Wayne Munroe
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard yesterday said calls from prominent attorney and Progressive Liberal Party member Wayne Munroe to flog illegal immigrants are inappropriate and could encourage Bahamians to commit violent acts against Haitians.
Mr Pintard also questioned whether Mr Munroe’s views are a reflection of positions being debated internally by the governing PLP since the party has remained silent on Mr Munroe’s remarks.
Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell and PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts declined to comment when asked to respond yesterday to Mr Munroe’s comments.
The highly respected attorney had surprised observers when he took to Facebook on Friday to argue that if illegal immigrants believed “we tortured and killed them, they might not come.”
When contacted by The Tribune on Sunday, he doubled down on his comments, saying “flogging” could serve as an effective physical and psychological barrier to people seeking to enter the country illegally.
Responding yesterday, Mr Pintard warned that such views from prominent people could incite violence in the country.
“The danger of such utterances, and we are confident that this was not the intention of Mr Munroe, is that if such utterances gain traction in the Bahamas, some unwise person or persons may feel justified in inflicting some form of punishment on persons who enter our shores illegally,” he said.
“Such punishment may lead to injuries and even death. In an environment where people are heavily predisposed to acts of violence, people with influence ought to be careful not to send the wrong signal. The FNM expects that people will respect Bahamian law and people of all walks of life will not be complicit in the violation of Bahamian laws and we must fix the system. We also expect that the PLP would confirm whether or not those statements of Mr Munroe reflects the point of view they may be discussing internally in the PLP and is it simply being discussed publicly by one of their more courageous subjects. Is this the unspoken policy position that the PLP hopes to proffer in the future? Their silence on the subject leads some to believe that it may be.”
Mr Pintard criticised Mr Munroe for not considering the “extreme poverty” and untenable political situations some people who immigrate to the Bahamas encounter.
“A number of people in the FNM have high regard for Wayne Munroe because he has made valuable contributions to the country on important matters that relate to the improvement of the judiciary and for fighting for people who otherwise would be without a voice, which is why we now find it very surprising, his recommendation that one way of addressing illegal entry into the Bahamas is to flog those persons who are apprehended,” he said.
“Firstly, the statements don’t seem to make any distinction between the people who enter the country. We are certain that Mr Munroe is aware that there might very well be political refugees, people who have fled the possibility of certain death and the Bahamas might be a transit point for them entering somewhere else. While that does not justify their illegal entry, it certainly does not warrant a beating. Secondly, for all categories of people who enter the country illegally, there is a remedy in law which includes repatriation and detention and certainly we don’t see the usefulness of further inflicting what some have termed barbaric punishment on persons who themselves may already be battling personal tragedies inclusive of extreme poverty. For repeat offenders, there are remedies in the law and if need be we have the power to increase the penalty for people who are repeat offenders. We should concentrate on how to deter the illegal entry, how to dismantle the criminal organisations that facilitate illegal immigration.”
He added: “Clearly tensions are rising and on all sides of this issue there is a tremendous amount of anxiety and frustration. We believe we have the talent, the humanity in this country to find common ground on how we are going to resolve this age old problem that politicians and citizens have kicked the can down the road on for an entirely long time.”
Comments
TruePeople 8 years, 4 months ago
Flogging? Is that part of Freddy boy's idea of "Harsher Penalties"? what next? crucifixion? What kind of insane country this is becoming?! And you mention human rights concerns and all of a sudden you get labelled enemy of the Bahamas and all this non-sense. what the hell
GrassRoot 8 years, 4 months ago
What is intellectually offending by the statement made by Wayne Munroe, QC, is that he did not apologize for having it made. Made and said clearly with the intend to be incendiary. another Trump out there. Now a Bahamian one.
My2cents 8 years, 4 months ago
Really Mr. Pintard? If Bahamians can keep their cool while being threatened on national TV by a person of Haitian heritage, and the insults, inaccuracies and outright inflammatory remarks of Fred Smith and videos defaming Bahamians...I find the comment to be disingenuous and insulting. I hope the voting public takes note.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
by TalRussell
sheeprunner12 8 years, 4 months ago
Do we really want to say that there will be social violence between Bahamians and Jamaicans?????? God forbid the day ................... just look at what Haiti has become because of social violence between the races and classes over the past 200 years
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Legal Eagles PLP Wayne and DNA's Bran, where in the hell of our nation's constitution does it expressly distinguish that while you can't bareback whip your citizens, it is okay to whip legal/illegal immigrants?
But didn't Bran already think da constitution does already allow for government officials take citizens be publicly bareback whipped in Rawson Square?
Comrades, I can only wish I was making this up - but I ain't.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 4 months ago
Here we go again with this Obama-like sugar coated social correctness .... hell that shit don't work with no black nation ......... get real ........... cut-ass or nuttin
Cas0072 8 years, 4 months ago
If such violence ever occurs, it won't be because of Wayne Munroe's comment. If one comment can push usually unmotivated Bahamians to act, and act with violence at that, it is because the FNM and PLP failed to properly utilize the legal and intellectual resources cited by Mr. Pintard, to keep illegal immigration and other concerns, in check. If no response equals collusion, I hope the official opposition is somewhere on record denouncing Anson Aly's threat against Bahamians or opposing the view that it is ever wise to disobey law enforcement officers.
Emac 8 years, 4 months ago
Michael Pintard is looking for brownie points man. How the hell could Bahamians become violent towards Haitians because of a stupid statement made by a frustrated Bahamian, who happens to be lawyer. When I say frustrated, I believe that Munroe doesn't believe what he is saying, but is voicing his opinion out of frustration. I have heard many Bahamians say that Haitians should be thrown over board whenever they are found in open waters entering the Bahamas illegally. I doubt that these Bahamians are serious about what they are saying. Let's face it: The majority of Bahamians are frustrated about this immigration dilemma, in particular with the Haitian community. When the courts begin to side with the illegals, then it leaves law abiding citizens feeling helpless and disenfranchised. If Pintard really thinks that Bahamians are that petty and stupid, then he does not deserve to be in the position he is in now.
sealice 8 years, 4 months ago
tossing them overboard before they get to land seems to work in the Turks and Caicos? they just float right by those islands
Emac 8 years, 4 months ago
"We are certain that Mr Munroe is aware that there might very well be political refugees, people who have fled the possibility of certain death and the Bahamas might be a transit point for them entering somewhere else." Yeah, sure you mean Miami right, Mr. Retard? I mean,"Pintard" Let's be real, ain no political refugees coming out of Haiti. The only people coming out of Haiti are opportunists. So tired of these fake politicians!
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Emac I think not only does Wayne occupy a special influential space among the power brokers inside PM Christie's government but he is being rebuked by the red party's chairman because of the aggressively dangerous views he has expressed publicly against illegal immigrants. Michael is telling Wayne that his statement about whipping illegal immigrants are not compatible with the values Bahamalanders hold near and dear to their hearts?
Wayne does not speak for Pindling's. Milo's and Clarence Bain's Progressive Liberal Party.
My2cents 8 years, 4 months ago
Michael Pintard has the talent to express himself better than most. He said what he wanted to say in politically correct terms, translation: "Bahamians are simpletons with a propensity for violence". He could have condemned Munroe without taking the stance that Bahamians might be agressive or violent toward Haitians as a result. Frustrated, unfriendly...yes. Targeting them with violence? He needs to sit down with that nonsense.
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade I put my faith in our people, not Michael. A tolerant people who would never condone whipping illegal immigrants. It is a repulsive suggestion by a senior and highly respected member Bahamas Bar. It is so unchristian.
My2cents 8 years, 4 months ago
Ok. Sounded like you were trying to justify Pintard's asinine response to an asinine suggestion. Meanwhile, the other QC more directly incites Haitians to resist law enforcement and celebrates judges who disregard penalties that are now law for illegal enablers and not a peep from him. I guess Pintard has no faith in his people or maybe he does...
TalRussell 8 years, 4 months ago
Comrade "King's Counsel" Freddie is also a member of the bar association but his human rights challenges are presented and ruled on before our higher law courts. Unlike Wayne who a big deal was made in the media by the PLP governing over his switching political parties.
My2cents 8 years, 4 months ago
No! Fred Smith makes a lot more off the cuff remarks that do not correlate to the law. He claimed immigration officers cannot make arrests and applauded the young woman who fought with them to evade arrest. He praised judges for ignoring the rule of law in sentencing persons who harbour illegals. He justified his client running away from officers as acceptable. Fred Smith's comments are by far, more inciting than Munroe's and its directed at a people whose history involves violent revolutions and violent outbreaks to facilitate change. It would take a lot more than Wayne Munroe to push Bahamians to that level. I think everybody speaking out also knows that.
themessenger 8 years, 4 months ago
Absolutely correct Tal, our tolerant, christian Bahamian people 'ain gat no time to be whippin' da Hyshuns dem, dey too busy barkin' one anudda ass .
SP 8 years, 4 months ago
..................... The FNM laundry list of corruption should incite violence ...........................
The FNM tourism cabinet minister disappearing with $5M, Saunders beach $350,000 toilets $450M infrastructure development scam to foreign entities, BTC give away scam, multi Billion $ underwater telecoms cable under the table deal with Haiti, inviting the Haitian president to encourage the overthrow of Bahamas by voting in a block, and releasing illegal Haitian migrants to run amok in our country should incite riots and all sorts of violence.
The FNM must be held accountable for mismanaging and pilfering the Public Treasury and wonton corruption during its last wave of piracy.
This party should be tried for treason and not even be a passing consideration in 2017!
bahamian242 8 years, 4 months ago
I can't believe that a Black Man in The Bahamas would make such a statement! Especially with all the debates of Slavery past????
Cainn 8 years, 4 months ago
So true B242... we all come from an enslaved ancestry, to now feel that we bear the right to whip other blacks as was once done to us... smh. Those remarks will haunt Mr. Monroe.
birdiestrachan 8 years, 4 months ago
Yes Pintard like Alie said about the Colombian choke or something like that, Did you have anything to say then and what did you say when Fred Smith compared the Bahamas to Hitler's Germany ?
birdiestrachan 8 years, 4 months ago
Mr;Pintard Mr: Munroe is not a part of the Government. He is a private citizen. who has the ability to speak for himself and he can do it very well.
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