received a C grade or above.
That means that 65 percent of the candidates who sat the English language exam received a D grade or below and 75 percent of students taking the maths exam received a D grade or below.
Those two subjects were highlighted as areas of challenge by Education Director Lionel Sands. The ministry yesterday only released selected portions of the 2011 BGCSE and Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) exam results. Last year at this time it released the entire results reports for both exams.
“The subjects that we are most concerned with are the maths and English language,” Sands said. “These have perennially been problem subjects for us and we have been working very hard to ensure that the problems that we are confronted with, that we deal with them in terms of our instructional programs every year.”
In the government school system, teachers could teach up to 105 students for maths and 120 for English, Sands said.
The Department of Education does not have a sufficient compliment of teachers to teach the subjects of maths, physics, chemistry and several other technical areas. Sands said the ministry relies on bringing in teachers from abroad.
Other subjects where there was a decline in performance include: art and design, biology, economics, French, geography, keyboarding, music, office procedures and religious studies. The average exam grades were not provided for those subjects.
There were improvements recorded in 11 of the BGCSE subjects tested including: literature, book-keeping and accounts, carpentry and joinery, clothing construction, combined science, chemistry, physics and Spanish.
Results in graphical communications remained unchanged from 2010.
Bannister also provided information on the subjects of physics, Spanish and biology.
He said 62 percent of the candidates received a C or above in physics; 65 percent in Spanish; and 39.5 in biology.
In total, 937 candidates received at least a C grade or above in five or more subjects, which is a new record, according to Bannister. In 2010, there were 921 candidates who achieved that mark; and in 2009 there were 834 candidates who received the higher grades.
Bannister added that 1,554 candidates received five or more BGCSEs with a D grade or above, which is a slight decrease as compared to 2010. That year, 1,582 students received a D or above.
Bannister insisted that D is an average grade.
“We commend our students’ achievement and wish them continued success in their academic pursuits,” Bannister said.
According to Bannister, 7,327 candidates registered to sit the BGCSE exams, a slight increase compared to the 6,960 candidates registered in 2010.
Regarding the BJCs, approximately 9,015 candidates registered to sit the exams.
Bannister said the average for five of the 10 BJC subjects improved when compared to 2010. These subjects included: general science, health science, social studies, and technical drawing. The fifth subject was not named.
Results declined in English language, maths and religious studies, according to Bannister.
Aug 04, 2011
thenassauguardian
Students average D in English and E in math in BGCSEs
KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com
Student performance declined in more than half of the 27 Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exam categories, with students continuing to average D’s and E’s, respectively in English language and mathematics, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education.
According to Education Minister Desmond Bannister, who addressed the media at a news conference at the Ministry of Education, 34.3 percent of the 5,373 students who took the English language examination received a grade of C or above, while only 24.6 percent of the 5,200 students who took the maths BGCSE exam received a C grade or above.
That means that 65 percent of the candidates who sat the English language exam received a D grade or below and 75 percent of students taking the maths exam received a D grade or below.
Those two subjects were highlighted as areas of challenge by Education Director Lionel Sands. The ministry yesterday only released selected portions of the 2011 BGCSE and Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) exam results. Last year at this time it released the entire results reports for both exams.
“The subjects that we are most concerned with are the maths and English language,” Sands said. “These have perennially been problem subjects for us and we have been working very hard to ensure that the problems that we are confronted with, that we deal with them in terms of our instructional programs every year.”
In the government school system, teachers could teach up to 105 students for maths and 120 for English, Sands said.
The Department of Education does not have a sufficient compliment of teachers to teach the subjects of maths, physics, chemistry and several other technical areas. Sands said the ministry relies on bringing in teachers from abroad.
Other subjects where there was a decline in performance include: art and design, biology, economics, French, geography, keyboarding, music, office procedures and religious studies. The average exam grades were not provided for those subjects.
There were improvements recorded in 11 of the BGCSE subjects tested including: literature, book-keeping and accounts, carpentry and joinery, clothing construction, combined science, chemistry, physics and Spanish.
Results in graphical communications remained unchanged from 2010.
Bannister also provided information on the subjects of physics, Spanish and biology.
He said 62 percent of the candidates received a C or above in physics; 65 percent in Spanish; and 39.5 in biology.
In total, 937 candidates received at least a C grade or above in five or more subjects, which is a new record, according to Bannister. In 2010, there were 921 candidates who achieved that mark; and in 2009 there were 834 candidates who received the higher grades.
Bannister added that 1,554 candidates received five or more BGCSEs with a D grade or above, which is a slight decrease as compared to 2010. That year, 1,582 students received a D or above.
Bannister insisted that D is an average grade.
“We commend our students’ achievement and wish them continued success in their academic pursuits,” Bannister said.
According to Bannister, 7,327 candidates registered to sit the BGCSE exams, a slight increase compared to the 6,960 candidates registered in 2010.
Regarding the BJCs, approximately 9,015 candidates registered to sit the exams.
Bannister said the average for five of the 10 BJC subjects improved when compared to 2010. These subjects included: general science, health science, social studies, and technical drawing. The fifth subject was not named.
Results declined in English language, maths and religious studies, according to Bannister.
Aug 04, 2011
thenassauguardian
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Spanish Wells: ...local fishermen urged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to get tough on poachers from the Dominican Republic before they are forced to take matters into their own hands
Fishermen urge PM to get tough on poachers
tribune242
DURING a town meeting in Spanish Wells, local fishermen urged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to get tough on poachers from the Dominican Republic before they are forced to take matters into their own hands.
With the Commodore of the Defence Force Roderick Bowe, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, and the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources in tow, Mr Ingraham told the fishermen he knows how important the fishing industry is to the Bahamas and to the fishermen of Spanish Wells.
Mr Ingraham noted that the Bahamas is spread over 100,000 square miles and law enforcement would like to be "everywhere" at the same time, but this is an impossibility. However, he did add that since coming to office, his government has strengthened the Defence Force with two new airfcraft, additional watercrafts, personnel, and will soon be completing a base in Ragged Island.
When the floor was opened to the fishermen, many recounted their own personal accounts of running into Dominican poachers while on the high seas.
Many put forward the motion that the government either increased the fines issued by the courts to these unscrupulous poachers, or confiscate the vessels and sink them.
Another issue raised was the prevalence of Dominican fishermen on Bahamian vessels - an issue Mr Ingraham said was "very troubling" for the government.
"It's complicated, because we are unable to tell Bahamian women who to marry. We are unable to do that. Secondly, Bahamian owned boats come along and say I need an engineer. We know that they are fooling us; we know that.
"The Deputy PM is here, he is the Minister of Immigration. I have asked them for a list of all the permits for all foreigners on all boats in the Bahamas which he has now sent me, and I will send them something back very soon on that issue. We expect to reduce substantially the number of foreigners who have any kind of permits on these boats - but that ain't ga stop them from getting these 'quickie marriages' now.
"But for the actual work permits, to work on these boats or the compressors they use to get all these conchs will be reduced substantially," he said.
Mr Ingraham also added that a number of "big" fishing companies that have these vessels which employ these Dominican fishermen will soon start "squealing" not long from now.
While the Prime Minister admitted that there is very little he could do to stop persons from stealing crawfish out of other fishermen's traps, he did foreshadow that the government will be looking at doing something about the "large quantity of crawfish" that is produced on the same day that the crawfish season is opened.
Mr Ingraham commended the fishermen of Spanish Wells for being law abiding, admitting he knew of persons who were out catching crawfish a week before the season was even slated to open.
"We mean you well - no matter what anyone else will tell you, we mean you well," Mr Ingraham said.
"We do have your interests at heart. We would like to do the best that is possible to make it safe for you to ensure that you are able to reap that which is in our waters and to reduce the number of times that others, who have no right to do so, are able to do so in the Bahamas.
"I want to thank you very much for coming, I don't want to make you any promise, other than what I have said. You have to make your own judgment as to what happens in the future as to whether you think you have an affect on us in the government or not. All I assure you is, I heard you, I am not deaf, I have big ears, I understand," he said.
August 04, 2011
tribune242
tribune242
DURING a town meeting in Spanish Wells, local fishermen urged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to get tough on poachers from the Dominican Republic before they are forced to take matters into their own hands.
With the Commodore of the Defence Force Roderick Bowe, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, and the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources in tow, Mr Ingraham told the fishermen he knows how important the fishing industry is to the Bahamas and to the fishermen of Spanish Wells.
Mr Ingraham noted that the Bahamas is spread over 100,000 square miles and law enforcement would like to be "everywhere" at the same time, but this is an impossibility. However, he did add that since coming to office, his government has strengthened the Defence Force with two new airfcraft, additional watercrafts, personnel, and will soon be completing a base in Ragged Island.
When the floor was opened to the fishermen, many recounted their own personal accounts of running into Dominican poachers while on the high seas.
Many put forward the motion that the government either increased the fines issued by the courts to these unscrupulous poachers, or confiscate the vessels and sink them.
Another issue raised was the prevalence of Dominican fishermen on Bahamian vessels - an issue Mr Ingraham said was "very troubling" for the government.
"It's complicated, because we are unable to tell Bahamian women who to marry. We are unable to do that. Secondly, Bahamian owned boats come along and say I need an engineer. We know that they are fooling us; we know that.
"The Deputy PM is here, he is the Minister of Immigration. I have asked them for a list of all the permits for all foreigners on all boats in the Bahamas which he has now sent me, and I will send them something back very soon on that issue. We expect to reduce substantially the number of foreigners who have any kind of permits on these boats - but that ain't ga stop them from getting these 'quickie marriages' now.
"But for the actual work permits, to work on these boats or the compressors they use to get all these conchs will be reduced substantially," he said.
Mr Ingraham also added that a number of "big" fishing companies that have these vessels which employ these Dominican fishermen will soon start "squealing" not long from now.
While the Prime Minister admitted that there is very little he could do to stop persons from stealing crawfish out of other fishermen's traps, he did foreshadow that the government will be looking at doing something about the "large quantity of crawfish" that is produced on the same day that the crawfish season is opened.
Mr Ingraham commended the fishermen of Spanish Wells for being law abiding, admitting he knew of persons who were out catching crawfish a week before the season was even slated to open.
"We mean you well - no matter what anyone else will tell you, we mean you well," Mr Ingraham said.
"We do have your interests at heart. We would like to do the best that is possible to make it safe for you to ensure that you are able to reap that which is in our waters and to reduce the number of times that others, who have no right to do so, are able to do so in the Bahamas.
"I want to thank you very much for coming, I don't want to make you any promise, other than what I have said. You have to make your own judgment as to what happens in the future as to whether you think you have an affect on us in the government or not. All I assure you is, I heard you, I am not deaf, I have big ears, I understand," he said.
August 04, 2011
tribune242
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Our governing party appears to be overwhelmed by the crime problem and the opposition seems to have no solutions to it
The third party and a crime plan
thenassauguardian editorial
More murders have happened in the first seven months of this year than during any other such period in the history of the modern Bahamas. Most of us, however, were still shocked by the news of the triple homicide that took place in southwestern New Providence Saturday morning. Two women and a man were murdered in what police suspect was a retaliation killing for previous killings.
The Bahamas is averaging around 12 homicides per month. On this pace, by the end of 2011 the murder count would be 145 in a country of only 350,000. This would be the fourth homicide record in The Bahamas in five years and the homicide rate in the country would be 41 per 100,000 population. This rate is eight times above the desired international rate of five per 100,000 population.
The governing party has a problem on the crime front. Homicide records have been set in all but one of the years of its five-year term. It has announced many new initiatives and brought on new personnel. Yet, the killings keep happening more frequently. It is hard to imagine what success could be reasonably claimed during the general election campaign by the Free National Movement (FNM) on the issue of crime.
The opposition also has a problem. It is stuck in the past. Whenever Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie talks about crime he keeps mentioning the police-led urban renewal program his administration championed. That urban renewal program would not have stopped the triple homicide on Saturday morning. And Bahamians know Christie’s repeated references to urban renewal only make him appear out of touch with the realities of the modern Bahamas when it comes to crime.
So with a governing party whose crime fighting measures, thus far, have been unable to reduce the homicide rate in our country, and an opposition that is stuck in the past, there is room for the third party to present a crime message Bahamians will at least listen to.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) should realize that crime is issue number one for Bahamians. Many feel as if the two main parties collectively are at a loss as to what to do to bring order to our streets and order to our criminal justice system. In an effort to appease a frustrated public, police charge people often with killings and robberies, but few of these people spend long terms in prison for the offenses they commit.
If Branville McCartney and his party continue to speak intelligently and constantly about the crime issue, with spokespeople such as attorney Wayne Munroe, more and more people will perceive the party as a group that is at least in touch with the main concern of the people.
Some in our country argue that bad people are killing bad people. Some senior politicians have said this. Many of the killings this year have been as a result of feuds between criminals. Our streets, however, are not war zones and no group should be so unafraid of the state that it openly conducts its business of murder while police officers simply collect the bodies. Our politicians and police should also not think that it is less important if killings result from criminal feuds. If those criminals today are not afraid of killing each other openly without being punished, one day soon they will feel so empowered that they will attack the public officials charged with capturing, prosecuting or sentencing them.
Order must be restored and our law enforcement officers must be able to intervene in these conflicts when they begin so that the first murder or attempted murder is the last.
Bahamians do not accept that we should just sit passively by and watch our country become increasingly violent. Our governing party seems overwhelmed by the crime problem and the opposition seems to have no solutions. The Bahamas needs a crime plan and a group capable and interested enough to carry it out. The new guys have an opportunity here. They should seize the moment.
Aug 02, 2011
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
More murders have happened in the first seven months of this year than during any other such period in the history of the modern Bahamas. Most of us, however, were still shocked by the news of the triple homicide that took place in southwestern New Providence Saturday morning. Two women and a man were murdered in what police suspect was a retaliation killing for previous killings.
The Bahamas is averaging around 12 homicides per month. On this pace, by the end of 2011 the murder count would be 145 in a country of only 350,000. This would be the fourth homicide record in The Bahamas in five years and the homicide rate in the country would be 41 per 100,000 population. This rate is eight times above the desired international rate of five per 100,000 population.
The governing party has a problem on the crime front. Homicide records have been set in all but one of the years of its five-year term. It has announced many new initiatives and brought on new personnel. Yet, the killings keep happening more frequently. It is hard to imagine what success could be reasonably claimed during the general election campaign by the Free National Movement (FNM) on the issue of crime.
The opposition also has a problem. It is stuck in the past. Whenever Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie talks about crime he keeps mentioning the police-led urban renewal program his administration championed. That urban renewal program would not have stopped the triple homicide on Saturday morning. And Bahamians know Christie’s repeated references to urban renewal only make him appear out of touch with the realities of the modern Bahamas when it comes to crime.
So with a governing party whose crime fighting measures, thus far, have been unable to reduce the homicide rate in our country, and an opposition that is stuck in the past, there is room for the third party to present a crime message Bahamians will at least listen to.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) should realize that crime is issue number one for Bahamians. Many feel as if the two main parties collectively are at a loss as to what to do to bring order to our streets and order to our criminal justice system. In an effort to appease a frustrated public, police charge people often with killings and robberies, but few of these people spend long terms in prison for the offenses they commit.
If Branville McCartney and his party continue to speak intelligently and constantly about the crime issue, with spokespeople such as attorney Wayne Munroe, more and more people will perceive the party as a group that is at least in touch with the main concern of the people.
Some in our country argue that bad people are killing bad people. Some senior politicians have said this. Many of the killings this year have been as a result of feuds between criminals. Our streets, however, are not war zones and no group should be so unafraid of the state that it openly conducts its business of murder while police officers simply collect the bodies. Our politicians and police should also not think that it is less important if killings result from criminal feuds. If those criminals today are not afraid of killing each other openly without being punished, one day soon they will feel so empowered that they will attack the public officials charged with capturing, prosecuting or sentencing them.
Order must be restored and our law enforcement officers must be able to intervene in these conflicts when they begin so that the first murder or attempted murder is the last.
Bahamians do not accept that we should just sit passively by and watch our country become increasingly violent. Our governing party seems overwhelmed by the crime problem and the opposition seems to have no solutions. The Bahamas needs a crime plan and a group capable and interested enough to carry it out. The new guys have an opportunity here. They should seize the moment.
Aug 02, 2011
thenassauguardian editorial
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Bahamas Government should have a clear policy that is announced both here and in Haiti that no child born in the Bahamas to an illegal immigrant after a certain date will be entitled to apply for citizenship
tribune242 editorial
WE HAVE been accused of wanting to open the floodgates to homeless Haitians. Nothing can be further from the truth.
We recognise that the Bahamas is a small group of islands that cannot accommodate all the Haitians whose lives have been disrupted by political upheavals in Haiti or made homeless by the devastation of their recent earthquake. Nor can our social services carry the increasing burden forced on them by illegal immigrants. But in dealing with this problem, we have to recognise that these are suffering human beings who have to be treated humanely. They have to be treated with dignity and cannot be made scapegoats for everything that goes wrong in this country.
All of us recognise that we have a major immigrant problem that is growing daily -- only yesterday a boat attempted to land a group of immigrants off the eastern end of the island. Some reports estimated that there were about 200 persons on board. As we write this article police, defence force and immigration officers are trying to round them up to take them to the Detention Centre from where they will eventually be repatriated to Haiti.
Yes, this country has a problem -- a major problem. But we agree with the Bahamian who said that this problem cannot be made a political football to win an election. "To do so," he said, "would be inhumane and immoral and destructive to both the immigrant and to this country." To fan the anger of a people already upset by shanty towns in their areas would be to unleash a destructive force that would build and eventually explode, taking this country down with it.
An immigration policy has to be formulated for all to understand. It has to be decided how many immigrants this country can accommodate and those that it cannot will have to be treated with consideration as attempts are made to relocate them to other lands.
No one is certain of our illegal immigrant population. The Immigration Department will know how many persons hold work permits, are permanent residents or citizens. Farmers and landscape businesses depend upon Haitian labour to function. There should be a period of amnesty to give all employers of Haitians without status time to submit applications and regularise their businesses.
In 2006 we wrote a series of articles about the cries of Bahamian farmers who claimed they could not maintained their farms without their Haitian workers.
"Most farmers' frustrations," complained one of them, "come from work permits." He went on to say how generous the Pindling administration was to him when he landed his Haitians at the Coral Harbour base. "You weren't frustrated with a renewal work permit or a new permit," he complained as the FNM struggled to get immigration problems under control and introduce a system of documentation. He said he had 200 acres of farmland. Although he declined to say how many Haitians he had during the Pindling regime, at the time of his complaint (2006) he admitted to having 55. What he failed to say was that he was among the favoured few. This was the way the PLP rewarded their loyal supporters. Non-PLP farmers were not treated with the same consideration.
Many Bahamian farmers complained of how their produce was rotting on the ground because they could not get their Haitians. Bahamians, they said, refused to do the work.
It is obvious that in deciding a policy, government will not cripple such enterprises as farming, construction and landscaping that rely on Haitian labour. In other words, Haitians who have employment and whose work is essential to their employers should be documented with a work permit. This, of course, will mean an increase in revenue for the country.
Under our constitution every person born in the Bahamas before July 9, 1973 is a citizen. Therefore, all children born of Haitian parents -- whether here legally or illegally -- is a Bahamian and should be regularised. Any person born in the Bahamas after that date, neither of whose parents is Bahamian, shall be entitled - upon making an application on attaining the age of 18 and up to the age of 19 - "to be registered as a citizen of the Bahamas."
This group, knowing no other country but the Bahamas, should also be registered.
But now there is talk that Haitian women come to the Bahamas to give birth here so that their children can become citizens. Because of the size of our nation and its limited social services, if this is so, it cannot continue.
Government should have a clear policy that is announced both here and in Haiti that no child born in the Bahamas to an illegal immigrant after a certain date will be entitled to apply for citizenship.
This is no time for political scapegoating, but it is time for clear cut immigration policies that are fair to all -- and are known to all.
August 02, 2011
tribune242 editorial
WE HAVE been accused of wanting to open the floodgates to homeless Haitians. Nothing can be further from the truth.
We recognise that the Bahamas is a small group of islands that cannot accommodate all the Haitians whose lives have been disrupted by political upheavals in Haiti or made homeless by the devastation of their recent earthquake. Nor can our social services carry the increasing burden forced on them by illegal immigrants. But in dealing with this problem, we have to recognise that these are suffering human beings who have to be treated humanely. They have to be treated with dignity and cannot be made scapegoats for everything that goes wrong in this country.
All of us recognise that we have a major immigrant problem that is growing daily -- only yesterday a boat attempted to land a group of immigrants off the eastern end of the island. Some reports estimated that there were about 200 persons on board. As we write this article police, defence force and immigration officers are trying to round them up to take them to the Detention Centre from where they will eventually be repatriated to Haiti.
Yes, this country has a problem -- a major problem. But we agree with the Bahamian who said that this problem cannot be made a political football to win an election. "To do so," he said, "would be inhumane and immoral and destructive to both the immigrant and to this country." To fan the anger of a people already upset by shanty towns in their areas would be to unleash a destructive force that would build and eventually explode, taking this country down with it.
An immigration policy has to be formulated for all to understand. It has to be decided how many immigrants this country can accommodate and those that it cannot will have to be treated with consideration as attempts are made to relocate them to other lands.
No one is certain of our illegal immigrant population. The Immigration Department will know how many persons hold work permits, are permanent residents or citizens. Farmers and landscape businesses depend upon Haitian labour to function. There should be a period of amnesty to give all employers of Haitians without status time to submit applications and regularise their businesses.
In 2006 we wrote a series of articles about the cries of Bahamian farmers who claimed they could not maintained their farms without their Haitian workers.
"Most farmers' frustrations," complained one of them, "come from work permits." He went on to say how generous the Pindling administration was to him when he landed his Haitians at the Coral Harbour base. "You weren't frustrated with a renewal work permit or a new permit," he complained as the FNM struggled to get immigration problems under control and introduce a system of documentation. He said he had 200 acres of farmland. Although he declined to say how many Haitians he had during the Pindling regime, at the time of his complaint (2006) he admitted to having 55. What he failed to say was that he was among the favoured few. This was the way the PLP rewarded their loyal supporters. Non-PLP farmers were not treated with the same consideration.
Many Bahamian farmers complained of how their produce was rotting on the ground because they could not get their Haitians. Bahamians, they said, refused to do the work.
It is obvious that in deciding a policy, government will not cripple such enterprises as farming, construction and landscaping that rely on Haitian labour. In other words, Haitians who have employment and whose work is essential to their employers should be documented with a work permit. This, of course, will mean an increase in revenue for the country.
Under our constitution every person born in the Bahamas before July 9, 1973 is a citizen. Therefore, all children born of Haitian parents -- whether here legally or illegally -- is a Bahamian and should be regularised. Any person born in the Bahamas after that date, neither of whose parents is Bahamian, shall be entitled - upon making an application on attaining the age of 18 and up to the age of 19 - "to be registered as a citizen of the Bahamas."
This group, knowing no other country but the Bahamas, should also be registered.
But now there is talk that Haitian women come to the Bahamas to give birth here so that their children can become citizens. Because of the size of our nation and its limited social services, if this is so, it cannot continue.
Government should have a clear policy that is announced both here and in Haiti that no child born in the Bahamas to an illegal immigrant after a certain date will be entitled to apply for citizenship.
This is no time for political scapegoating, but it is time for clear cut immigration policies that are fair to all -- and are known to all.
August 02, 2011
tribune242 editorial
Monday, August 1, 2011
Happy Emancipation Day Bahamas!
By Dennis Dames
August 01 is emancipation day; it’s in commemoration of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 which ended slavery in the British Empire on August 01, 1834. We are free as God intended us to be.
We are free to determine our personal and collective destinies. We are free to be productive or unproductive people; to be caring or uncaring; to be respectful or disrespectful toward one another; we are free to love or hate.
In today’s Bahamas; our freedom has been taken advantage of for all the wrong reasons by we the people. It has lead us in to a state of disconnect, distrust and disunity; and criminals appear to be feasting on our exposed state of affairs.
Our collective freedom is not being well spent. We cannot decide on the way forward for our nation; we refuse to see the wisdom of a unified people. We prefer to fight and kill, rather than set good examples and build.
We have been emancipated since the beginning of time, and we choose to be reckless with our gift of choice rather than responsible citizens who are indeed brothers’ keepers.
We are free to make our ancestors proud of us by appreciating the sacred joy of freedom, and become nation builders of the first order; our children will treasure us for our resolve to create and maintain a prosperous and blessed country.
We are free, but it does not mean that we are secure. Security is a national endeavor in which every citizen has a stake. In The Bahamas today, our safety is being undermined by corrupt public officials and other rough elements amoung us.
Many of our countrymen are using their freedom to facilitate on a grand scale: human trafficking, gun smuggling, drug running,political corruption, murder and so on.
We are a nation under attack by criminal and satanic forces, and we who care about our future must come together and fight the scoundrels who are out to destroy our beloved land for their personal gain.
Yes, we must use our freedom to ensure that The Bahamas remains free, and the generations behind us are given the best opportunity to succeed and prosper.
We are free to be great, and to live as one in love and legitimate respect. Let’s do it brothers and sisters.
Happy emancipation day Bahamas.
August 01, 2011
August 01 is emancipation day; it’s in commemoration of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 which ended slavery in the British Empire on August 01, 1834. We are free as God intended us to be.
We are free to determine our personal and collective destinies. We are free to be productive or unproductive people; to be caring or uncaring; to be respectful or disrespectful toward one another; we are free to love or hate.
In today’s Bahamas; our freedom has been taken advantage of for all the wrong reasons by we the people. It has lead us in to a state of disconnect, distrust and disunity; and criminals appear to be feasting on our exposed state of affairs.
Our collective freedom is not being well spent. We cannot decide on the way forward for our nation; we refuse to see the wisdom of a unified people. We prefer to fight and kill, rather than set good examples and build.
We have been emancipated since the beginning of time, and we choose to be reckless with our gift of choice rather than responsible citizens who are indeed brothers’ keepers.
We are free to make our ancestors proud of us by appreciating the sacred joy of freedom, and become nation builders of the first order; our children will treasure us for our resolve to create and maintain a prosperous and blessed country.
We are free, but it does not mean that we are secure. Security is a national endeavor in which every citizen has a stake. In The Bahamas today, our safety is being undermined by corrupt public officials and other rough elements amoung us.
Many of our countrymen are using their freedom to facilitate on a grand scale: human trafficking, gun smuggling, drug running,political corruption, murder and so on.
We are a nation under attack by criminal and satanic forces, and we who care about our future must come together and fight the scoundrels who are out to destroy our beloved land for their personal gain.
Yes, we must use our freedom to ensure that The Bahamas remains free, and the generations behind us are given the best opportunity to succeed and prosper.
We are free to be great, and to live as one in love and legitimate respect. Let’s do it brothers and sisters.
Happy emancipation day Bahamas.
August 01, 2011
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