By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ACTIVISTS yesterday blasted the government over its implementation of new immigration policies that they feel have unfairly criminalised hundreds of persons of Haitian descent.
Immigration raids on New Providence on Saturday marked the start of the government’s enforcement of new policies, and sparked concerns over the status of persons engaged in the naturalisation process, and the handling of children without legal guardians.
Jetta Baptiste, president of the Haitian Bahamian Society of the Bahamas, accused the government of creating more illegal migrants by deporting persons born in the Bahamas without adequate infrastructure to document their legitimate claim to Bahamian citizenship.
She accused the government of returning to long-standing inefficient and ineffective strategies that have bred the existing culture of intolerance.
“What saddens me is that they have not learnt anything from past failures,” she said.
“They keep repeating the same old mistakes over and over again. When will this craziness end? The PLP and the FNM governments were given reports years ago to address the vexing immigration situation, yet they failed to listen. Had they done what they said that they would have done when they signed the (Haitian-Bahamian) treaty back in 1985 we would not have thousands of stateless people living in the Bahamas right now, and then they could concentrate on those risking their lives on the boats sneaking into the country illegally.”
Ms Baptiste said: “We don’t agree with the illegal entry and the those violating Bahamian laws, but I can guarantee you, that a large number of those persons on those sail boats are those who were born in the Bahamas years ago, who were deported with their parents under (former Minister of Immigration Loftus) Roker and others’ administration, who cannot get their passports from the Embassy in Haiti the right way. Then, when they come to the Bahamas to apply for what they were supposed to have when they turned 18 years old, they find that someone else has their identities. I have no faith in this new policy, because I have seen the failure in their system over and over again.”
She added: “Minister (of Immigration) Fred Mitchell is trying to address the concerns of the International Organization for Migration who has their eyes on the Bahamas, but we know arresting and deporting kids born in the Bahamas is not the way to do it. Depriving children of an education is not the way to do it.”
The new immigration policy that mandates that all person living in the Bahamas have a passport of their nationality was announced in the House of Assembly on September 17.
Louby Georges, talk show host and spokesman for the Haitian-Bahamian community, questioned the fairness of a November 1 roll out, and the legality of apprehending and detaining children without their parents.
More than 70 people were apprehended by Immigration officials on Saturday, according to officials; however, it is unclear how many children were detained.
He charged that immigration officers were arresting the children of illegal immigrants, and using them to bait their parents.
“A Bahamian in the Bahamas can’t get a passport that quickly,” he said. “A part of the process is sending to Haiti for documents. How could you create a law today that instantly makes criminals out of persons?”
Mr Georges said: “Here you have people who are over the age of 18, who were born here, grew up here all their lives, who have applied already for naturalisation – the right way – and they are waiting on you (government), your system is inefficient. Now you come with the law and you say that even if you applied for citizenship – before we never asked for passport – now you’re saying with your receipt for naturalisation you need a Haitian passport. But you know this is going to take time, so if someone doesn’t have that they are now a criminal.
“Again, I applaud the government for deciding to deal with the immigration issue – if they are genuine in dealing with the whole thing, at the same time it’s not what you do, but how you do it. Right now as we speak the international community is watching this situation. People are watching and we are a tourist destination, we don’t want bad publicity right now.”
“There are so many ways to abuse somebody, a lot of times you think physically, but you can abuse emotionally, psychologically. I’m looking out for the country,” he added, “deal with immigration, but you have to know how to do deal with it. The kids should not be the main persons dealing with this.”
The new policy also mandates that persons who are applying for a work permit without legal status will need to be certified by a local embassy or nearest Bahamas mission in their home country. Certificates of identity issued to persons born to foreign parents legally residing in the Bahamas will not be renewed, instead a passport of their nationality with a resident stamp will be required.
Children born in the Bahamas to illegal migrants will be deported with their parents, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell confirmed in an earlier interview. He explained that while these children could not receive a resident stamp, there was consideration to amend the visa regulations so that affected persons with a contingent right to apply for citizenship could re-enter the country.
Ms Baptiste pointed to grant funding programmes provided by the US State Department to assist stateless persons in the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.
She said: “My suggestion to the minister responsible is to get those extra immigration officers to go in their office and process all those applications they have pending for two, three, five, 10, 15, 20 or more years.”
“Regularise those people, give them what they are legally entitled to and then after you have done that job you can do your raids.”
Ms Baptiste added: “When you have brought that huge back log down, then you will be the hero for dealing effectively and efficiently with the immigration problem.”
Comments
afficianado 9 years, 5 months ago
The Haitian Bahamian Society of the Bahamas..lol I'm weak
mangogirl01 9 years, 5 months ago
I won't talk, she needs to shut the hell up! Trying to tell Mr. Mitchell what to do! Miss, go and tell your PM Martelly what to do!
pat242 9 years, 5 months ago
Law enforcement isn't pretty but the law is the law. Infact when the police locking up offenders I don't see no activist speaking out against the police. These people have a adgender and the new immigrant policy put a stop or slow down to what ever they trying to accomplish. You can't break the law and expect to be treated normal. It is not fair point blank.
jusscoolin 9 years, 5 months ago
She needs to be investigated too ,she might be here illegal! Her and her hard mouth!
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
Yall go pick up Jetta Baptiste and put his ass on da plane asap
SP 9 years, 5 months ago
Jetta Baptiste and Louby Georges themselves have not renounced Haitian citizenship in accordance with the law set out in the constitution which renders their Bahamian status NULL & VOID!
I hereby demand that "Jetta Baptiste and Louby Georges" not be granted citizenship in the Bahamas on the grounds that:
A) Their application is deemed flawed by not having renounced Haitian citizenship
B) They committed numerous acts of treason against the State as co-conspirators with human smugglers known to them with 1000's of illegal Haitian migrants by knowingly concealing information that prevented Bahamian officials from apprehending those involved in illegal human smuggling between Haiti, the Bahamas and United States of America.
"Then, when they come to the Bahamas to apply for what they were supposed to have when they turned 18 years old, they find that someone else has their identities."......
NOT SOMEONE ELSE HAS THEIR IDENTITIES.....ANOTHER HAITIAN HAS THEIR IDENTITY!
"the international community is watching this situation"
WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THINKS.....ILLEGAL HAITIANS & OTHERS ARE NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING AND DESTROYING THEIR COUNTRY............DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GOT IT RIGHT AND SO MUST WE!
Get all of the damn illegal Haitians, Filipinos, Latinos, Americans, Europeans, Chinese, Jamaicans, Africans, Dominicans and Canadians OUT OF OUR COUNTY!
Regardless 9 years, 5 months ago
Deport as many as you can government! They breed like rabbits. They do not embrace the culture of The Bahamas. Never relent in pursuit of these illegals. Find them and send them back to where they belong!!
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
Mr Georges said: “Here you have people who are over the age of 18, who were born here, grew up here all their lives, who have applied already for naturalisation – the right way – and they are waiting on you (government), YOUR system is inefficient. Notice how these people who suppose to be Bahamians but are Haitian descendent distance themselves from the Bahamas when it comes to any issues with Haitians on a whole. He is not saying our system is inefficient. He is saying YOUR system is inefficient.
We fail to see the danger in a people who are so bold in their quest to get what they want by all means necessary. Now this chap is considering running in the next election. I always say, use this energy to build the place where you consider your roots to be. Mr. Georges does not consider his roots to be that of a Bahamian heritage. His love is for the Haitian heritage. Georges needs to be reminded that ya can't have your cake and eat it too. If I feel I am not wanted somewhere, I would simply move home, where I know I am welcomed and help build my country.
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
We have a Constitution that plainly states who is entitled and who can apply to be considered Bahamian...... Haitians cant dictate what the Bahamian law states.
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
by TalRussell
HolandObserver 9 years, 5 months ago
we have created a 'monster'.
“Regularise those people, give them what they are legally entitled to and then after you have done that job you can do your raids.”
really?!?
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
There is No monster............ use our LAW and MILITARY and get rid of the illegals!!!!!!!!!! Its 20 years overdo!!!!!!!!!!
Islandgirl 9 years, 5 months ago
This lady has a problem with dictatorship. The only monsters created here are the lack of enforcement of existing immigration laws after all these years, the conscienceless selling of status documents by persons in positions to provide them, the failure to ensure that persons born to illegal immigrants in this country be duly registered as Haitian citizens before they check out of the public hospitals ( I have always thought the Haitian ambassador should have an outlying office at PMH and RMH for this purpose, even before mother and child get to the Registrar General's office to register the birth), and the incorrect interpretation these people have of our Bahamian constitution. There is NO BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP IN THE BAHAMAS. Our laws CLEARLY state who is ENTITLED to this honour. These persons, born of illegals, are entitled to APPLY; APPLY, for CONSIDERATION, NOT to automatically receive citizenship. To do otherwise would destroy our sovereignty and entire culture, which in fact their very presence already has. How can you come into another man's land and attempt to dictate like this? Return to Hispaniola and try that. Since this woman (reportedly) is a naturalized Bahamian citizen, she should do her best to promote the improvement of THIS country, rather than encourage the completion of its transformation into a Haitian outpost, which is what this particular class of immigrants is attempting to achieve.
Jp 9 years, 5 months ago
Well well. Dominican Republic started I'm guessing Bahamas gonna end it. I got no problem on how y'all run your country. I am Haitian-Bahamian descent my entire family still live there. I hate seeing how my people are being mistreated part of this is Haiti fault we should stay in our country to lift up our country image instead we migrate in boats for that other countries have no respect for us. I love Bahamas I'm there every summer. Hopefully Bahamians and Haitians can one day be at peace. As for the DR they swore they're Europeans check the color of your flags it resemble the Haitian flag more than it does to Spain. Y'all got your independence from Haiti not Spain. I'm proud to be Haitian descent african and Bahamian. One day Haiti will be on top. We won't be last. Just remember nothing last forever
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
Well you certainly started out on the right foot when you admitted that Haiti has a lot to do with the problem at hand. Maybe one day Haiti will be on top as you mentioned. Only God himself knows what the future holds. I too would love for Bahamians and Haitians to be at peace with each other. Bahamians are not the enemy though. They are and have been the good Samaritan. But I still detect a little resentment in your dialogue-Cause you go on to describe how the Dominican flag resembles that of the Haitian flag and how they got their independence through Haiti and not Spain. All of this is irrelevant. The first step in overcoming this problem with people disliking Haitians is for y'all to come together as one and rebuild your country. I keeping hearing Haitians saying that they are proud of who they are. Great! Now rise above this mess, stop sneaking in other people's country and take care of your own. After all, God bless the child that has his own.
lucaya 9 years, 5 months ago
Jp,this is so confuse of you,here your saying "my people" and "Haitian -Bahamian" what are you man?Who are your people and where is your allegiance man?Surely, you can not be a Bahamian and talking this way.I will embrace anyone who loves the Bahamas first,then their Parents country,is your loyalty to this Beloved Bahamas solid?
SP 9 years, 5 months ago
The biggest problem is that we are willing to "embrace" too many other people and they all take our kindness for weakness!
Which country is "embracing" Bahamians?
Observer 9 years, 5 months ago
Where in HELL does one criminalize a criminal? Perhaps these criminals think that breaking the statutory laws of the Bahamas is a big joke. Better find yourselves back home where you belong.Come by INVITATION only, ma bey.
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
by TalRussell
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
LOL that's correct! All of the teachers I know reported that finally there was no overcrowding in classrooms
thoughtful 9 years, 5 months ago
It's amazing to hear the descendants of slaves speak so passionately about the law. Human rights and empathy is a valid consideration notwhitstanding the laws of a country. Not so long ago the forefathers of every black Bahamian was shipped to this land from his native Africa to endure slavery which was the LAW at the time. Not so long ago the descendants of these slaves had no right to vote in The Bahamas by LAW although this was their country of birth. Not so long ago These very black Bahamians were segregated in shantytowns based on their skin color.....So although a law may exist in a particular era that LAW may be UNJUST....The pursuit of social justice is a dynamic and ongoing movement... which we black people should never forget!!..If we were to fully apply these xenophobic sentiments, perhaps we ourselves should be repatriated to Africa our motherland....An individual born in the Bahamas of foreign descent who knows no other country or way of life MUST be carefully considered with compassion and empathy as a candidate for legitimate integration in his/her country of BIRTH.
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
Yawn...
SP 9 years, 5 months ago
Horse-shit!
RTStorm 9 years, 5 months ago
What nonsense!!! Self-appointed intellectuals playing the “sympathy” card, most certainly have contributed to this hellish problem. Understand . . . . An individual (for example) born to Haitian parents anywhere on earth, is legally a Citizen of Haiti. As such, consideration, compassion and empathy for societal integration should be shown such individuals BY the country of his/her CITIZENSHIP. Notwithstanding current law, the Bahamas has no other obligation to citizens of ANOTHER country.
thoughtful 9 years, 5 months ago
EMAC AND SP.
When presented with words illiterate people fall asleep...this is natural...so I don't blame you for yyawning
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
I am sorry thoughtful, but your insight into the descendants of slave and how we are all from Africa, yadda, yadda, yadda, is irrelevant to this situation. Save all of that bullshit for poetry night. Instead of boring us with black history, why not bring something meaningful to the table by offering suggestions on how to resolve this illegal immigration mess that the Bahamas faces. Meaningful and practical suggestions that is.
DEDDIE 9 years, 5 months ago
We get excited to easily. How many publicize raids we have had over the last couple of decades.and they all eventually fail for the same reasons. Logistics. In couple of weeks Bahamasair will be complaining that they need their Boeing 737 because the money they make during the winter period sustains them for four months before they need the public treasury to kick in. Another thing that kicks in is that the early Haitian arrivals start to complain to the Haitian government that they have no way to get back to Northern Haiti. Then the request get send to Fred Mitchel that you have to send these people with $200 so that they could get home and settle in.When Fred Mitchel scoff at the idea approval takes longer for these flights inbound to Haiti. If they had spoken to previous permanent secretaries they would have known this. Or maybe they do know but need to distract the populace. The question is what they need to distract us from.
Emac 9 years, 5 months ago
Hmmm...very interesting
DEDDIE 9 years, 5 months ago
The politicians treated as dummies because we allow them to. If you want to know what a government will do, follow the money. If the Government had intentions on a major thrust to send Haitians back home, why in the hell would Foreign affairs and Immigration budget for 2014 be almost the same as 2013. If it cost $60,000 to send back 262 Haitians(according to Fred Mitchel) how much you think it will cost to send back 30,000. Think Bahamians think.
duppyVAT 9 years, 5 months ago
If I was the MOFA, I would tow all dem Highshuns back on every Dominican boat & dinghy I catch and sink it right off La Tortue. Kill two birds with ONE stone.
DEDDIE 9 years, 5 months ago
Hitler loves your way of thinking.
bismark 9 years, 5 months ago
if you are not in the Bahamas the right way LEAVE,stop being a burden on Bahamians who are paying taxes and you people who don't pay absolutely nothing in this country,get out now and go to your homeland.
toya 9 years, 5 months ago
I do not understand how persons can be so vocal about what they called an injustice when they have broken the law. I am soon going to have a new tax imposed on me. That means i carrying all the legal children for free education free health care etc but i have to pay for the illegal ones also. Simply put, this country cannot carry anyone anymore. We cannot carry our own. If i have to pay morStronge taxes then i want to see it benefit Bahamians. Haitians are making it seem as though we are discriminating them. No we are not. Unfortunately they constitute the largest illegal immigrant group in this country. They using me. They tryin to force our hand to take care of them because they are here. No we did not raise a welcome banner for a lot of them. If you are illegal then you have to go. We...The Bahamas cannot carry anyone anymore. We cannot do it...we just cannot afford it
BigDuffus 9 years, 5 months ago
I cant get over people talking what they know nothing about. Here in Abaco there are more people living in the shanty towns than there are registered voters in central Abaco. U under stand now. there are more of them than us. And we pay for it. Have u people ever seen a airel picture of what we dealing with in Abaco.
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