By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Consul General Ricardo Treco is refusing to discuss the current issues affecting immigration and human rights in the country with Daphne Campbell, the outspoken Florida State Representative, unless she withdraws her call for a boycott of the Bahamas.
Ms Campbell claimed the Bahamian diplomat has said in a letter he will not meet with her until she publicly withdraws her call for a boycott. She said they had been due to meet on Monday at the Bahamas Consulate Office in Miami and that she would continue to stand by her comments.
Ms Campbell, who has Haitian, Bahamian and Turks and Caicos roots, has been very vocal and critical about the new immigration policies that were implemented by the Department of Immigration on November 1.
Last night, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell said no meeting between the Consul General and Ms Campbell was scheduled. “She was told to apologise or no meeting would take place,” he said, adding she can go “fly a kite”.
According to a statement issued by Ms Campbell yesterday she was informed on November 7 by a fellow Representative that Mr Treco wanted to set up a meeting with her and that she had called and written a letter to the Consul General’s office.
Three days later, Ms Campbell held a press conference about the deportation of children of Haitian descendants born in the Bahamas. She and other former stateless Haitian descent constituents in her district believe that “it is wrong to penalise children for their parent’s birth place, and almost every Haitian in the Bahamas has a family member in the United States, particularly in Miami.”
Ms Campbell also protested against the “inhumane treatment and the need for justice for the innocents” outside the Bahamas Consulate General Office on November 14. Two days later further contact was made with Ms Campbell by her fellow Representative regarding a request for a meeting with Mr Treco. However, in a letter dated November 25, which was forwarded to Ms Campbell’s office, Mr Treco withdrew from the meeting he had initiated.
In his reply, Ms Campbell claimed Mr Treco made it seem like she had initially scheduled the meeting. Her statement said that he had claimed that Ms Campbell called for a boycott of the Bahamas without familiarising herself with the country’s new immigration policies.
“Representative Campbell and other human right advocates know that the immigration policies are a direct violation of the fundamental concept of the Constitution of the Bahamas because it violates Chapter 3, Article 17, which says “no person shall be subjected to torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment,” the statement read.
Regarding the earlier statements she had made Ms Campbell said she would continue to stand by them. “The issues that are going on in the Bahamas are bigger than race, culture, or national origin. There are human rights that are being violated and as long as that continues, I will not rest until I see justice,” her statement continued.
Ms Campbell listed a slew of questions she would have asked Mr Treco on Monday on the specicifcs of the new policies, the violation of human rights and allegations of mistreatment.
Ms Campbell also claimed that there has been a report to the US Department of States regarding relations with the Bahamas which states that the Bahamian detention centres failed to meet international standards and that “anti-Haitian prejudice and resentment regarding Haitian immigration was widespread”.
She reported that according to unofficial estimates, between 30,000 and 60,000 residents were Haitians or persons of Haitian descent, making them the largest ethnic minority in the Bahamas, many of whom lived in shanty towns with limited sewerage and garbage services, law enforcement or other infrastructure.
Ms Campbell claimed that she is fighting for the human rights of everyone in the Bahamas. “I would like for there to be an amiable and agreeable conclusion to all of this,” she said. “Everyone is entitled to be treated fairly and with respect.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 4 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
birdiestrachan 9 years, 4 months ago
MS .Campbell is not fighting for my human rights. she wants to boycott the Bahamas and take bread out of the mouths of Bahamians. Now what she should do if she thinks she has so much say in The USA is seek to have all of the illegal Haitians in Bahamas come to Florida. Illegal immigrants must take their children with them, Them and them alone are responsible for their children. They knew they were breaking the laws of the Bahamas. and no one can make wrong right. If she can bring all of the illegals to Florida. it will be a good mix with the Cubans. Troubled people from trouble lands. No peace ...Fox News and the Republicans . will deal with them.
concernedcitizen 9 years, 4 months ago
Wait until the US opens trade /tourism w/ that troubled land Cuba ,,back to grits ,grunts and gravey ,,Obama who i like already made it less difficult for Americans to travel there ,,You better thank those republicans for not letting American tourist go to Cuba Birdie
moncurcool 9 years, 4 months ago
The question she needs to ask is who created the shanty towns these people are living in. They came here illegally and created the place they live without sewage and garbage by disobeying the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. This women needs to go somewhere and get her head checked.
licks2 9 years, 4 months ago
I with fred Mitchell on this one. . .Tell THAT DUMB BROAD WHERE TA PUT SHE HEAD. . .CROSS WAY!!!
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
No need for any Bahamian official to go near this woman .......... she's radioactive!!!!!!!!!!
Clamshell 9 years, 4 months ago
I agree. This woman is a loud-mouthed, uneducated moron. She and her family are under criminal investigation and her own political party has disowned her. I'm no fan of the current Nassau government, but they are right on this one. This woman is so full of herself she is in danger of exploding. We owe her nothing. Just ignore her.
sansoucireader 9 years, 4 months ago
Was she elected? Saw her on the news out of Florida and seemed like she could hardly speak English!
Clamshell 9 years, 4 months ago
She is a state representative elected in a district that has a high concentration of ethnic Haitians and other first-generation ethnic minorities.
asiseeit 9 years, 4 months ago
This woman should worry about the human rights of persons in her own country, HAITI. You know the one she ran away from. Carry yinna hip home and deal with the cause of this whole mess! Mr. Treco needs to slap some sense in this biggity muppet.
sing 9 years, 4 months ago
Treco don't have the BALLS to meet with her and stop being a COWARD.
TalRussell 9 years, 4 months ago
Crown Minister Freddy, if this woman even holds one, needs yanks dat Bahamaland Passport right out Daphane's Haitian hands, if and when she ever lands anywhere on nation's soil. Then let Freeport's very own QC Fred, take government court get it back. Regladles, what nation's Passport she travels on, put her on "stop list."List as as an Enemy of the State.
.......///https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDd8u...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDd8u...
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
Anyone ever seen a Haitian flying a kite?
TalRussell 9 years, 4 months ago
Comrades tune-in now" live" to Guardians very on Kreyol Connection with Louby Georges. Talking how for too many years Bahamaland has become too accustomed to the quiet Haitian gardeners. That mindset is still in place.
www.guardiantalkradio.com
bismark 9 years, 4 months ago
she was given the treatment she deserved,get lost,Mr Minister I support you 1000%
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
Why is Louby Georges allowed to have a voice in our country? Obviously his allegiance is to Haiti and his Haitian people.
Do we really want Louby Georges and others like him able to vote for the Haitian agenda?
What happens to our country and future generations of indigenous Bahamians if the likes of Louby Georges, Daphne Campbell and Jetta Baptiste are allowed to vote, enter politics and make policies?
The Bahamas must adapt Bermudas laws on citizenship and voting rights of regularized individuals to protect our country for future generations of indigenous Bahamians.
http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizen...">http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizen...
ChaosObserver 9 years, 4 months ago
Consul General Ricardo Treco your just being childish.....like every other politician here in Bahamas.....
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