Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell speaks at the BIS Office in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
By DENISE MAYCOK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said the government is seeking to design and move amendments to ensure that the Department of Immigration has the final say on who has a right to come and live in The Bahamas.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Mitchell noted that the work of the Department of Immigration is not only to stop breaches at the borders. Mr Mitchell said there are “insidious attempts by high priced lawyers and their friends” to confuse immigration policies in an attempt to bankrupt the government.
He said that there are several cases which are being litigated now that they hope will clarify once and for all the status of the immigration laws.
Mr Mitchell, noting that he put a proposition in the House of Assembly on 21 December for consideration by the Bahamian people, asked: “What is the Department of Immigration to do where the following pertains? Someone is landed as a tourist and has no work permit; that someone violates continually the immigration laws on the basis that he or she owns property here; that someone boasts that he or she has immigration in their back pockets up to the highest level and will he or she go nowhere no matter what is done by officials and will use the court system to outstay the present political administration in power; that someone continually verbally abuses and threatens Bahamians and makes racist remarks about them and politically charged remarks about the country and its officials.
“In these circumstances when complaints are made to the department what should the response of the Department of Immigration be? I put that to the people of the country.”
He added: “My view as minster is that that conduct I just described fits into the category of someone who should be summarily expelled from The Bahamas.”
Under the existing method of operation, he noted that an individual can be given a choice to be formally deported or to be invited to leave the country voluntarily.
Mr Mitchell explained that the latter choice is often preferred because it at least preserves the possibility of a return to The Bahamas. In the former scenario, he said, the individual is automatically restricted from returning to The Bahamas.
Comments
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
Dictatorship here we come.
No foreign investors will touch us.
Thousands more Bahamians will be out of work.
Those in Turks and the Caymans must be most grateful for all the jobs this government is creating for them.
Hey, during the 2012 campaign did the PLP say where they were going to create the 10,000 new jobs? Seems like Cayman, Turks, etc.
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 3 months ago
Our Constitution and Our Highest Court have the final say on who can and cannot live in the Bahamas, especially in instances where any individual has been wrongly treated and is aggrieved by the petulance of the small vindictive and warped mind of Fweddy Boy!
sunnyday 8 years, 3 months ago
At least these amendments will keep the Foreign Dictators out of The Bahamas ,who abuse Bahamians . Step by step. Don't you think so Mr "Economist "?.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
If you don't like someone it is not an immigration problem.
What would you do if the person was a Bahamian? You could not go running to immigration like a child running to Mummy.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Economist, It became an Immigration problem after many complaints were made to Immigration about abuse by a Foreign person. This has nothing to do with not liking someone, its about being abused. This is a community matter.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
The nationality of the person is irrelevant. If the person was Bahamian how would you deal with it?
You can't run to Immigration like a baby. Deal with the person as you would any other Bahamian.
SP 8 years, 3 months ago
........................ Targeting the few, turning a blind eye to the majority .............................
Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell's' perspective is rhetorical and unnecessary. He has legitimately decided such individuals should unquestionably be promptly expelled from The Bahamas.
Bahamians are majorly frustrated and concerned about the 10's of 1000's of individuals mainly of Haitian extract overwhelming education, health, social services, depriving Bahamians of jobs and business opportunities, damaging the economy by draining foreign reserves and are generally quickly dragging our country down to Haiti's failed state status.
The people of the country are especially disillusioned and absolutely fed up with substandard handling of illegals particularly after Dominican Republic and United Kingdom quickly created and implemented sensible regulations with "teeth" dealing with illegals. Some of which Bahamians have been pleading for decades!
Again government proves they are totally out of sync with aspirations of the electorate.
happyfly 8 years, 3 months ago
Can't blame Freddy. He just looking for ways to be able to lean on foreign investors seeing as how Perry and his crew getting all the gravy at the investment board and aint sharing any scraps
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 3 months ago
for consideration by the Bahamian people, What a total jackass. Perry Gladstone Christie not only put the matter of gambling before the Bahamian people but asked them to VOTE on it and then did just what the hell he liked and to hell with the same Bahamian people. You people are just too damned stupid to realize how stupid you are and are seen to be. And you Fweddy Boy are supposed to have been educated. Saints Preserve us.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 3 months ago
Just love the Cable Box hanging from the ceiling. OMG !!! Not enough coax to get to ground but they going to look after MY HEALTH !!! Motobike !
Chucky 8 years, 3 months ago
If every other member of parliament doesn't set this fool straight, then we'll know they're all in agreement, or just as guilty via complacency.
Fred Mitchell should be the next piece of garbage that we expel from our country, though in his case we need to exile him, and never ever let him back!
EasternGate 8 years, 3 months ago
I support this statement 100%!
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Chucky, Fred Mitchell will be fine once Bruno Rufa is gone. Bruno should have left on his own free will. Members of parliament including the opposition will support removing Bruno Rufa from the Bahamas.
realfreethinker 8 years, 3 months ago
I would support removing this corrupt government from our country
Chucky 8 years, 3 months ago
how do you know bluesy? Do you have first hand info on what has gone on over the years? Fred Mitchell is out of his mind in thinking that any government department/ministry has or should have the final say in any decisions.
Anyone who would suggest his department have this much power is a psychopath, and narcissist, as is anyone who supports this dangerous ideology.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Chucky, you may not like it but this amendment is going to happen,Fred Mitchell has the support of his Parliamentary colleagues. If you have the power to rally Bahamian support to force a Snap election then that's a different story.
truetruebahamian 8 years, 3 months ago
We have the power to make a tsumami - a rebellion - use every effort that they would name 'treasonable' and 'seditious'. Get rid of the stink in the house, bleach it out and start afresh with fairness and foresight. All this blame on the old white folks and illegals and foreigners and history - it is ALL a smokescreen for these people to be paid in the house and steal what they want while getting the uneducated to chase and hate others who commit their lives to a better overall future and employ and who are yellow or white - these fabrications and lies that they tell are designed to only to divert your attention and make you the slaves that you never were - but which they will make all of us.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
I support Fred Mitchell in his quest to remove Bruno Rufa and all foreign Dictators from the Bahamas that abuse Bahamian citizens. At least he has more guts than Tommy Turnquest who allowed Rufa to return. This is why Rufa is claiming he allegedly has Government officials in his back pocket.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
You are missing the point.
IF Immigration had followed the law and done their homework, to the satisfaction of the law, then Bruno would be gone.
All they have to do is follow the law. If they do that, they can remove anyone.
They already have the power.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Had Immigration done their job to the satisfaction of the law Bruno would still be here ,with the help of his QC Lawyer, President of the GBHRA with access to International human rights groups, his case could go on forever and cost the Public Treasury a fortune. It seems there is a loophole in the system that Fred Mitchell is proposing to amend.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
No Bluesky the only reason Fred Smith and those are winning is because the immigration department is not following the law.
If immigration had followed the law then Fred Smith would not have a case and the courts would have ruled in favour of immigration.
What you are advocating could also then be expanded to cover criminal matters so that if the Minister responsible for the Police decided that Bluesky was guilty of a criminal offence he could send you to jail without a trial.
The Rules of Natural Justice must be followed.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Imagine a trial for all of the thousands of illegal immigrants deported from the Bahamas this country would be bankrupt and our legal system would collapse. I agree that the Rule of Natural Justice must be followed, but not to the detriment of the Country.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
You cannot blame the illegals for the incompetence of The Bahamas government.
By keeping the Defence Boats in Coral Harbour, instead of Inagua, the government allowed the illegals to come. Then immigration failed to give citizenship when they should have. And there are still thousands who are entitled.
If immigration had worked efficiently and granted the In reality the number of illegals is not as high as you think.
These guys keep playing politics and playing the xenophobic and race card.
You must be a fan of Donald Trump
DonAnthony 8 years, 3 months ago
Every Bahamian who loves this country and the democratic freedoms we enjoy should oppose minister Mitchell on this every step of the way. This is a matter for the courts, we are a democracy not a dictatorship.
This summer while in Nassau I saw what appeared to be an immigration large yellow bus, with what appeared to be immigration officers in camouflage. I had to stop my car on a curve for traffic and the next thing I knew one of these men was banging on my hood and trying to open my back door. I immediately hit the accelerator and left him with his hands grasping at air. My wife was very unsettled, are we a banana republic? No identification from this thug and why are these immigration officers wearing camouflage? It was very unprofessional to say the least. We can not give such persons more power in this country! This immigration department has too many unprofessional thugs and needs to be properly regulated. The bad apples fired. Of course the chief educated thug of them all is minister Mitchell who feels that he is above the courts. Our laws are adequate we simply need more courts and we need simply to follow the rule of law - especially minister Mitchell!
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
lkalikl, What do you suggest should happen to a Bahamian moronic PLP apologist? Should he be stripped off the same rights that you enjoy or maybe he should be flogged until he come to his senses? I support the Removal of Bruno Rufa from this country period. If the Law needs to be amended to accomplish this, so be it.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
lkalikl, The so called ignorant jackasses running the country were duly elected by the Bahamian people. You are calling for Respect for the Rule of Law and Constitutional due process, but yet you have no respect for another person's point of view. This is ironic.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 3 months ago
The Tonton Macoutes: The Central Nervous System of Haiti’s Reign of Terror Mitchell's objective is to get himself to the top post in the Government by stealth, rather than election. See the similarities. Sorry bluesky.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
MonkeeDoo, I don't see the similarities at all, What I see is Fred Mitchell trying to protect the Public Treasury.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
And how does what he proposes save the Public treasury?
Why has he not shut down Bahamasair and save the Public Treasury over $30,000,000.00 a year? And stop the waste in the Public health system, and save the Public Treasury another $100,000,000.00 a year?
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Not save, protect the Public Treasury from greedy lawyers.These areas you referring to are not Mr. Mitchell's portfolio.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
The only reason the lawyers are making any money is because immigration is not following the proper legal procedure.
If the Minister wishes to save the treasury he should get immigration to follow the law.
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 3 months ago
Fred just tired of losing in court....
This really is the worst damned government we have evee had....
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 3 months ago
oh Economist ! You asking bluesky about amounts that he/she has no idea even how to say much less comprehend. Repatriation cost is chicken shit compared to subsidies, leakages and outright theft with this government. And that ain't nothing to do with corruption and money that flows outside the treasury.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Monkeedoo, Repatriation cost is not the issue, legal cost and crippling the justice system is the issue.
banker 8 years, 3 months ago
Fweddie Boy has realised that he will never achieve his not-so-secret ambition of being PM of the Bahamas. It wasn't for lack of trying.
He tried by being Pindling's "Blue Eyed Boy" and when the rupture in relations came, he formed his own political party, burnt the constitution and told Swindling that he would publish all the inner secrets between them. Pindling told him to publish and be damned at his own peril, and Fweddy saw that discretion was the better part of valour, and tales of bending over for Swindling were better left in the crypt.
He enrolled in the JFK School of Government, returned to the PLP after Swindling offed his mortal coil, and made known his intentions to lead. However Fweddy was never an insider, and he knew it, and the PLP made certain that he never would be. However Pehwy is fwum the same ilk, and gave Fweddy the highest plum job that he could that would keep him outta da way of some serious kleptocracy. That was Foreign Relations, because appearances and swanning around the world wid strange foreigners on the Bahamas dime is right up Fweddie's alley. Appearance mean a lot to Fweddy. He was mortified that his brother was sentence to jail in Fox Hell.
So now Fweddy is just trying to pee on all four corners of his bounds of authority, mainly as a self-aggrandizement exercise to prove that he is impo'tant to the running of the Bahamas. Sad.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
Bluesky, we asked for our independence and with that comes responsibility. The protection of our boarders is one of those responsibilities. When we became independent we had four 60ft. patrol boats. They spent most of their time tied up at Bayshore Marina in Nassau Harbour. By 1978 or 1979 we had added a 108ft. patrol boat and another 60ft. patrol boat. By the early 1980's we had added 4 29ft Patrol craft. These Patrol Boats were paid for, in the large part by loans which we all paid for. They spent most of their time tied up in Coral Harbour. Now for your information, there is no other purpose for a patrol boat other than patrolling the waters and protecting the rights of The Bahamas. Those duties include the prevention of other nationalities abusing our fishing rights and the prevention of illegal immigration. As a nation the rest of the world expects us to do this. When we catch illegals or poachers they are to be dealt with in accordance with the recognized international norm. We signed many treaties on Human Rights etc. so that means everyone goes to court.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Economist, let's take your logic, "everyone goes to court". The Prison system will be filled with poor illegal immigrants who can't afford a lawyer. In my humble opinion I believe it is more humane to send them back home rather than sit in a prison cell waiting for a trial that would most likely find them guilty.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
I am not disagreeing with your desire to solve the problem. The difficulty is that we are a sovereign nation and are required by international convention to behave like one. We liked the idea of a Defence Force but played with it instead of using it. We, you and me, are now going to be required to pay the price for our governments (all of them) incompetence. What the Minister is proposing would only make matters worse. Not only on the human rights side but, more importantly on the economic side. If we do this our economy could well collapse as no one would feel safe to invest. Many investors have indicated their extreme concern over the Governments interference in Baha Mar, this could be the tipping point.
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
I beg to differ, The Bahamas will always attract foreign investors even if the proposed amendment is passed.The Bahamian people's job is to stay vigilant and elect a government that will carry out the will of the people. Give the opposition a mandate, vote them in, and hold their feet to the fire, that is your right if you believe they can better serve this country. Baha Mar will open, if not under this Government, under the next Government. The minister's proposal, if passed, could also be revisited if it is not working in the best interest of the country.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
If you look at Cayman, BVI and even Turks and Cacaos you will see that they are doing much better tan we are. We have ad no major new investor in 10 years; Baha Mar, Atlantis and Bimini Bay were all signed on to before 2005. Cayman has had the equivalent of two Atlantis' in the last 10 years, and with a population less than a quarter of The Bahamas Also take a look at where The Bahamas now is with respect to the "ease of doing Business" ratings. We are going down hill rapidly. Add to that that we are now only one tick away from "junk bond" status by the international rating agencies. We are on the verge of economic disaster. Even James Smith is talking about us having to get used high unemployment. No we don't need to change the immigration laws; we need to start complying with our laws.
seagrape 8 years, 3 months ago
**A message for Monkeedoo, IkalikI, Chuky .Democracy means a Social Contract amongst us. The Government represent the people . The Government is Elected by a Majority to govern the Country. The elected Members of Parliament can and have a duty to propose Amendments to Parliament to protect the Country how and when they see fit. The Court is not Elected by the People . The court would have to follow all amendments passed in Parliament. There will be some abuse like with any other laws. As a Citizen , we have a duty to ensure our Members of Parliament propose amendments with the proper check & balance. Instead of being aggressive and insulting people on this forum you should work with your MP to make it better. Also, if you are not happy with this Government you will have the opportunity to change it in 2017 When the Amendment will be passed , if Mr. Rufa has a problem with how the Government treated him, he can ask his Canadian Government to intervene on his behalf. The Bahamian Government may reconsider their position
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Capital punishment "Hanging" is a law on our books, should we start complying with this law?
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
The only reasons that we have not is because Prime Ministers have been reluctant to hang and the courts took so long to handle many of the murder case that, by the Privy Counsel held that we ought not hang. Also the evidence is that death penalty has never deterred crime as the person committing the crime does not think that he will get caught. Look at the current tit for tat between the gangs. I kill you, you kill me approach has not deterred any killing, indeed it has increased it. The solution, is to a large part, a better education (less rote and more thinking), better economic opportunities, and a population which is not mollycoddled (over protected) by the government.
Chucky 8 years, 3 months ago
yah, good idea bluesky you should be first
bluesky 8 years, 3 months ago
Chucky, what is my crime that I should be first?
DEDDIE 8 years, 3 months ago
Capital punishment is carried out on a regular basis. Because the government is not doing it the citizenry have carried it out as written.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 3 months ago
bluesky: If we ditch the Privy Council then we can hang people according to law. But Holy Jesus if we did not have the Privy Council the politicians could put you in jail just for being who you are. As it is Immigration under FNM and PLP watches had that Japanese guy locked up just for being Japanese. And there was another one too. I would have to get the hell out of the boat if we did not have that last resort of sensible people. OMG
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