The Bahamas and the illegal immigration debate: ...as a matter of urgency, The Bahamian government must ascertain the number of undocumented immigrants that exist in The Islands...

The immigration fiasco pt. 1

By Arinthia S. Komolafe

Many Bahamians were offended and outraged by the remarks made by President Michel Martelly of the Republic of Haiti during his recent visit to The Bahamas.  During his time here, Martelly paid courtesy calls on the governor general, the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and individuals of Haitian heritage, albeit not in that order.

Martelly’s visit came as a shock to the majority of Bahamians who had been unaware of his impending visit to The Bahamas.  Our prime minister indicated during a press conference held on February 11, 2012, four days after Martelly’s initial arrival that The Bahamas government had not invited Martelly, but rather he had been notified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday February 4, 2012, a non-working day, that Martelly intended to stop in The Bahamas en route to Mexico.  It was later confirmed that very day that Martelly would remain a day and a night in The Bahamas.  In fact, the president arrived in The Bahamas on the evening of February 7 and departed on February 8, 2012.

It seems fair to say that The Bahamas government erred by not officially informing the Bahamian people that Martelly would make an official visit to The Bahamas.  The president had left Haiti to visit Venezuela and Panama where he was expected to remain two days each in both countries from February 3 to February 7.  Martelly traveled to Venezuela to attend the 11th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) and to Panama to discuss matters pertaining to Haitians living in Panama and the delivery of visas to Haitians by the Panamanian government.  It is reported that on short notice, Martelly decided to extend his travels to include the countries of The Bahamas and Curacao.

It is reported that the Haitian government issued a statement through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing the Haitian people of Martelly’s adjusted itinerary.  The question remains that if in fact our government had been aware of Martelly’s visit from Saturday February 4, why wasn’t the Bahamian public notified?  It is apparent that thousands of individuals of Haitian descent in The Bahamas had been duly informed as evidenced by the attendance at the Church of God’s auditorium.

During Martelly’s recent visit to Curacao, he was greeted at the airport by the prime minister of Curacao, Gerrit Schotte, and other dignitaries.  Subsequently the Haitian diplomatic envoy and Curacao dignitaries attended a meeting with persons of Haitian origin on the specific request of Martelly.  It is worth noting that nationals of Curacao were also present at the aforementioned gathering.  The national anthems of both countries were sung and Martelly made remarks in English when addressing the people of Curacao and in Creole when addressing the people of Haitian descent.  The actions of the Curacao government evidence an intention to unify relations between both countries as opposed to divide.  In light of the events that unfolded this week, it can be argued that the actions of The Bahamas government speak otherwise.  Bahamians would have been equally interested to hear the remarks of Martelly.

The normal course of protocol for an official visit from a head of state would have been to receive a formal written request from the Haitian Embassy in The Bahamas addressed to the chief of protocol suggesting dates for the visit, names of individuals with whom the head of state would like to meet and the purpose of the visit (i.e., the specific topics to be discussed).

The protocol department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) would have determined availability and arranged the official itinerary of Martelly.  As mentioned, the details of President Martelly’s visit were confirmed on Saturday, February 4, 2012.  Martelly arrived in The Bahamas on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.  The Bahamas MOFA had the entire working days of the 6th and 7th to inform the Bahamian people of Martelly’s visit and his proposed itinerary, just as the Haitian MOFA did in Haiti.  Protocol and diplomacy appear to have escaped The Bahamas government on this matter which appears to have conducted protocol in reverse.

The reaction

The overwhelming consensus among Bahamians is that our prime minister’s response to the matter was unacceptable to say the least.  What is clear is that our prime minister appears to be out of touch with the concerns of his people.  Moreover, the silence of most members of Parliament on this issue leaves little to be desired in the face of the public discussion that has taken place on this matter.

The recent visit has sparked the age old conversation on illegal immigration in our country, particularly among Haitian nationals.  Haiti is a country that has been plagued by socio-economic and political instability.  The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United States of America have primarily carried the burden of housing Haitian nationals in search of political asylum or refugee status.  There is no doubt that CARICOM members would welcome trade opportunities with Haiti that will be mutually beneficial for our nations.  A healthy and prosperous Haiti is in the best interest of all; The Bahamas included.

Nevertheless, the matter of illegal immigration in our country must be addressed by the government.  It is wrong for Bahamians and parliamentarians to gloss over this issue of illegal immigration and allege that Bahamians are discriminative, racist and prejudiced in an attempt to silence Bahamians on this matter.  Bahamians are generally welcoming people and recognize the contributions that foreigners make to build this country.  However, this fact cannot be confused with the importance of enforcing Bahamian laws on illegal immigration.  It is worth noting that other countries such as Jamaica and Barbados are also faced with the same challenges.

Many CARICOM countries already find it difficult to meet budget requirements with their limited resources and constrained revenue sources.  Many have shared in the burdens of Haiti’s socio-economic and political instability through increased illegal immigration.  Many have also provided aid and assistance to the government of Haiti over the years.

The Haitian presence

In The Bahamas, there is a gray area that is expanding and will continue to have a vast impact upon our socio-economic position if we do not address the matter with expediency.  There are so-called ‘shantytowns’ existing all over New Providence and throughout the Family Islands that successive governments have failed to clean up.  Allegedly illegal immigrants of Haitian descent occupy Bahamian land free of charge, their children attend Bahamian public schools and they also utilize healthcare services.  Bahamian taxpayers’ funds make it possible for government-run entities to function.  In this sense, Bahamians believe they have every right to speak on the matter of illegal immigration and the effects it has upon Bahamian society.

Separate and apart from migrants that came here illegally, there are a group of dispossessed individuals who are aware of the fact that they have a constitutional right and are being overlooked.  These individuals were born in The Bahamas and in most cases educated here.  We must do our best to regularize such individuals.  As long as the constitution provides the means, the constitutional right of this group of individuals should be honored without delay.  What The Bahamas government must be careful not to do is to impose upon the Bahamian people the extreme liberal policy that Martelly is suggesting regarding our constitution in light of our very own economic position.  To grant individuals born in The Bahamas to non-Bahamians citizenship upon birth will most certainly open the floodgates for increased migration to The Bahamas.  Such a policy could negatively impact the preservation of the indigenous Bahamian population, who like the remainder of the Caribbean generally have a lower birth rate than Haitians.  For instance, The Bahamas has a population of approximately 350,000; Barbados, 280,000; Jamaica, 2.8 million; Dominica, 72,000 and Curacao, 142,000.  All of these countries, who together house a growing population of Haitians descendants, have not jointly accumulated the total population of Haiti, which is estimated to be 9.7 million.

More importantly and as a matter of urgency, The Bahamas government must ascertain the number of undocumented immigrants that exist in the country.  The Netherland Antilles launched an immigration amnesty program called the “Brooks Tower Accord” that provided for undocumented aliens in the Netherland Antilles to register themselves, receive temporary permits and therefore legalize their status.  The registration lasted for six weeks from November 3 – December 15, 2009.  The agreement covered three categories.  Immigrants who arrived before December 31, 2001 fell in Category I were able to apply for a permit on their own merit.  Immigrants who arrived between January 1, 2002 to January 1 2006, fell in Category II and required their employers to apply on their behalf.  Finally, immigrants who arrived after January 1, 2006 were not guaranteed regularization and would more than likely have to leave the country or be repatriated.  Whereas there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the illegal immigration problem, our leaders should explore programs of this nature in formulating a solution and a strategy to the way forward.

Bahamians must continue to discuss this matter in the attempt to move our leaders to make significant progress on illegal immigration.  We have elected successive governments to protect our borders, among other things, and they have been found wanting on the issue of illegal immigration. One thing is certain, we must continue to monitor the socio-economic and political position of Haiti to provide assistance where necessary.

 

•Arinthia S. Komolafe is an attorney-at-law.  Comments can be directed at: arinthia.komolafe@komolafelaw.com

Feb 16, 2012

The immigration fiasco pt. 2

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

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

Caribbean Blog International

...the job of Immigration is to protect The Bahamas from illegal immigrants... but... The schools, the churches and the hospitals are off limits to immigration officers... so... The Bahamas' Haitian problem continues

Schools, hospitals and churches off limits to Immigration

tribune242 editorial




THIS WEEK Belinda Wilson, president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, agreed that undocumented Haitian students should be removed from the Bahamas' school system.

While recognising that it was a delicate situation, that no child in the Bahamas can be denied an education, and that no roundup of Haitian students whose parents are illegally in this country, should be carried out on school property, Ms Wilson said teachers are willing to assist Immigration in identifying the students for their eventual removal. She was supporting an intention allegedly made by Immigration Director Jack Thompson in a speech to the New Providence Association of Public High School Principals' annual retreat. However, Mr Thompson denied a newspaper report - not a Tribune report - that quoted him as saying that the country has to "flush out" undocumented immigrants who are enrolled in the country's school system "absorbing our resources."

Mr Thompson denied any suggestion that the Immigration Department intends to target these children. He said he made it clear to the educators that education is a fundamental human right which every child is entitled to receive.

"Administrators were told," said Mr Thompson, "that students of foreign nationals attending schools should apply to the Department of Immigration for a residency permit or permit to reside." He said it was "emphasised that while students should not be denied the right of a basic education, records by the Department to Immigration are critical for future applications, or permanent residence or citizenship."

He agreed that the children's issue was a sensitive one and requires professionalism and discretion.

He said that his department, fully appreciating the sensitivity of the matter, always tries to make certain that its policies and actions are in "compliance with international law and acceptable national and international standards and practices."

This is a most difficult situation and unless handled extremely carefully can be turned into a human witch hunt. If vulnerable parents believe that they can be targeted through their school children, there will be a mass exodus from the schools, which then becomes a police problem as the children take to the bush.

The last problem will then be far greater than the first.

The situation of the children is not of easy solution. Many of these children have been born here of parents who have lived in the Bahamas for many years. No child born in the Bahamas after 1973 is automatically a Bahamian citizen. However, at the age of 18 that young person can apply for citizenship. No impediments being in the way, the grant of citizenship should be automatic.

However, a Haitian child born in the Bahamas, does have an impediment to block his automatic citizenship -- his parents are illegal residents. We don't know if over the years the Bahamas and Haitian governments have worked out another thorny problem. However, at one time Haiti did not recognise as Haitian citizens a child born in the Bahamas of Haitian parents. If this is still the position it means that the Bahamas will have many stateless children on its hands. This is indeed a major problem -- an international problem.

Many vocal Bahamians want Haitian children not only removed from the schools, but all undocumented residents -- mostly Haitians -- to be banned from the hospitals and clinics. This is a most shortsighted and dangerous position, and the fastest way to fan an epidemic that could affect us all.

Let these people fear seeking medical help for a disease that could be contagious, and rather than be arrested stay at home, they could infect their family, their neighbours, their community and eventually all of New Providence.

Doctors, for example, swear the Hippocratic Oath, which is one of the oldest binding documents in history. Its principles are still held sacred by doctors today. Doctors swear to treat the sick to the best of their ability, preserve the patient's privacy, teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, etc. And so doctors, in practising their profession are bound to keep information about their patients secret. They are also obliged to treat them regardless of who they are or from where they come.

Mr Thompson has made it clear that the job of Immigration is to protect the Bahamas from illegal immigrants, but he stresses that it is a task that must be carried out with sensitivity.

"We never send any immigration officers to the schools," said Mr Thompson. "The schools, the church and the hospitals are off limits."

This does not remove the Haitian problem, which has to be approached in another way.

July 07, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Caribbean Blog International

Every time an issue with Haitians comes up, it reminds us all how lackadaisical we've been over the years with finding a permanent solution to the illegal Haitian situation in The Bahamas

UN ASKS THE BAHAMAS TO HALT HAITIAN DEPORTATION FOR A WHILE

BY RICK LOWE



CONDITIONS reportedly remain so bad in Haiti that the UN asked several countries, The Bahamas included, if they would stop sending illegal Haitian immigrants back home for a while.

Apparently The Bahamas Government's position is to continue with repatriation efforts until further consultation with Haitian officials.

Every time an issue with Haitians comes up it reminds us all how lackadaisical we've been over the years with finding a permanent solution.

It seems impossible to prevent illegal landings with our limited resources. And our vast area of open water doesn't help. It's easy enough for interceptor vessels to pass sloops and other boats with loads of people looking for a better life entering our territorial waters without seeing each other out there.

So we have two problems. Illegal immigrants arriving on a daily basis and those many Haitians that have lived here, and in many instances, contributed to our country that have no status.

Now comes the hard part. How do we solve these issues?

It's very easy to say we'll stop the boats coming here. But how realistic is that? It seems we have to do a more effective and consistent job of "rounding the recent entrants up" and sending them back. And this is also easier said than done. The Immigration Department can circulate photos of their "raids" every day, but details of the entire process and its effectiveness is what's important. Not press releases.

With regard to those illegal Haitians who have been here for generations we must consider giving them status and property rights of some sort. And they do not have to have the right to vote initially.

We were fortunate to be born in a relatively rich country where opportunity is available for advancement as a general rule. At least the majority of our poor population still seem to live better than most of Haiti's population. So somehow, we have to get past the emotions of this subject, even if only for a short while to arrive at some useful positions to move this issue from the stalemate it has become.

So here are a few recommendations as thought starters:

Policing of illegal immigrants that are here must be improved.

Legalise the status of many of the Haitians who have been here for generations.

Provide property rights for the squatters and,

Figure out how to phase their status in so they can eventually become full citizens or leave voluntarily.

June 27, 2011

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

Perry Christie: Brent Symonette's utterances on his administration's immigration policy have been quite confusing

PLP CALLS FOR CONSISTENT IMMIGRATION POLICY
By CANDIA DAMES
Guardian News Editor
candia@nasguard.com



The time has long passed for the Ingraham administration to articulate a clear and consistent immigration policy, according to Opposition Leader Perry Christie.

Christie's comments came in an interview with The Nassau Guardian after Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, who has ministerial responsibility for immigration, said in a statement that apprehension exercises will resume September 1.

A day earlier, he had said there were no plans to restart apprehensions.

Christie said Symonette's utterances on his administration's immigration policy have been quite confusing.

"It seems to me that the deputy prime minister does not have a grasp of his portfolio, given the confusion that he is bringing about in the different statements that he is making as to the intention of the ministry(of immigration)with respect to illegal immigrants,"Christie said.

"It appears that he is now being directed by persons from outside of that ministry--either the Cabinet or some other force[perhaps]the prime minister--in terms of how he is looking in his pronouncements and there is a need to become more consistent in articulating the policy. And so that has resulted in a comical kind of development in one of the most pressing and urgent issues confronting the country."

Symonette faced similar controversy relating to his portfolio earlier this year when he contradicted Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's announced policies that undocumented Haitian migrants who came to The Bahamas after the January earthquake in Haiti would be charged before the courts with illegal landing.

Asked by The Nassau Guardian what would happen to a group of Haitian migrants who landed in The Bahamas not long after, Symonette said they would most likely be released.

Within hours they were taken to court and charged with illegal landing. The migrants were later repatriated.

Christie said there are various important reasons why a clear immigration policy must be outlined.

"It is very, very important that the country has articulated for it the policy of The Bahamas government with respect to the illegal immigration situation here in The Bahamas, especially at a time when we are discussing the proposed Baha Mar development, which contemplates thousands of work permits which already, I think, embraces the full understanding that immigrants are now a full part of the construction force in the country and that if we are going to in fact have the maximum benefit of a Baha Mar development, it has to take into consideration the government's policy as it is now working and as it will affect the construction industry,"he said.

"The Bahamas, faced with the level of unemployment, which is in itself related to the increasing crime, needs to have a clear, and coherent policy which we all can embrace and that is what we call upon the minister of immigration to do, to get it right with his colleagues and then come to the country and articulate a policy that makes sense to the country and one in which the community of immigrants who have become(legal)residents of our country can also themselves be a part of enforcing."

The Opposition leader recognized that successive administrations have been faced with the politics of immigration. He said immigration policies sometimes result in fear and concern and the loss of support among an increasing voting bloc--the Haitian community.

"This is a very difficult subject that at the best of times governments walk gingerly in dealing with issues relating to immigration, but it is an incredibly serious issue that will impact the future of our country and we need to have unanimity among the political directorate. There ought to be no division between the parties on what the policy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is,"Christie said."We need to be able to agree on an issue of that kind, to discuss it nationally and agree because it is an incredibly serious issue and one that is not going away. And the longer we take to be strong and bring our national will to bear on this problem it's going to continue to get worse, and we are going to rue the day that we delayed and procrastinated on having an immigration policy that can be strictly enforced with the concurrence of the population of our country."On August 16, Symonette issued a statement saying:"Persons who are found to be in The Bahamas illegally will be repatriated forthwith."

He said Thursday that in the interest of allowing illegal migrants who wished to leave immediately and voluntarily to do so, the government has allowed for a brief period of voluntary repatriation.

The current debate on illegal immigration was sparked by the change in immigration policy announced by the prime minister in the wake of the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince in January. But the immigration issue has long been a controversial one.

Under the Christie administration, then Blue Hills MP Leslie Miller had warned that the illegal immigration problem was a ticking time bomb.

8/28/2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Brent Symonette: Illegal immigrant apprehension exercises will resume September 1, 2010

Brent Symonette: Illegal immigrant apprehension exercises set to resume
tribune242



THE Department of Immigration will resume illegal immigrant apprehension exercises on September 1 after a grace period for voluntary repatriation ends, said Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Brent Symonette.

In a statement released recently, the minister aimed to clear up the "confusion" over his ministry's repatriation and apprehension policies while maintaining that he has always been consistent in his remarks on the issue.

"There appears to have been some confusion relative to comments I made in an interview with the media on August 25 as to the time frame for the resumption of apprehension exercises of illegal immigrants from the Republic of Haiti or any other country," said Mr Symonette, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister.

"On August 16, I issued a statement noting: 'Persons who are found to be in the Bahamas illegally will be repatriated forthwith'.

"In the interest of allowing illegal immigrants who wished to leave immediately and voluntarily to do so, the government has allowed for a brief period of voluntary repatriation. That period will end on August 31. Apprehension exercises will resume as of September 1, consistent with my statement of August 16 relative to the resumption of such exercises.

Mr Symonette said his August 16 statement reminded the public of the government's long-standing policy with respect to illegal entry into the Bahamas.

"Having regard to the recent heightened infringement of Bahamas immigration law, notice is hereby given that with immediate effect, all illegal immigrants are requested to leave the Bahamas voluntarily.

"All persons who are here illegally are in contravention of the laws of the Bahamas, and are advised to return to their country of origin or be subject to apprehension and deportation.

"I also wish to recall the humanitarian decision of the Bahamas in suspending for a short period both apprehension and repatriation exercises following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January of this year," said the August 16 statement.

Since a cataclysmic earthquake devastated Haiti's capital city, the Bahamas has resumed repatriation exercises for illegal immigrants from that country.

Over the past six months, 772 Haitian and 183 Jamaican nationals have been repatriated to the Republic of Haiti and Jamaica respectively.


tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Bishop Simeon Hall: Illegal immigrants would not be in The Bahamas in such high numbers without the "complicity of some corrupt persons in authority

Immigration appeal 'may become joke'
tribune242



THE government's appeal for all illegal immigrants to leave the country must be "substantive" or it will become a "joke", Bishop Simeon Hall warned yesterday.

Brent Symonette, acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently ordered all illegal immigrants residing in the Bahamas to voluntarily leave the country or face immediate deportation.

However, Bishop Hall, senior pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church, said the appeal must not only be given to Haitians and Jamaicans but also to Americans, Europeans and Chinese who he says have "corrupted the system by buying their stay here."

The bishop said: "All persons who compromise the immigration laws of the Bahamas must know that the majority of Bahamians are not prepared for them to have a free ride on the back of those who must work hard every day to build this country."

In the statement, Bishop Hall noted that "it is the government's responsibility to enforce all laws of the Bahamas, especially to protect our national sovereignty. Successive governments have promised during election time to deal with the overwhelming problem of illegal immigration in the country, yet it remains a vexing situation."

Bishop Hall also claimed that illegal immigrants would not be in the country in such high numbers without the "complicity of some corrupt persons in authority."

He added: "Illegal immigrants have corrupted many agencies in our Bahamas and this pronouncement by the Minister must have teeth or it becomes laughable."

August 21, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Haitian leaders appealed to their countrymen who are in The Bahamas illegally to comply with the Bahamian government's request to leave the Islands

HAITIAN LEADERS: TIME TO GO HOME
BY KEVA LIGHTBOURNE
Guardian Senior Reporter
kdl@nasguard.com:


Two Haitian leaders yesterday appealed to their countrymen who are in The Bahamas illegally to comply with the government's request to leave, however, they believe that a two-week grace period should have been implemented.

"I think it is too quick for the government to ask the people to leave immediately. They don't have any money so it is going to be hard for them to go back home. They need to get a special time like 14 to 21 days to remove themselves,"said President of the Haitian Bahamian Development Center Organization(HBDCO)Rodlin Joseph.

"I think it would be fair to give them time than to say leave now,"Joseph said.

His call for more time to be given to his countrymen came a day after the government issued an official warning to all illegal immigrants to leave the country immediately, or face immediate deportation. The warning came in response to the high influx of illegal immigrants, which climbed to more than 500 in recent weeks.

"Having regard to the recent heightened infringement of Bahamas immigration law, notice is hereby given that with immediate effect, all immigrants are requested to leave The Bahamas voluntarily,"said a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Immigration over the weekend.

"All persons who are here illegally are in contravention of the laws of The Bahamas,(and) are advised to return to their country of origin or be subject to apprehension and deportation,"the statement said.

However, in an interview yesterday Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette said the government is not saying that migrants cannot stay in The Bahamas, just that they must have the proper documentation or they must leave.

"I cannot go to the United States and decide to sit there for six, eight, ten years without a work permit or a residency permit, and then turn round and say it is too soon. Persons who are flaunting the law know full well that they are suppose to have a residency permit or a work permit to be here,"Symonette said.

He added that the ministry has been calling on undocumented Haitians to get their status regularized, and that those who failed to heed the call must go home.

HBDCO Chairman Hellanian Butler said up to now the government has been lenient.

"I think that the people had a chance, even if they wanted to have themselves documented properly, they had time to do it. And I am more than certain that they haven't done that, so it is time to go home,"he said.

Joseph has acknowledged that the government has done its part following the earthquake, and now it is time for those who are in the country illegally to voluntary leave before being forced to do so."We are asking all those Haitians and Jamaicans who are here illegally to please assist this government in this matter. I think it is the best way to do so then the government would not force you. If you go voluntary you won't have any problems with the government but if you wait until the government tries to get you,(you)will not be able to come back to this country," Joseph said.

"If you go by yourself you will always feel free to come back to the country as a tourist. It is very good what the government has done for those Haitians after the earthquake, but it is time now to go back home,"he explained.

When contacted yesterday, Haitian Ambassador Harold Louis opted not to comment on the matter.

The number of illegal migrants captured in Bahamian waters during the first two weeks of August climbed to more than 500, according to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force(RBDF). It represents the largest number of migrants captured in a two-week period so far for the year.

The latest apprehension reported by the RBDF took place at the Exuma Land and Sea Park, where 57 Haitian migrants were spotted aboard a wooden sloop in the area.

Following the January 12 earthquake, the government was understanding and responsive by temporarily suspending its apprehension exercises with respect to Haitians residing illegally in the country.

While officials cannot determine exactly how many illegal migrants have entered the country since the exercises were relaxed in January, Symonette said some 772 undocumented Haitians have been apprehended on the high seas or have landed on various Family Islands.

8/16/2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Bahamas Illegal Immigration Policy Shifts Once Again

By Krystel Rolle ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:



In an apparent shift once again in its illegal immigration policy, the government has repatriated a group of undocumented Haitians.

Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, who is also the minister of immigration, told The Nassau Guardian that the 86 Haitians, who were caught on Long Island last weekend, were returned to Haiti yesterday morning.

The immigrants were found by police wandering in the area of Stevens, Long Island on Saturday. The group, which included 77 men and nine women, were transported to New Providence.

"They are back in Haiti," Symonette confirmed.

Asked if the government has shifted its policy, Symonette declined to speak on the matter.

"That's all I want to say at the moment — that we have returned that group to Haiti," he said.

The repatriation exercise comes about two months after a group of 49 Haitian migrants who landed in New Providence in January was charged in court with illegal landing. The men were sent to prison for six months, and the women were sent to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, along with the children in the group, according to statement from the Department of Immigration.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham changed the policy so that Haitians could be charged and thereby detained for longer periods.

The policy shift came after a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince on January 12, destroying many buildings, killing hundreds of thousands of people and leaving millions more homeless.

Days after the earthquake, Ingraham also announced that Haitian immigrants who were held in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre prior to the disaster were being released and given temporary status. There were a little over 100 Haitian immigrants in the temporary holding facility at the time. Ingraham added that repatriation exercises would be postponed until further notice.

Former Minister of Immigration Vincent Peet told The Guardian yesterday that it is clear that the government has no clear policy.

"I think some Bahamians would be surprised and some would not be surprised that the immigration policy changes almost every week," Peet said.

"The repatriation today by the government clearly indicates a new policy which was not announced to the public. One has to wonder what those illegal immigrants who were detained at the Fox Hill prison and those who were set free are now thinking. The government must be consistent. We are all concerned about the plight of Haitians and Haiti is now gradually recovering. The question is are they at the stage where they can take these immigrants back and if that is the case, then when will the others be repatriated?"

Peet said the government is clearly unfocused as it has no coherent policy. He added that the constant shift is policy is probably confusing to Bahamians.

April 01, 2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International