Fred Mitchell responds to Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) - Jose Miguel Insulza ...about his remarks on "round ups" in The Bahamas of Haitians ...and the immigration policies of The Bahamas

Immigration Minister Responds to Comments of OAS Secretary General

By Robyn Adderley - BIS:






FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Fred Mitchell during a press conference at the Ministry for Grand Bahama on Friday responded to a report emanating from the press of Jamaica that during a visit to Jamaica, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Jose Miguel Insulza made comments about the immigration policies of The Bahamas Government. The report in indirect speech said that the Secretary General had referred to "round ups" in The Bahamas of Haitians.

Minister Mitchell said no reports of “round ups” of Haitians should have been made by the office of the Organization of American States as the organization had been briefed on the Immigration policies of the Bahamas Government.

Minister Mitchell continued, “last evening, I instructed the Ambassador to the OAS Dr. Elliston Rahming to make an immediate call to the Secretary General for an urgent clarification of this report.” The Minister said he will meet with the Secretary General in Washington shortly.

Also present during the press conference were Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville and Mr. Hubert Ferguson of the Department of Immigration.

Minister Mitchell said he had not intended to comment publically about the content of the proposed meeting as the concerns raised by the Secretary General had been raised earlier with Bahamian officials. Minister Mitchell further stated that he has been advised that the Assistant Secretary General has been fully briefed on the policies and by extension, the organization. “Therefore any suggestion of the round up of people should not have been expressed from that office.

“The record will also show that I have repeatedly said: we do not round up people, you round up cattle.”

Minister Mitchell continued, “On 1^st November, The Bahamas government put in place a simple administrative measure to stop fraudulent practices in applying for work permits and to ensure that all people who have the right to live and work in The Bahamas are fully documented.

“Immigration checks have been ongoing since we took office in 2012. Nothing new in that direction has occurred.  We have repatriated over 3000 people since the start of the year to their home countries. Another two repatriation flights will follow next week.  The Detention Centre is now at capacity.

 “This report is yet another example of the unfortunate and ill informed commentary about these simple measures,” said Minister Mitchell.

Having spoken with Human Rights Activist and attorney Fred Smith yesterday in public, said the Minister, he said he told Mr. Smith “his comments where the policies were described as ‘ethnic cleansing’ were entirely unhelpful and extreme, particularly since there is nothing on which to base any such an assertion. The words are inflammatory and can lead to incitement. He needs to withdraw those comments and the defamatory statements made about immigration officers that are Gestapo like and involved in institutional terrorism.

“The intentionally inaccurate commentary often arises because of people in this country making wild and unfounded claims. There has not been a single report of abuse of any kind by any immigration officer reported to us since 1^st November.”

Minister Mitchell said the other major political parties, the Free National Movement and the Democratic National Alliance, have indicated they have not heard of any either.

“I will be speaking to all countries in our immediate neighborhood in a few days to ensure that these false assertions do not make their way uncritically into some human rights report and then becomes a way of describing what goes on in The Bahamas.”

He further stated, “This is a completely open and transparent exercise. There has to be oversight by NGOs and there is oversight by them and by the Department of Social Services. The Department has a formal role. The NGOs have access to information and review upon request. Nothing is hidden. No particular group is the target of this exercise and people should stop spreading that falsehood. They should also stop using the term round up because no such exercises have taken place.”

With some speaking about the authority of Immigration officers on a constitutional basis, Minister Mitchell had this to say, “The power of arrest is contained in the Immigration Act. The constitution says that in the exercise of that discretion such an officer can do so only when there is a reasonable suspicion of an offence having been committed, in the process of being committed or about to be committed. The Immigration Department is aware of the constitutional standard and does not violate that standard.”

November 21, 2014

Bahamas.gov.bs

Stop The Haitian Invasion of The Bahamas

The Stop The Haitian Invasion of The Bahamas petition to Hon. Fred Mitchell MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration was written by Bahamas_Nationalist_Alliance and is in the category Government at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: haitian invasion, haitians bahamas, haitians invade bahamas

The electorate pleaded with every administration for four decades, to implement measures to protect the Bahamas and Bahamians from the enduring illegal Haitian migrant invasion without resolution.

This lack of action has lead to total mistrust and feelings of betrayal in those elected based on promises to the citizenry of the Bahamas.

General consensus of Bahamians today is, we are about to cross the point of no return with illegal Haitian migration, as their prevalence in our society strongly indicates their numbers are equal to, if not greater than ours with 10.5 Million more Haitians at the ready to risk life and limb to get here.

Tax paying law abiding Bahamians are deprived of jobs, adequate education and medical care because our society, schools, hospitals and clinics are absolutely overwhelmed with Haitian nationals.

Thousands of Bahamians are unemployed since Haitians have systematically infiltrated virtually every profession by acquiring trades from Bahamians then undermining those Bahamians by filling these trades, jobs and services for lesser wages.

As evidenced by 6 article links below, Haitians smuggle themselves into our country, engage in every illicit and corrupt activity imaginable, incontrovertibly compromised the police force, defense force, immigration department, passport office, civil services’ and the highest levels of government.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1065855

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/apr/03/mitchell-silent-over-visa-probe/

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/mar/07/police-probe-claims-fake-visas-haitians/

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2012/feb/14/mitchell-warns-ingraham-not-to-take-bahamians-for/

http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Bahamas-opposition-calls-for-consistent-immigration-policy-1640.html

http://bahamaspress.com/2011/06/06/ingraham-tell-haitians-to-bahamas-government-in-the-chief-is-a-leak/


Inherently corrupt, Haitians clandestinely network nationally to undermine Bahamians and authority at every level, have proven to have no respect for our laws, pay no taxes, yet benefit from free education, medical and social assistance, on the backs of tax paying Bahamians, whom they reduced to second-class citizens by efficiently disenfranchising them from rightful State conveniences.

In the interest of protecting present and future generations of indigenous Bahamians, our way of life, and the national security of our country, and to discourage and reverse the perpetually escalating Haitian invasion:

As your employers, we the undersigned citizens, registered voters and peoples' of the Bahamas, standing in solidarity, hereby petition the Government of the Bahamas to expeditiously legislate the following policies and measures:

1) Revoke, recall and review for authenticity every work permit, citizenship and passport issued to Haitian nationals post Independence July 10, 1973.

2) Revoke citizenship's granted to all Haitian nationals and their offspring obtained post Independence July 10, 1973.

3) Post Independence July 10, 1973 qualifying Haitian nationals and any offspring will qualify for residency status with a right to work only.

4) Table all treaties with Haiti post Independence July 10, 1973 for public review.

5) Define the path to citizenship as by marriage to Bahamians only after 10 successful years of said marriage retroactive post Independence July 10, 1973.

6) Impose a fine of $10,000.00 and or 2 years imprisonment for any individual found guilty of aiding, abetting, harboring, smuggling, hiring or otherwise dealing with illegal migrants of Haitian and or any nationality.

7) Revoke the citizenship, regularization, residency and or work permits of any naturalized or regularized person found guilty of aiding, abetting, harboring, smuggling, hiring or otherwise dealing with illegal migrants of Haitian and or any nationality, and deport and blacklist such individuals’ from reentry to the Bahamas.

8) Any individual found guilty of hiring illegal Haitian migrants in addition to imposed finds shall be held responsible for all repatriation cost.

9) All funds obtained by any illegal migrant(s) thru unlawful gainful employment shall be confiscated prior to deportation.

10) Revoke all applications for name changes which facilitates identity theft of indigenous Bahamian names.

These measures are designed as disincentives to, and the denationalization of Haitian nationals as they have proved beyond doubt to be the single major threat to national security, the very existence of Bahamians as an indigenous people, our way of life, and sovereignty of the Bahamas.

After four decades of procrastination by all administrations without remedy, it is necessary that WE THE PEOPLE demand far-reaching measures are implemented for our own self-preservation as a people.

Naturally, we expect some backlash and negative feedback from various international and human rights quarters. However, WE THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS, stand firmly in our belief that inaction short of the above would certainly lead to the self-inflicted genocide of our people.

We know and understand you are under pressure from various sides on this very controversial issue. Please rest assured that WE THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS stand 100% firmly behind you, and look forward to demonstrating our support with your compliance.

Sign the petition

Haitian Children Born in The Bahamas Should Get Bahamian Citizenship

Key: Haitian Descendents Born In Bahamas Should Get Citizenship

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PEOPLE born in the Bahamas of Haitian descent are Bahamians and should have citizenship, according to Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Key slammed successive governments for failing to address the long-standing immigration issue that has led to the marginalisation of a large group of people as “scapegoats of labour”.

He called on the government to move quickly and humanely to address the growing problem that he feels will soon become unmanageable.

Mr Key said: “These people, particularly the people that live in the Mud and Pigeon Peas, that’s my constituency. These are people that have children born there now who are doctors, lawyers, defense force officers, police, nurses.”

“They make a contribution and I blame all the governments for the situation they have to live in. They are human just like me and you and everybody else.

“There should be a more humane approach,” he said, “you’re born in a country, you don’t have no passport, and when you’re 18 you can only apply and they don’t have to give you any consideration for citizenship. But yet you are Bahamian if you look at it by your birth certificate.”

Earlier this year, an official from the Haitian Embassy urged the government to address practices regarding the process of regularising persons of Haitian descent.

Wallenson Nobert, first secretary of Legal Affairs at the Haitian Embassy, said the “real problem” faced by the Haitian-Bahamian community in the Bahamas stems from the absence of a clear legal framework to process migrants.

In response to a panel discussion hosted by the College of the Bahamas on the complex issue of statelessness within the Bahamian context, Mr Nobert said the use of the term “stateless” to describe unregularised persons of Haitian descent was “inappropriate” given Haiti’s citizenship laws.

Instead, he said, there was an inherent “hypocrisy” in the Bahamas’ handling of citizenship that allowed for a peculiar stratification of rights, adding “either you’re a part of a country, or you’re not”.

Outside the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Key said: “I think the government should look at these people and sort this situation out. Let’s say it’s 60,000 foreign women in this country in this same situation and they each have five children – that’s 300,000 people. One day, it’s going to catch up with us. We need to deal with this situation now and don’t let it get any further.”

Mr Key referred to the recent spate of fires that have negatively affected shanty town populations in Abaco.

Last year, a mother and her year-old son were killed in a fire in the Pigeon Pea area in Marsh Harbour. More than 80 homes were burned to the ground on that occasion, leaving more than 500 people homeless.

Following the December 31 fire, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told Abaco residents the government would do all that it could to ensure a situation like that did not happen again, adding that members of such communities must make certain their homes are up to standard.

Last month in another shanty town on the island, more than 70 homes were wiped out in a blaze that consumed the Sand Banks area, and which police believe was arson.

Mr Key said consideration should also be given to regularise the parents of Bahamas-born children, who have worked in the country for more than 40 years.

When asked whether or not he had a solution to the issue, Mr Key said: “I don’t really know, but I know if I was in charge of the country or Immigration I would sort this out, especially with the children, but not only that, the parents. Some of them have been here 40, 50 years. 

He added: “They’ve worked hard, they’ve helped to build every building, every house, every road. Why are we using these people that have made such a contribution and then at the end of the day say we don’t need you.”

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, senior Bahamian and Haitian government officials are in bilateral talks this week covering trade, technical co-operation and illegal migration. Negotiations in Nassau were said to have been fruitful in advancing the draft texts to be signed this summer.

June 20, 2014

Tribune 242

The issue of Haitian migrants and persons of Haitian descent living in The Bahamas

Call To Stop Discrimination

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas government must work to address discriminatory practices towards persons of Haitian descent who apply for regularisation, an official from the Haitian Embassy said yesterday.

Wallenson Nobert, first secretary of Legal Affairs at the Haitian Embassy, charged that the “real problem” faced by the Haitian Bahamian community in the Bahamas stems from the absence of a clear legal framework to process migrants.

In response to a panel discussion hosted by the College of the Bahamas on the complex issue of statelessness within the Bahamian context, Mr Nobert challenged that the use of the term “stateless” to describe unregularised persons of Haitian descent was “inappropriate” given Haiti’s citizenship laws.

However, Mr Nobert said there was an inherent “hypocrisy” in the Bahamas’ handling of citizenship that allowed for a peculiar stratification of rights, adding “either you’re a part of a country, or you’re not”.

Led by Dr Ian Bethell-Bennett, associate professor in the School of English Studies, presenters focused on the effectiveness of citizenship and related immigration policy, and its application in respect to Haitian migrants and persons of Haitian descent living in the Bahamas.

The panel discussion is the second of its kind for the college, which hosted the first panel on the issue in 2012.

COB student Fiona Joseph argued that the regularisation process has deferred the dreams of many persons of Haitian descent born in the Bahamas, who are forced to wait until they are 18 to begin a lengthy application process.

Ms Joseph gave a personal account of her regularisation process as an individual born in the Bahamas to Haitian parents in her presentation entitled, Stateless and (Ba)Haitian in The Bahamas.

She admitted that she did not apply for Haitian citizenship because it would have further complicated her bid for Bahamian citizenship by forcing her to seek naturalisation instead.

Earlier this month, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell confirmed to The Tribune that the government does not issue certificates of identity.

He said: “I do not believe that there is a large group of stateless people. What we have is people born to foreign parents who don’t want to get the passport of their parents. We have stopped issuing certificates of identity.”

In his presentation entitled “Statelessness: Real or Imagined?” Dr Bethell-Bennett charged that while states argue over whether or not statelessness exists, and what type, the reality remains that a large group of people in the Bahamas are trapped in a “grey zone”, disfranchised and unable to access basic rights attached to citizenship.

The large population of unregularised persons represents a critical national security issue, according to Dr Ian Strachan, COB’s vice president of Advancement, who stated that progress on the issue has been stalled because of citizenship’s value as a political bargaining chip.

In his presentation, “Ugly Politics: Haitians and Power in the Bahamas”, Dr Strachan argued that immigration policy and procedures have been used for political advancement over the last 30 years, perpetuating negative stereotypes towards persons of Haitian descent while exploiting the migrant community during the election period.

Presenter Stephen Aranha, assistant professor in the School of Social Sciences, provided a critical review of citizenship as defined by the Bahamas constitution, and the recommendations given by the 2012 Constitutional Commission.

Although Haitians represent the largest migrant community, Mr Aranha argued that Immigration processes in the Bahamas were arbitrary, and open to legal uncertainty for all migrants.

Haiti’s constitution affords individuals born of a “native born” Haitian parent automatic entitlement to citizenship, if they choose to accept it, according to Mr Nobert, who encouraged individuals of Haitian lineage to seek assistance from the embassy regardless of their status.

However, presenters argued that the law is not clear on whether or not this right is passed on to third generation descendants whose parents were not born in Haiti, or have no legal documentation.

Presenters called for the government to either lower the age requirement for persons to begin applications for citizenship, or do an overhaul of the requirements to bring them in line with migration realities.

Mr Nobert’s comments echo concerns raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council, most recently the need for strengthened reporting mechanisms and statistical research on migrant communities in the Bahamas.

April 11, 2014

Tribune 242

Haitians should be excited at the turnaround in their country - Haiti... ...Rather than risking their lives on a dangerous passage for an uncertain future in The Bahamas with its own problems, Haitians should look to be part of what appears to be a sustained period of growth in Haiti... which we are all cheering for

Haitians in The Bahamas must help with smuggling problem

thenassauguardian editorial

Based on eyewitness testimony it appears that Haitians died in the journey that ended near Mangrove Cay, Andros on Saturday.  A man who identified himself as the captain of a Haitian sloop that ran aground in the area told authorities that four passengers jumped ship at the start of the voyage and 12 others drowned at some point during their seven-day journey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell said Monday.  No bodies were recovered and search and rescue efforts were suspended.

There is no proof to support the claim by the captain, but it is common for Haitians to die in these smuggling operations.  Eleven Haitians drowned in June in Abaco in a smuggling operation.

Haiti is the poorest country in the hemisphere.  It was also devastated by an earthquake in 2010 that killed more than 200,000 people.  Many of its people live in desperate circumstances and want to leave.

Many Haitians have historically thought of The Bahamas as a relative land of opportunity to escape to.  They assumed more jobs existed here compared to Haiti.  The Bahamas was thought of as less violent.

The Bahamas of today, though, is not as it was 15 years ago.  The unemployment rate was last measured here at just under 16 percent.  We have had four murder records in five years.

Despite Haiti’s historical problems, a turnaround is underway.  Many Bahamians are not aware of this.  According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Haiti’s economy grew by 5.6 percent in 2011 and it is projected to grow by 7.8 percent in 2012 and 6.9 percent in 2013.

This is good news for Haiti.  This is good news for The Bahamas.  Haitians who live here should inform their brothers and sisters at home that The Bahamas is struggling with its own economic problems since the financial crisis of 2008.  Jobs are not plentiful as they were in the boom days of the late 1990s.  Coming here is no guarantee of a peaceful or prosperous life.

Bahamian inner cities have become increasingly violent in recent years.  Successive governments have fought to reduce the high crime rate in New Providence, but no permanent solutions have been arrived at thus far.

Haitians should be excited at the turnaround in their country.  Rather than risking their lives on a dangerous passage for an uncertain future in a country with its own problems, Haitians should look to be part of what appears to be a sustained period of growth in a country we are all cheering for.

Countries become great when their citizens make them great.  Haitians can make Haiti great again.

August 29, 2012

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International