Haitians Need to Stop Sewing Seeds of Discord in The Bahamas and Focus on Assimilaton Into The Bahamian Society

STOP XENOPHOBIA IN BAHAMA LAND!

By Dedrie Woods

Last month, Louby Georges posted on his page a Post of a Bahamian Soccer Team which won the overall prize after defeating three other Caribbean Teams.

Rather than CONGRATULATE The Bahamas Team, some in the Haitian Community went out of their way to diminish the Bahamian Team's success by telling the public that the success was due to the Haitian and Jamaican Descents on the team.

I found that repulsive and expressed my views on the Post.

Now, today, Monday, Nov.7, THE PENDULUM has swung the other way and non other than Louby Georges is now calling Bahamians "XENOPHOBIC", because they are now expressing their views on the "Bahamians of Haitian Descent" passing out, as full fledge Immigration Officers.

The Bahamas Constitution gives Citizenship access to every child born in the Bahamas after 1973 to FOREIGN PARENTS. Once that child reaches the age of 18 yrs old, they can apply for Bahamian Citizenship. Once that child has pledged allegiance to this nation, they become a full fledge Bahamian Citizen with all the rights and privileges afforded to ALL BONIFIED CITIZENS.

When a Bahamian Citizen of Haitian Descent achieves an award or honour, WE NEED TO STOP THIS NONSENSE OF DIGGING UP their parents nationality to give credence of their success to Haiti. Only the Haitian Community does this. We do not hear this from nationals of other nations.

The Haitian folks "cook their own Goose" now, and cry fowl when they have to eat their own meal.

I want ALL HAITIANS living in the Bahamas to know that you cannot "Eat your cake and have it to", because THE PENDULUM DOES SWING BOTH WAYS, as it has done with the Soccer Team vs The Immigration Passing Out. Both Haitians and BAHAMIANS are XENOPHOBIC, if you want to use that word. Do not throw up your Haitian Nationality in the faces of BAHAMIANS and expect them to accept it lying down. It won't happen. When you kick up dust, it will fly in your face.

When Miss Bahamas Universe, Miss Shantell O'Brien won her title at the Miss Universe Pageant, the Haitian Community jumped on Social Media and told the World that Shantell was a Haitian. They basically killed that young Lady's accomplishment, because most BAHAMIANS no longer saw her as one of us.

You Haitians need to stop sewing seeds of discord for yourself. You need to focus on ASSIMILATION into Bahamian culture, or just leave The Bahamas and go to Haiti and be happy.

Source/Comment 

Haitians and Haiti don’t really give a crap about their poor countrymen, women and children living illegally in another country

By Dennis Dames:

Where is The Haitian Love for Haitians!?

I’m still following the illegal immigration debate in our beloved Bahamas with great interest.  The hypocrisy of Haitians toward illegal Haitian migrants and their children in our country is unbelievable.  I have heard Haitians from the east, west, north and south talk about us Bahamians, and our lack of Christian love and charity toward their illegal brothers, sisters and children residing in The Bahamas.

I submit, that they don’t really give a crap about their poor countrymen, women and children living illegally in another country.  As a Justice of the Peace, I can tell you that there are thousands of children of Haitian parents who were born and raised in The Bahamas, and who do not know Haiti; and they have not even tried, for whatever reason - to apply for Bahamian citizenship in the legal required time: by 18 years old and before 19.  The young children of Haitian parents under 18 years old in The Bahamas today, of which Haitians from the east, west, north and south pretend to defend, will follow their older brothers and sisters here – and will never apply for Bahamian citizenship – for whatever reason.

So, The Bahamas has a serious and mounting illegal immigration problem to which illegal Haitian immigrants are at its heart; and thanks to successive Haitian governments and diplomats, who have been reckless and careless in dealing with the plight of their countrymen who are living illegally in another country for decades.  What message does the Haitian embassy in The Bahamas, the Haitian government in Haiti and the big mouth Haitians in the Diaspora have for their thousands of Haitian brothers and sisters in The Bahamas who have forfeited their right to apply for Bahamian citizenship, and who have never been invited by their government to register with the Haitian Embassy on Shirley Street, Nassau – The Bahamas?

Where are their Christian love and charity toward their own?  They have none, in my view.  All they want to do is to continue to pass the buck.  Enough is enough, says The Bahamas.  Haitians, wherever you might be, be your brothers’ keepers.  It’s about time that you people live up to your responsibility, and stop blaming others for your indifference toward the least of your Haitian brothers, sisters and children.

December 01, 2014

Haitian President Michel Martelly seems to be trying to shed his responsibility to curb the illegal migration of Haitians from Haiti to The Bahamas ...on the backs of the Bahamian people

Dr. Munroe suggests Martelly’s comments irresponsible

By KRYSTEL ROLLE-BROWN
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com

Bahamas Faith Ministries International President Dr. Myles Munroe yesterday suggested that Haitian President Michel Martelly’s call for Bahamians to invest in Haiti was inappropriate and pointed to a lack of leadership.

Munroe, who was a guest on the Guardian Radio show

“State of Affairs” with host Kevin Harris, said Martelly seemed to be trying to shed his responsibility on the backs of the Bahamian people.

On Tuesday, Martelly suggested that a portion of the substantial sums of money the Bahamas government spends on fighting illegal immigration should be invested in Haiti to address the problem from that end.

“The other day, I was talking to the prime minister [Perry Christie] and I heard him say he was investing about $200 million to protect the Bahamian coast to stop the boat people,” said Martelly during a meeting with Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Hubert Chipman in the Minority Room in the House of Assembly.

“...But that idea came to me, and I told him, ‘why don't

we invest some of that money, or at least bring in some Bahamian investors, down to the north of Haiti where these people live who come here?’”

Munroe said Martelly’s comments indicate a level of irresponsibility.

“Maybe it’s a pipe dream,” Munroe said. “Maybe it’s someone saying, ‘look, I’m going to give you my problems. I’m going to transfer the problems from my government to you. I’m [going to] be irresponsible by making you responsible for my responsibility’.

“I think that this is definitely a sign of absence of effective leadership or maybe lack of leadership completely.”

Munroe said Martelly should have communicated that idea to the government in private.

“My leadership in The Bahamas should have said that there are certain things you can’t say publicly,” he said.

“I’m not sure what the context of that was, but I am concerned. But I do think that we have to protect our independence and our sovereignty.

“I do think any relationship should be in our best interest, not in the interest of other people.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, Chipman agreed that there should be increased Bahamian investment in Haiti.

Martelly, who was in town to sign several investment and agriculture agreements with the government, said it is in the interest of Haiti and The Bahamas that things go well in Haiti.

“Sometimes investing to protect just your country is not sufficient, because that doesn’t stop Haitians from fleeing,” Martelly told reporters and government officials later that day.

“That doesn’t stop Haitians from dying, and as leaders we have a common interest in strengthening the region.”

Munroe said Haitians should invest in their own country.

“Haiti is not a poor country 100 percent,” he noted.

“They have wealthy, wealthy Haitians there. And then of course you have areas where you have low-income areas. So I don’t want the Bahamians to think that the Haitians that they may have met here is Haiti.

“I guess my point is this — why don’t those wealthy Haitians invest in Haiti, or why don’t those wealthy Haitians invest in The Bahamas?

“Bahamians themselves are not necessarily interested in investing in their own country. So how can we expect Bahamians to invest in other countries?

Munroe said while The Bahamas should be a good neighbor, it is the Haitian government’s responsibility to build its nation.

August 01, 2014

thenassauguardian

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-Bahamians and Bahamian Citizenship

Haitian-Bahamians Want Citizenship

The Bahama Journal




Three young Haitian-Bahamians stood before the Constitutional Commission this past Friday making recommendations specifically surrounding children born to Haitian parents receiving citizenship.

The trio, representatives from Univision, a civic organisation geared at spreading equality amongst cultures, presented the challenges that face children born to Haitian parents in The Bahamas.

President and Founder of Univision Lovy Jean said the Bahamian Constitution has no security for those children who for 18 years have no nationality.

“As stipulated in the Constitution, the group of young people born to foreign parents in The Bahamas is not afforded the right of automatic citizenship. Therefore a formal application must be made to the Department of Immigration for that person to become a citizen. That process is normally two to six years. If you’re lucky during a General Election you’d get it right away,” he said.

“You’re in this internal conflict because you don’t know where you belong. You can’t go to school, you can’t get a scholarship because you simply don’t have a nationality. In the schools down here, you’re not a Bahamian, your parents are Haitians. But back home in Haiti, you’re not Haitian; you were born in The Bahamas. So imagine what that must be like for someone to go through that for 18 years and more until they gain citizenship.”

Mr. Jean recalled the scholarship opportunities he had to pass up on all because he did not have a passport, Haitian nor Bahamian.

Mr. Jean’s sister, Janette Jean, is the co-founder of Univision and says she believes that it’s time The Bahamas begins to benefit from the investment it makes in the thousands of children it educates and provides free healthcare for.

“The Bahamas for the past years has been investing in its people, all because they want to see a better future. The Bahamas invests in both Bahamians and foreigners. The Bahamas invested in me, and they do it for a return. Sadly, because of the present laws and policies that we have currently in place, it is difficult for The Bahamas to gain the returns that they should in the foreigners that they invest in,” she said.

Undoubtedly the portion of their presentation that came as a surprise to the Commission was the group’s recommendation of setting a date, before which every child born in The Bahamas to foreign parents would become a Bahamian citizenship, and after which every child born in The Bahamas to illegal parents would be subject for deportation.

The group acknowledged that this method would not sit well with their fellow Haitians, but Ms. Jean believes that this would be the ideal way of addressing the illegal immigration problem in The Bahamas.

“We have an illegal immigrant problem. I consider The Bahamas my home and I want to protect it. This is a decision we have to make and the line must be drawn somewhere. You must be fair to both sides,” she said.

Their recommendation also included children born to parents outside The Bahamas, saying that the parents should be able to decide which nationality the child should be given as well as they recommended that spouses of Bahamian citizens of any gender be given the opportunity to apply for Bahamian citizenship regardless of their gender.

Department of Statistics’ 2010 census shows that there are 39,144 Haitians living in The Bahamas.

However, these figures do not include the undocumented or illegal immigrants.

18 March, 2013

Jones Bahamas

Caribbean Blog International 

No number of raids or repatriations will solve The Bahamas' immigration problem

The Bahamas and Haiti: Forty years of missed opportunities
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net



When the African world needed a sign that its certain fate would not be decided by the interests of slave masters and colonial rulers, it was a group of disparate Africans on the island of Hispaniola, with the backing of their ancestors and the divine spirits, who rose to the occasion.

Empowered by a collective will they planted the seed in the African consciousness that we are more than they say we are; we deserve more than what they want for us.

Two hundred years later, Haiti that gave us hope, faces a seemingly hopeless fate. All we see of its people is that of their apparent worst side.

The eyes of the world take an interest only when the story line is of strife and scandal; when the images fit the narrative of poor, desolate, pagan and black.

In the minds of most Bahamians, the light that is Haiti has faded: obscured by fatigue, resentment, tough love, scarcity, indifference, misinformation and prejudice.

The light has also faded in the minds of many Haitians: obscured by exhaustion, hunger, insecurity, anger, self-hate.

Experience tells us that in our weakest times as human beings, it often takes a light, whether shone by an external source or a spark in our own spirits, to help us overcome.

In an Avatarish way that light speaks to us and says: "I see you." In an African way that light says, harambe, "the community needs you." In the language of psychotherapy, the light says, "tap into the greatness that lies within and live it." And in the language of our queen mothers it says, "I love you."

The call to Africans across the globe is to inform/educate yourself; elevate your consciousness about Haiti so our people and the entire world knows, Haiti is more and Haiti deserves more.

It is more than what the international media depicts. It is more than the actions of its political electorate. It is more than the folly that befalls it. It is more than what our eyes see.

As African people we need to care enough to demand that Haiti fulfil its revolutionary promise of being the beacon of light.

In this season of suffering, Haiti needs not our pity nor our charity, it needs our great expectations, and with our collective consciousness, we will call out its greatness.

Haiti has much work to do, but I wonder if we as African people will start to play our part. Certainly, in the history of our relationship with Haiti, the Bahamas has missed countless opportunities, largely because of our singular focus on immigration.

If we date the start of diplomatic relations to 1971, when the Bahamas signed the first of three bilateral treaties, then we can claim the 40-year prize of missed opportunities in building a meaningful relationship.

With newly acquired rights to self governance, and a dispatch from the UK Foreign Common Law Office giving it limited authority to conduct external affairs, the Bahamas government negotiated its first bilateral agreement in 1971. Haiti was the foreign partner.

Whatever promise this sign may have represented was short lived because the 1971 agreement was "never really actualised," according to Joshua Sears, director general, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

And it was the only agreement that envisaged a broad range of relationships, including commercial trade and technical cooperation, education exchanges and cultural linkages. The central issue of subsequent agreements - 1985 and 1995 - was immigration.

Although Haitians have been migrating to the Bahamas for centuries, the Haitian immigration "problem" only dates back to the 1950s.

The Department of Immigration was formed as a statutory body from 1939, but for all its efforts over 60 plus years, the solution to the "immigration problem" still evades the government.

This is not withstanding the notoriously draconian efforts of Minister of Immigration Loftus Roker to round up "illegals."

One day, hopefully, Bahamians will wake up and realise, as sure as a man cannot cheat death, no number of raids or repatriations will solve the "immigration problem."

Neither the Department of Immigration, the Defence Force nor the entire might of the state has the power to ease the desire of desperate-minded people seeking a better life.

And we have no friend in the Haitian government, where that is concerned. In a country of 10 million, with a Diaspora probably twice that size, the hundreds of people who migrate to the Bahamas, whether legally or illegally, is not a problem on the minds of most.

For centuries, migration has been the answer to populations seeking a better life, said Leonard Archer, former CARICOM Ambassador. This is the story of Europe, Asia, Africa, everywhere in the world. When people experience scarcity, drought, famine, hardship, persecution in one area they move to another.

"If you interview the Haitian people who are coming, a number of them have been deported two, three, four times. People are desperate. The reality is desperate people will always move and we can't afford to put a wall around the country," said Mr Archer.

"We have been deporting people to Haiti since the 1970s. Has it helped? Has it worked?" he asked.

We are banging our heads on the wall with our hysteria over the so-called illegals. History has shown us, we are inextricably linked to Haiti. Today is no different. Waves of immigration are seen anytime public confidence wanes, during economic crises, at the mere threat of political instability, and at times of natural disaster, of which Haiti is no stranger.

Short of Haiti being restored as the pride of the world, the migration is not going to stop. Not that the Bahamas should ignore its national interests, but all that banging is just giving us a headache.


January 31, 2011

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Those who achieve in The Bahamas cannot be held back for the non-achievers, regardless of nationality

Those who qualify can't be held back
tribune242 editorial:


THE public acknowledgment that Haitian students are outdistancing Bahamians is rather late. It is a reality that has been known by teachers for some time. We have often heard Bahamian parents grumble that their children were being pushed into second place by "them Haitians."

However, what is astonishing is the negative reaction of some Bahamian parents to this fact. Instead of encouraging their children, especially their boys to pull up their sagging pants - a sign of their shiftless indolence -- and study harder, they want Haitian children to be held back.

Samuel Johnson, a member of Centreville Primary school board, expressing his concern at a workshop for public school administrators and board members last week, spoke for many parents when he worried that all of the "benefits, awards, and certificates" go to Haitian children, while Bahamian children walk away empty-handed.

Instead of accepting this as a challenge to motivate young Bahamians to excel, he felt government should look at a system whereby "non-bona fide" Bahamians have to make a contribution to the cost of their education.

In dismissing such a suggestion Education Minister Desmond Bannister quite rightly pointed out that "any country that discriminates against children labels itself as a barbaric society." He pointed out that the Bahamas, as a signatory to the United Nations convention, had an obligation to ensure that all children were educated.

Instead of Mr Johnson recommending that Haitian children be made pay for their education, he should try to discover why they get all the awards, and Bahamians walk away empty handed. The truth would probably shame him as a Bahamian.

The American declaration of human rights holds that "all men are created equal", which does not mean identical but rather an acknowledgment that all have different strengths and weaknesses that can be developed in a society that offers them equal opportunities to achieve. In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared that "all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights."

In other words society has an obligation to provide an opportunity for them to embrace those rights, one of which is a good education. Those who seize the opportunity will move forward, and those who don't will remain static or fall back.

Those who achieve cannot be held back for the non-achievers, regardless of nationality. And if Haitians excel in the classroom, then it is obvious that they will be qualified for the top jobs. There is no point in Bahamians sitting under the dilly tree complaining that the Haitians are taking over the country.

Of course, they will take over the country if they are qualified and Bahamians are too indifferent to meet the challenge.

When an employer is looking for staff, he is not looking for nationality, all he wants is the best qualified person for the position he offers. And unless Bahamian parents get behind their children and encourage them to work harder at their studies, the best qualified persons in the next generation could well be Haitians.

We have told this story before, but it bears telling again. We know of a young Haitian girl, among the first graduates of Doris A Johnson school when it opened. She was among the top five in her class, and, yes, did walk away with most of the awards. Years later so did her younger sister.

Both of their parents are Haitian, the father on a work permit, the mother, a residence permit. Both children were brought here when they were very young and have no recollection of Haiti.

When the first girl graduated, her one ambition was to be a doctor, however, she had to find a job to raise the funds to follow her dreams. She got a job in a downtown business. No questions were asked about her nationality -- she spoke perfect English, and her written English was far superior to most Bahamians. But one day there was an Immigration sweep and she was taken in. She had no work permit. She was sent to the Detention Centre to be deported to Haiti -- a land she did not know and where she had neither relative nor friend. Some of her teachers and others heard of her plight, and petitioned for her release. She was released, returned to her parents where she remained with no work permit, and no opportunity to pursue her dream.

Next week she will marry a young Bahamian, who works in Miami. Maybe there -- in the land of the free and the home of the brave -- she can qualify as a doctor and return to Nassau with her Bahamian husband to minister to some of these complaining Bahamians who did not have the initiative -- or the urging of their parents -- to make the grade.

tribune242 editorial

Bahamas Blog International

22 Cuban men detained at Her Majesty’s Prison in Fox Hill who were allegedly involved in the uprising at Carmichael Road Detention Centre, and other Cuban nationals who entered The Bahamas illegally - to be repatriated

The Bahamas government officials have decided that it would be best to just repatriate the Cuban immigrants allegedly involved in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre uprising - than to charge them with a crime

After the riot, Cuban Consul General to The Bahamas Felix Wilson told The Bahama Journal that the “criminal” act carried out by some Cubans must be condemned

Cubans Being Sent Home

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

14th March, 2005

Government officials are preparing to repatriate early this week a group of nearly 30 Cuban nationals who entered The Bahamas illegally.

The arrangements are being made through the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Immigration in conjunction with the Cuban Consulate office in The Bahamas.

Among those set to be repatriated are the 22 Cuban men being detained at Her Majesty’s Prison in Fox Hill, who were allegedly involved in the uprising at the Detention Centre on Carmichael Road last December.

Instead of pushing for charges in the matter, government officials have decided that it would be best to just repatriate the immigrants.

The Bahama Journal reported last week that there is reportedly concern that charging the Cubans with a crime would result in serious backlash from the Cuban-American community in Miami.

But some people believe repatriating them could also have the same effect.

 A source close to the decision also said that it would be cheaper to send the Cubans home rather than spend money caring for them in prison.

Under the treaty The Bahamas has with Cuba, Cubans found in Bahamian territory must be repatriated.  But a key international convention requires The Bahamas to first determine whether immigrants qualify for political refugee status.  If that were the case, they would be granted asylum.

Authorities have noted that the reason why Haitians are often repatriated faster than Cubans is due to the fact that while they (Haitians) may be economic refugees, they are seldom-political refugees.

The Cubans believed to be responsible for the Detention Centre uprising were sent to the prison immediately after the incident and government officials had promised to keep them at the facility for “safekeeping” until their removal to their place of origin.

Immigration authorities had said that, “The government remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations and will make every effort to repatriate all individuals at the Detention Centre as soon as possible, once those obligations are completed.”

Minister of Immigration Vincent Peet told The Bahama Journal on Sunday that in all, 29 Cubans will be repatriated on Tuesday.

“The government believes it is in the best interest of all parties involved and it will save Bahamian taxpayers the expense of keeping the Cubans in jail,” he said.

Among those expected to be sent back to the Communist island is Francisco Napoles Valdez, the illegal Cuban immigrant who had escaped from the Detention Centre immediately after the riot and was soon recaptured.

After the riot, Cuban Consul General to The Bahamas Felix Wilson told The Bahama Journal that the “criminal” act carried out by some Cubans must be condemned.

He had also expressed hopes that the illegal Cuban immigrants who started the fire and led the attack at the centre be repatriated as soon as possible; adding at the time that a clear message must be sent that resorting to crime is not the answer to frustrations that some illegal immigrants may feel.

In the days following the uprising, the cries from the Cuban-American group, Vigilia Mambisa, faded and authorities are hoping it remains that way.

The uprising had placed the spotlight on alleged human rights abuses at the Detention Centre, which government officials were forced to deny.  Repeated claims eventually led to authorities appointing former prison superintendent Edwin Culmer as director of the facility.

Since the uprising, the Cubans being detained at the prison have also made it to the front pages of the Miami Herald, making claims of abuse.

It put authorities here on the defensive again.  Former Minister of Immigration and now leader of the Free National Movement Senator Tommy Turnquest said as far as he’s concerned, government officials are following proper procedure by adhering to the treaty the country has with Cuba.

But he also said any illegal immigrant who may have broken the law here should “face the music.”

He added, however, that part of their sentence could very well be that they are repatriated.

“If they broke laws in The Bahamas they ought to be subject to Bahamian laws,” Mr. Turnquest said.  “They ought to be tried, but over and above that I don’t know that there is anything other than what they’re doing that the government could have done.  It’s not easy, but governance is not easy.” 

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 3

The Bahamas Haitian Situation ‐ Part 3

By Apostle Cedric Moss
March 25, 2004

It is sad to watch people work feverishly to try to prevent something they are not aware has already happened.  They slam the gate shut, put a lock on it, and wipe their sweaty brow, ignorant to the fact that the horse has already stampeded out.  As I listen to Bahamians generally express the ways they do not want Haitians to 'take over' The Bahamas, I am amazed that they do not realize that much of what they do not want has happened and will continue to happen.  And it's too late to change it.

Get Used To It

Several months back, I followed a long discussion on the Haitian situation on the local discussion website, www.bahamasissues.com.  The title was, 'Not the Haitian Flag'.  The thread was started with the following comments: "I don't know about you, but I have a problem with the amount of Haitian flags I see popping up on cars.  In the midst of my celebrating my independence, while I am proudly displaying my flag, the Haitians are displaying theirs.  What is that all about?  It is an insult to me.  If they are proud of their country then they should go home and put up their flag. How dare you come in my land and put up your flag.  Wake up my people.  This is a serious time; this may seem like a small thing but is only the beginning.  Today it is the flag, tomorrow it will be streets named after them, they will be running for public office soon, and then in the very near future peas and rice, and names like Cox and Bain will be replaced by Haitian names and dishes.  They have already started to open businesses and guess whom they employ?  This up and coming generation is in for the fight of their lives; we must fight to keep this land for our children.  THIS LAND IS MY LAND.  Sail away my friends."

Perhaps the most obvious point that was missed by the person who offered those comments is that many of the persons donning Haitian flags on their vehicles are Bahamians with Haitian parentage or affinity.  In addition, this land is no longer just 'our' land since many Bahamian-Haitians own land too.  And they will not sail away ‐ they are here to stay with their expressions of Haitian patriotism.  So we must get used to it.

Managed Assimilation

Even if every Haitian living illegally in The Bahamas decided to go back to Haiti, we would still have tens of thousands of Haitians and Bahamians of Haitian descent living here.  Either way, we have a sub-culture within a culture.  What are we going to do?  Continue to ignore them?  While this might have been acceptable many years ago when Haitian communities were allowed to exist in The Bahamas because they were not looked upon as being permanent, to continue to respond in this way, in my opinion, is a threat to our national security.  Prejudices already run deep, primarily Bahamians against Haitians.  There is also resentment on both sides for different reasons.  In my view, we have all the essential ingredients for our own 'ethnic' time bomb.  How do we diffuse it?  I trust that we do not attempt massive rounding up and repatriation because these acts could very well detonate it.  Instead, I believe an intentional process of managed assimilation will effectively diffuse it.

One People, Two Cultures

The goal of a managed assimilation process for regularized Haitians and Bahamians of Haitian parentage should not be to create one culture.  Instead, it should be to create one people while recognizing two cultures.  No doubt some will object to such a process.  However, since there is nothing we can legally do about a significant number of the Haitians and Bahamian-Haitians living here, we would be better off trying to forge one people with two cultures than allowing two people and two cultures.  If we continue to allow two people with two cultures living in hostility in one land, we will become the Caribbean version of the Jews and Palestinians.  I pray we do otherwise. 

Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Commentary and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org.

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 1>>>

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 2>>>

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 2

The Bahamas Haitian Situation ‐ Part 2

By Apostle Cedric Moss
March 18, 2004

Was Aristide forced out?  Many are discussing this question locally and abroad and choosing which account they believe, Aristide's or The United States of America's.  In my view, beyond the need to give it some consideration at the diplomatic level, whichever account is right, it makes little difference for The Bahamas.  The situation of tens of thousands of illegal Haitian immigrants in our country still represents one of our biggest national challenges and the academic discussion about Mr. Aristide only distracts us from focusing on much needed proactive solutions.

The Proposed Agreement

For the past 10 years, efforts have been made by The Bahamas' government to enter into an agreement with the Haitian government to cover mass repatriation of Haitians residing in The Bahamas.  To date, the agreement is still not signed and with the current unstable climate in Haiti, it is not likely to be signed any time soon.  However, even if we could sign the agreement today, what would it really accomplish?

As I understand it, this agreement was initially negotiated around 1994.  The intention was to seek to regularize Haitians who have resided in The Bahamas prior to 1985 and to repatriate those who arrived illegally after that date.  Had the agreement been signed and implemented around the time it was initially negotiated, tens of thousands of Haitians who had illegally resided in The Bahamas for periods of one to ten years would have been repatriated.  Among them would have been thousands of children born to Haitian parents, even though such children have the right to apply for Bahamian citizenship at age 18.

Considering that 1985 is still the threshold year for the agreement waiting to be executed, Haitians who have illegally resided in The Bahamas for as long as 19 years could potentially be repatriated.  While we as a country have the legal right to repatriate them, even without a signed agreement, would it be the humane thing to do after allowing them to remain for so many years?  How would we manage the future fallout that would come from the generations of Bahamians born to Haitian parents who were subjected to this traumatic experience?

Alternative Solutions

Am I proposing that we officially absorb the unknown tens of thousands of illegal Haitian immigrants currently residing in The Bahamas as opposed to repatriating them?  No, I'm not proposing that at all.  However, I am saying that we need to consider alternative solutions, because we know full well that repatriation is only a temporary solution, and a costly one at that.

While I believe successive governments of The Bahamas have sought international assistance to deal with the problem of illegal immigration from Haiti, it's my view that we need to redouble our efforts in this direction.  Somehow, we need to involve The United States, Canada, France and The United Nations in order to seek both short and long term solutions to the problems in Haiti and the illegal immigration situation we face as a result.  The reality is that unless Haiti stabilizes and attracts investment to create jobs, Haitians will continue to leave in search of a better way of life and The Bahamas is their logical first destination.

Here to Stay

For many Haitians, they are far beyond making that desperate seas voyage from Haiti to The Bahamas; they are already here.  And they are here to stay.  Some came prior to 1985 and much later.  While they were enduring exploitation by far too many of us, they seemed to have followed the advice Prophet Jeremiah gave to the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters.  Increase in number there; do not decrease". (Jeremiah 29:5-6, NIV).  The Haitians also followed another one: Educate your children.  All of these they have done, so uprooting and deporting them today is not near as easy as it was 25 years ago.

Preview of Next Week

Since Haitians are here to stay in large numbers, how can we manage their assimilation for the overall good of The Bahamas?  Join me next week when I conclude my commentary and answer this question.

Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Commentary and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 1>>>

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 3>>> 

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 1

The Bahamas Haitian Situation ‐ Part 1

By Apostle Cedric Moss
March 4, 2004

For several months I have been contemplating offering my thoughts on the Haitian situation in our country.  Prompted by the climatic events in Haiti this past week that resulted in President Jean Bertrand Aristide's resignation, I today I begin in earnest part one of a three part series.

More than talk

As I followed local news coverage of the events unfolding in Haiti, I was particularly moved by Dr. Eugene Newry's request for prayer for the strife-torn nation of Haiti.  Although Dr. Newry is the Bahamian Ambassador to Haiti, he seems to recognize that beyond diplomatic talk, the real need of the Haitian people is for divine intervention through prayer to Almighty God.  I agree with him.  Therefore, we who are followers of Christ should take heart that while governments talk and exercise human diplomacy; we can exercise divine diplomacy in prayer.

Balancing Two Concerns

For reasons that are obvious, a major concern in The Bahamas about the chaos in Haiti is that thousands of Haitians will come here with the hope of finding good fortune and a better life.  However, we must have an additional concern.  We must also be concerned about the plight of our brothers and sisters in Haiti, not just the effect that the situation there can potentially have on us.

I know it is easy to misunderstand my point so I will restate it: I am not saying that we must not be concerned about the potential additional strain that further amounts of Haitian immigrants will have on public services in our small country.  We obviously must be concerned because our resources are limited.  However, if our concern stops at the point of ourselves and does not take into account the grim circumstances faced by our Haitian brothers and sisters, we would be selfish.  So we must balance these two concerns.

A Major Challenge

The reality is that even if there was a way to prevent further illegal immigration from Haiti to The Bahamas, the existing number of Haitians already here (speculated by some to be as high as 60,000) presents us with one of the most significant national challenges we face.  This challenge cannot be wished away or talked away.  It is here and our best option is to try to deal with it proactively.

As I listen to some Bahamians propose solutions to the problem of Haitians residing illegally in The Bahamas it is becoming clearer to me that many of them do not realize how serious and far gone the problem is.  Therefore, their solutions are no real solution.  In addition, some of the so-called solutions are illegal and/or inhumane.

Our Day of Reckoning

In my view, although it is the lot of the present government to deal with the Haitian situation, successive governments of The Bahamas have to take collective responsibility for the state of affairs.  While it would be naive to minimize the task of effectively combating the problem of illegal immigration of Haitians to The Bahamas, I believe much more could have been done.  By this I do not mean more rounding up and repatriations since this strategy by itself is no real solution.

In addition to successive governments falling short, we are Bahamians in general must take responsibility.  Many among us took and still take economic advantage of our Haitian brothers and sisters and exploit them economically as modern day indentured servants, thereby contributing to the situation we now face.  The tragedy is that now many of these same exploiters are speaking the loudest and shouting, "Send them home!"  But it's a bit too late.  Our day of reckoning has come. 

Preview of Next Week

Now that the government in Haiti is in further limbo, the prospects of our government getting the much talked about treaty that covers repatriation, among other things, signed any time soon is not that great.  But what if they did get the treaty signed immediately?  What would it produce?  Join me next week when I will analyze the much talked about treaty and at the same time answer these questions.

Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre.  Comments and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 2>>>

The Haitian Situation in The Bahamas - Part 3>>>

Bahamas-Haiti Relations Cordial

Bahamian-Haitian Relation's Cordial

 

By Gladstone Thurston

Bahamas Information Services

BahamaSeaWeed@groups.msn.com

01/February/2004

 

 

Kingston, Jamaica - Relations between the Bahamas and Haiti remains very cordial, Ambassador Dr Eugene Neury said.

 

He insisted there were no anti-Bahamas or Caricom demonstration outside the Bahamas' embassy following last week's meeting with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti.

 

Dr Neury also denied reports that Haitians were unhappy that the Bahamas and Caricom were "interfering" in their internal political affairs.

 

"On the contrary", said Dr Neury, "the average Haitian is happy that people care enough for them to (mediate a settlement to the political impasse that has threatened to send Haiti into civil war)."

 

Dr Neury was a member of Prime Minister Perry Christie's delegation to the third in a series of talks aimed at saving the fledgling Haitian democracy.

 

Also from the Bahamas were Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Education Minister and Attorney General Alfred Sears, Ministry of Foreign Affairs undersecretary Carlton Wright.

 

Five Caricom prime ministers, and representatives from the United States, Canada, the OAS, the European Commission, and the European Presidency hammered out a series of political reforms with President Aristide during their meeting at Jamaica House in Kingston on Saturday.

 

Dr Neury said Haitians "love the fact that people are paying attention to try to help them get out of this predicament. They feel that this is what neighbours do. A friend in need is a friend indeed."

 

Following the third meeting - the first in Nassau and the second in Haiti ¯ "there are good reasons to look with optimism to the future", said Dr Neury.

 

"If the president can achieve the things that he has committed himself to then I think the whole region, especially the Bahamas, will benefit."

 

Haitians admire the Bahamas as a successful neighbour "very much", he said

 

"The average Haitian does not want to come to the Bahamas", Dr Neury added.  "That's a Bahamian perception. However, the Haitians would like for their country to be like the Bahamas in terms of the economic success.

 

"Most Haitians in Haiti have a very serious perception of the integration of their brothers and sisters in the Bahamas.  The presence of Haitians in the Bahamas has economically helped the Haitian population back home.

 

"It is very much like when the people in the days of the project in the United States sent money back home to the Bahamas. Haitians send back literally hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars from the Bahamas to Haiti every year.

 

"But that's earned money. It isn't as though they went there and took the money. So Haitians admire the Bahamas. It is wrong to think it any other way."

 

Dr Neury described Bahamians as "a very accommodating people.  In percentage terms, the Bahamas probably more than any other country in the world has successfully integrated thousands of Haitians and their families without any bloodshed and without any violence."

 

Dr Neury said the gathering of thousands of Haitians on the park opposite the Bahamas' embassy in Haiti had nothing to do with any ill-will towards either the Bahamas or Caricom as was earlier reported.

 

"There was no confrontation", he insisted. "I was at the embassy."

 

He denied that his vehicle was jostled by the angry crowd.

 

"My car never stopped for one moment and in fact the leaders from the opposition groups opened the way for my car", said Dr Neury. "There was some misinterpretation of what people were seeing.

 

"It is insulting to suggest that the people from the opposition were not aware that the Bahamas' embassy including its gate is a foreign country and that to attack a foreign embassy is to attack the country which that embassy represents."

 

Except for Haiti, no other country stands to benefit more from these negotiations than the Bahamas.  After three meeting Dr Neury was asked for a prognosis.

 

"This is the first time that any international group has been able, on such a sustained even short period of time, to achieve what has been achieved in the last two weeks, and the whole international community benefits from this."

 

But, unless the opposition in Haiti accepts the reforms including the release of political prisoners and police protection for opposition demonstrations, and compromise on its insistence that President Aristide steps down, then there will be no movement.

 

"You have to understand the Haitian mentality of bargaining", said Dr Neury.  "Haitians are masters at bargaining."