By AVA TURNQUEST
and DENISE MAYCOCK
FLORIDA State Representative Daphne Campbell yesterday called for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell amid plans to stage three separate protests against The Bahamas tomorrow.
In her campaign against the new Bahamian immigration policy, Ms Campbell – who was born in Haiti – is inviting support for her protest against alleged human rights violations in The Bahamas against people of Haitian descent. She is also calling for a travel boycott.
However, Mr Mitchell dismissed the protest plans and emphasised that Ms Campbell was “not taken seriously” in her state.
“The only people that take her (Ms Campbell) seriously is the Bahamian press,” Mr Mitchell said yesterday. “That’s my view about her.”
Ms Campbell said the immigration policy is not helping the Bahamas. “It’s destroying the country instead of helping. If Prime Minister Perry Christie has common sense he would understand that Fred Mitchell is bad for him.”
Ms Campbell claimed that the new policy was a bid to distract from the country’s visa fraud scandal, adding that mass deportations were an attempt to cover it up. The US state representative threatened to expose Mr Mitchell during tomorrow’s protest.
“We’re going to call on the government and the Bahamian people to let him (Mr Mitchell) go,” she said, “because he’s not a good one for the country.“ She claimed that “he’s not doing nothing good with that policy.”
Simultaneous protests are expected to take place at 1pm at the Bahamas Consulate General Offices in the Ingraham Building at 25 Southeast 2nd Avenue; the Port of Miami, and at Miami International Airport at Concourse E.
The outspoken Florida representative has been very critical of the immigration policy implemented by the Bahamas government on November 1, which is designed to deal with illegal migration.
Last month Ms Campbell called for a boycott of the Bahamas “to end discrimination against Haitian children”.
She was supposed to meet with Bahamian officials on Tuesday after an initial meeting scheduled for December 1 with Bahamas Consul General Ricardo Treco to discuss current issues affecting immigration and human rights in the country was cancelled.
Mr Treco refused to meet Ms Campbell unless she publicly withdrew her call for a boycott of the Bahamas.
However, Ms Campbell has said she will continue to stand by her statement and fight against injustices of Haitians in the Bahamas.
Tomorrow’s protest would be the second Ms Campbell has initiated against the Bahamas. On November 14, she protested against the “inhumane treatment and the need for justice for the innocents” outside the Bahamas Consulate General’s Office.
Ms Campbell has expressed her concerns about what is currently happening in the Bahamas to a representative of the Organisation of the American States (OAS).
In her letter of December 15, addressed to OAS representative Michael Fitzpatrick, she said the issue deeply touches her soul, claiming that children of Haitian descent are being ordered out of the Bahamas.
“Many, including young children, some not even 10 years of age, are being put in handcuffs and sent to be deported to a country they have no recollection of,” she claimed.
In spite of Ms Campbell’s claim, The Tribune has seen no signs of children handcuffed during detention, nor have there been local reports of such action against children by officials.
Ms Campbell said that they were shown images of children being separated from their families and being sent away to holding facilities. “This is a cruel and unusual punishment to an innocent child, whose only knowledge is that of Bahamian soil,” she wrote.
The state representative noted that last year the same issue occurred with the Dominican Republic. She said during that time, legislation in that country’s highest court passed a decision to suspend and revoke citizenship of all Haitian residents dating back to 1929.
“Now this same unjust discrimination is being spread to the islands of the Bahamas. This is devastating news that throws many residents and their children into limbo. Many children of Haitian descent have only seen Bahamian soil and know that to be home. However, with this new decision, the court has taken this privilege away from them,” she said.
Ms Campbell is asking the OAS representative to join them “in trying to help reach the voices of those in the Bahamas and help fight this situation in any way that we can. If there is a way that an investigation can be done to truly see the treatment that these children are facing, that would be more than enough.
“We would like to invite you to come together with us and other officials who have decided to take a stand against injustice. Your participation and thoughts are crucial to any hope of stopping this discrimination from continuing to take place.
“We want equality and justice for all and we feel that this is an act against our core values and things that we fight for daily in our offices. This is a country that is built on multiple values, some of which include integrity, justice, and freedom. Let us not lose sight of these values and use our resources to help those that are in need,” she wrote.
Comments
B_I_D___ 9 years, 4 months ago
Design what...a raft to float from the Bahamas to Florida?
"Florida Politician Calls For Fred Mitchell To Design"
stillwaters 9 years, 4 months ago
Ha! Can't stop laughing!!!!
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
Same here!!! Which Bahamians is this woman rallying anyway? I didn't even read the article thoroughly which shows how relevant she is. Please stop reporting on her views Tribune; no one is listening to this lady.
Thanks!
Cobalt 9 years, 4 months ago
Lol. C'mon Tribune. Get your spelling correct. The Bahamas is soooo bush- league.
CANDACESCOTT 9 years, 4 months ago
"Go fly a kite"!!!!!
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
Give her as many kites possible, in the hopes she will be blown far far away.
Stapedius 9 years, 4 months ago
Why are we still paying attention to this donkey? We need to be careful that she does not inflame immigrant relations more than they already are. She should be banned from coming here.
Sickened 9 years, 4 months ago
She should be banned from Earth!
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
Let's all take a vote! Maybe that will be a trending topic for the Tribune.
Observer 9 years, 4 months ago
She is harmless, though she is loud. She lives in her own sticky bubble. But the gall of her to insinuate that our prime minister Perry Christie does not have common sense or ever demonstrated that he has common sense. See what I have been saying all along? They alone know what should be done and they alone know how to do it. But they CANNOT arrest the sociopolitical rot and corruption that is suffocating HAITI.
birdiestrachan 9 years, 4 months ago
The woman seems to have ;lost her mind. crazy as a bat. She should be in touch with Fred smith. They both seem to be in the same sinking boat. She makes no sense. That position she has must have gone to her head. She should do her best to attack her own Haitian Government. She can not run the Bahamas...
Moby68 9 years, 4 months ago
It's so sad that she won't fight right there in the USA for her fellow country men who the US has not afforded the same rights as they give the Cubans.
mossdehav 9 years, 4 months ago
You couldn't have said it better.
WETHEPEOPLE 9 years, 4 months ago
This donkey should be more concerned about stabalizing her own homeland which is Haiti.
How about she takes her tail home back to Haiti and try fix that mess of a problem. We dont want anymore illegal Haitians in our country PERIOD. Fred Mitchell I stand with you and im sure the vast majority of Bahamian people stand with you. RID OUR COUNTRY OF ALL ILLEGALS ESPECIALLY THE HAITANS AS THEY ADD NO VALUE to whichever country they go, thats why no other country wants them. Its sad, but this is the Gods honest truth.
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
We The People Of The Bahamas Call On FLORIDA State Representative Daphne Campbell Fred Smith And ALL The Rest Of The Hidden Haitians Among Us To Go To Deepest, Darkest Hell Or Port Au Prince And Take Their Haitian Parasites With Her
HarryWyckoff 9 years, 4 months ago
You realize Fred Smith is more Bahamian tha you, right?
His roots are buried deeper in this country than yours could ever hope to be.
Idiot.
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
Pull your head out of your ass. Deep roots do not signify nationalism.
Adolf Hitler and Bashar al-Assad roots are also buried deep in their respective countries.....and they slaughtered fellow citizens for personal gain.
Fred Smith is another parasite that chose to side with his Haitian birth place proving where his loyalty lie. He is a disgrace to our country and should go back to Haiti where he was born and help his people.
Space 9 years, 4 months ago
So ironic that you would make comparisons to Hitler and go on to blindly support the actions of Fred Mitchell as he goes on to persecute people because of their race.
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
Get your mind right HarryWyckoff!!! If you stand AGAINST your own countrymen, whether you were born here, or lived here for however long is a sign of betrayal and treachery. The statements made by him of recent has made it more than clear that he has 'drawn a line in the sand' that he stands with and for HAITI!. End of story! I stand with THE BAHAMAS!
Space 9 years, 4 months ago
Even if they're wrong in what they're doing? So if Christie told you to jump off a cliff you would do it right?... because to stand against your countrymen is a sign of betrayal and treachery?... right?
arussell 9 years, 4 months ago
I'm No way a fan of this government but however I AM A PROUD BAHAMIAN first!!! I support Mr. Mitchell 100%........... The law should have been pass years ago point blank!!!
birdiestrachan 9 years, 4 months ago
Daphne Campbell is being investigated by the IRS, Ask Rose White of the heart of love home care what Daphne Campbell has done to her. It is to bad the Tribune does not tell the other side of the Story. Bahamians say those who lie, also steal Daphne fits right in that Group. All of this is big and bold on the internet. The woman does not come with clean hands or heart.
birdiestrachan 9 years, 4 months ago
Daphne Campbell is being investigated by the IRS, Ask Rose White of the heart of love home care what Daphne Campbell has done to her. It is to bad the Tribune does not tell the other side of the Story. Bahamians say those who lie, also steal Daphne fits right in that Group. All of this is big and bold on the internet. The woman does not come with clean hands or heart. There is nothing harmless about her.
TalkinSense 9 years, 4 months ago
Maybe she needs to take her own advise and resign herself. It looks like she making all this noise to deflect her own personal issues. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!!
http://www.local10.com/news/mayor-bar...">1 - Allegedly pulled a gun on Broward County's Mayor
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/polit...">2 - IRS targets, slaps liens on Rep. Daphne Campbell - The Democratic party wants her to consider resigning
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-10-...">3 - Accused of Shady Dealings
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptid...">4 - Daphne Campbell's Former Secretary Arrested For Defrauding Her Haitian American Constituents
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptid...">5 - Son Charged with Medicare Fraud
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptid...">6 - Named WORSE candidate in 2012 Miami-Dade Elections
So now you see why she is making all this noise now. I ain't no fan of Freddy, but if anybody needs to resign... IT SHOULD BE HER!!!
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
Wow! what a rap sheet! Let's compare hers with Fred Mitchell's shall we? Just like America to promote degenerates.
jusscoolin 9 years, 4 months ago
by jusscoolin
TruthHurts 9 years, 4 months ago
I know she ain't sleeping on the job? haha
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 4 months ago
This Campbell criminal is truly insane....
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
This is what the great USA is producing ...................... no wonder they are playing second fiddle to China .......... and now we are going the same way as the USA ............................ SMDH
We are exporting our bright minds to the USA/Canada/EU ......... importing the bottom 10% of Haiti, educating and civilizing them and then allowing them to become the mainstream lower/middle class of our country .................. that is why it is such a negative backlash to the Bahamian -Haitians.
Space 9 years, 4 months ago
I have no words to express how repulsed I am by the narrow minded opinions voiced on this particular thread of comments and others related to stories regarding immigration. Racial stereotyping is never ok, and as a country of strong black people you would think the Bahamas would be the first to condemn such things.
Girly 9 years, 4 months ago
Space I think you need to go back to space.Or better yet invite all of the illegals into your home and help us out.This is not about racism,so stop trying to twist this into something it isn't.
Space 9 years, 4 months ago
"RID OUR COUNTRY OF ALL ILLEGALS ESPECIALLY THE HAITANS AS THEY ADD NO VALUE to whichever country they go" isn't racial stereotyping? or how about... 'Take Their Haitian Parasites With Her'
If that doesn't bring you the any shame as a Bahamian or even just as a human being I have to question your moral compass. It makes me shudder just to re-read it
Girly 9 years, 3 months ago
SOOOO where was your repulsiveness when a so called Haitian threatened the lives of Bahamians on National Television with no fear .I repeat THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACISM.YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS ONE.You are basing your view on a handful of comments on social media to an entire country of less than 400,000 people.TOTALLY BIASED.This entire country is made up of immigrants who have integrated into the community .WE RESPECT THOSE WHO CAME HERE LEGALLY.We work ,socialize with immigrants everyday.Some of my friends are Haitian,Jamaican,Indian etc .Those who came here LEGALLY have even had children here and have done things the right way.They contribute by paying NIB,rent homes etc..The majority of Bahamians have been nothing but kind to the Haitian people and other immigrants.We respect LEGAL not ILLEGAL peple who choose to break the law and come through the back door.People like you love to call good evil and evil good.So your comments are invalid and the laws of this land will be enforced whether you like it or not.
Space 9 years, 3 months ago
I don't pick and choose when I am disgusted by someones behaviour based on their race and I don't know why you would assume I do? or think that I am condoning that situation? Are we suggesting that two wrongs make a right?
I am basing this on many hundreds of views I have encountered on this website, in social media and in real life. These comments just serve as an example in this forum of the comments out there, and you don't seem to have a problem with them? I am by no means suggesting that this is the view of the nation. It certainly isn't my view, or the view of those close to me, you are putting words in to my mouth. I can't comprehend why more would not condemn comments such as the ones I quotes... you seem to be perfectly fine with them?
Regardless of whether they are here illegally or not it does not diminish their value as a human being in any way, or make it acceptable to treat them as such.
Moving on to the enforcement of the law which you've brought up.... If you pay attention the news you will have seen that these proposed new policies are not just affecting the lives of illegal migrants, but also the lives of those who live here legally, and full-fledged Bahamians. Do you think that's acceptable? And as for the laws being enforced whether I like it or not... well, that seems to be the policy of Fred Mitchell in this matter, regardless of the worldwide outrage it has caused, so sadly you're probably right. I just hope a country which relies on tourism can recover from this overwhelming bad press.
SP 9 years, 3 months ago
.................. Space Has A Huge Empty Space Between His Ears ...............
What genius declared racial stereotyping as "never O.K." and defined this "moral compass" you speak of?......YOU?
If xenophobia, racial stereotyping, tracking dogs and horoscope readers are whats needed to relieve our country of these dam illegal parasites then please let the xenophobia, racial stereotyping, tracking dogs and horoscope readers escalate 10 fold!
These people are destroying our country, preventing law abiding rightful citizens from obtaining jobs, health care, education, social service assistance and the cause of all kinds of misery and you standing around with your head up our ass talking stupidness!
Add a shake to your shudder and you will be right in tune with the illegals now dancing on the shoulders of tax paying, unemployed, destitute Bahamians.
No matter how you try sugar coating it illegals are parasites that must be eradicated at all cost.
afficianado 9 years, 3 months ago
I wonder why she didn't protest against the UN when they were shooting tear gas at her people in Haiti last week. Go figure!! Daphne you can't win for losing...sit small!!
Emac 9 years, 3 months ago
@Girly-Well said! I agree 100% Where were these people when that rogue individual threatened Bahamians. They started the war and expect for Bahamians to stand by idly and say nothing??? The devil is a liar!
SP 9 years, 3 months ago
.................. Space Has A Huge Empty Space Between His Ears ...............
What genius declared racial stereotyping as "never O.K." and defined this "moral compass" you speak of?......YOU?
If xenophobia, racial stereotyping, tracking dogs and horoscope readers are whats needed to relieve our country of these dam illegal parasites then please let the xenophobia, racial stereotyping, tracking dogs and horoscope readers escalate 10 fold!
These people are destroying our country, preventing law abiding rightful citizens from obtaining jobs, health care, education, social service assistance and the cause of all kinds of misery and you standing around with your head up our ass talking stupidness!
Add a shake to your shudder and you will be right in tune with the illegals now dancing on the shoulders of tax paying, unemployed, destitute Bahamians.
No matter how you try sugar coating it illegals are parasites that must be eradicated at all cost.
Space 9 years, 3 months ago
I rest my case. You and those like you, and the ones dragging the reputation of the Bahamas in to the dirt. You are a vile human being.
I'm actually going to save your last comment to share on several forums discussing this topic as an example of why the Bahamas is deteriorating in to a country which can't be trusted to deal with the rights of human beings in an acceptable manner. "illegals are parasites that must be eradicated at all cost."
simply unbelievable
pablojay 9 years, 3 months ago
This whole situation with Daphne Campbell is so ironic,if the Bahamas is so bad , she should tell her people to leave and tell the Haitian Government to tell the BOAT CAPTAINS TO BOYCOTT THE BAHAMAS .Also it has Fred Mitchell ,i mean FRED MITCHELL showing more balls than the other MEN? in his lousy PLP
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