FORMER Immigration Minister Brent Symonette.
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Immigration Minister Brent Symonette believes genetic tests should be required for people affected by a landmark citizenship ruling even if their father is identified on their birth certificate.
In May, the Privy Council ruled that children born to Bahamian men are automatically citizens regardless of their mother’s nationality.
Since then, the Davis administration has said such people with their Bahamian father on their birth certificate can get their passports. Those without their father on their certificate must have genetic testing done in a process the administration has yet to settle.
Mr Symonette said yesterday: “That doesn’t mean because I put my name on your birth certificate of your child that I’m the father. You might tell me I’m the father, but I might not be.”
“In other words, if the DNA testing has not been proven, did those people get passports on the basis that I said I’m the daddy?”
“So is the Passport Office doing due diligence or is it just certain people are getting passports while the government on the other hand for other people are dilly-dallying about what the DNA proof is?”
He said he believes “some DNA or other substantive tests” proving who is a person’s father should be required in every case.
He said when dealing with citizenship –– “one of the highest things in our country” –– extreme measures should be required to ensure someone is entitled to a passport.
“I don’t mean to be rude or cruel or whatever the right word is, but some girl could tell me I’m the father and I’m so happy I put my name on the birth certificate,” he said. “I know it’s happened. It’s happened many times in this country. I mean I’m no more of the father than, you know, the man in the moon.”
Mr Symonette said that two different standards are being created for people affected by the Privy Council’s ruling: “one, just because a man says he’s the father I get a passport and another one you require me to do a DNA test.”
“The two are diametrically opposed. They should get it right before they issue any passports and in light of the various things that have been happening at the ministry or Department of Immigration, I question whether some of those passports might not be properly issued.”
Comments
Sickened 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Imagine the thousands of conversations that Bahamian mothers are having now...
Child: Mummy, I need to get a DNA test from my daddy. Who is he?
Mummy: Ummm... go ask the fella across the road, but don't let his wife know.
2 days later...
Child: Mummy, the test came back negative. Was there anyone else?
Mummy: Ummm... go talk to the priest at that church we used to attend.
2 days later...
Child: Mummy, that test came back negative as well. Anyone else?
Mummy: Ummm... I remember my car was giving me trouble back then. Go ask the bush mechanic.
2 days later...
LastManStanding 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Not the governments problem that certain groups of people can't evolve past k selective breeding.
mandela 8 months, 2 weeks ago
DNA testing should be mandatory for all hospital births from the infant entering this earth. Mommy's baby, daddy's maybe.
killemwitdakno 8 months, 1 week ago
That's a harsh time to learn that the kid is not his
Some mothers get out of a relationship and save a kid from their dad by another claiming it.
JackArawak 8 months, 2 weeks ago
So he's saying that me listing my name on my child's birth certificate is "suspected fraud" in every single case? That's what I'm reading.
JokeyJack 8 months, 2 weeks ago
You know why we need it, because we dont want THEM to not need it.
killemwitdakno 8 months, 1 week ago
Look up the CNN interview when Peter Nygard told Howard K Stern that all he had to do is put his name on Anna Nicole child's birth cert in The Bahamas.
pablojay 8 months, 2 weeks ago
We must remember that Brent is talking from the standpoint of a foreign mother.
JokeyJack 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Haitians would be an exception, of course.
Sickened 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Obviously. Can't have Brave restricting his people from accessing our passports.
TalRussell 8 months, 2 weeks ago
.... The former deputy prime minister/ immigration minister Comrade Brent Symonette is saying: 'That there's much confusion.' ---- Cause doesn’t mean, just cause 'someone' decided to put a name on a birth certificate of a child that the daddy listed on the birth certificate is they 'sperm' Daddy. .... Even though others are talking about who is legally listed on a piece of paper --- 'for immigration purposes' -- they're Daddy. --- But just cause you're listed on some official certificate --- Isn't sufficient in itself to have played a 'real Daddy's supportive role in the precious early life of a child.--- 'Neither should DNA..--- Yes?
birdiestrachan 8 months, 2 weeks ago
There should be a DNA test ,
killemwitdakno 8 months, 1 week ago
Agreed. As well as DNA infants born in rape cases to catch the criminal.
Does passing apply to naturalized father's as well? Naturalized criminals might not be able to apply for their kids.
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