EDITOR, The Tribune.
My husband and I, who hail from much colder and cloudier climes, have been thrilled to call The Bahamas our home for the better part of 9 years now. When we first came here on a cruise just after retiring it was like a dream, the most beautiful place either of us had ever seen.
We now have a lovely home, friendly neighbours who we consider close friends and we feel part of our community and the wider society in The Bahamas. We can now really and truly say that we call this special country our home.
Or can we? You see, home is a place where you are always welcome, a place you can rest your head at night and feel safe and secure.
Quite apart from the frightening escalation in crime over the past several years, we have become concerned about what we perceive to be a hardening attitude towards foreigners among certain Bahamians and have even felt the effects of this ourselves in a few casual comments directed at us recently.
Then, I had the misfortune to stumble upon a newspaper article on the subject of Canadian expat Mr Bruno Rufa, who has lived here a number of years and would seem to have been a respected member of his community.
Reading about what the Bahamas Immigration Department has put this man through over the past few years was truly a shocking experience for my husband and me. That a man could be arrested like a criminal and paraded around in front of his neighbours is deplorable and very frightening.
As far as we can tell, all that Mr Rufa seems to have done is lend a helping hand to the bar at the condominium complex where he lives and serves as president of the owners’ association, because they were short staffed. He says he wasn’t earning any money, but rather trying to ensure that operations were running smoothly, which is exactly what I would expect and even applaud from an official of the association.
Instead, Mr Rufa was charged with working without a permit and hauled before the courts.
Then, it gets worse. While his hearing was still taking place, the Director of Immigration suddenly declared that Mr Rufa was an “undesirable person” and should be deported as soon as possible. No explanation, no justification, just a pronouncement from on high.
Editor, I am sure you can appreciate how frightening this is for us. This is a man who owns a home and property in The Bahamas, just as we do. He is someone who has built a life and has dear friends here, just like us. Should my husband and I now be looking over our shoulders? Should we watch what we say and do at all times, lest we offend the wrong person and get reported to the Immigration Department?
I would like to stress that I do not know Mr Rufa personally and that I bear no ill will towards the Bahamian authorities. In every country around the world, Immigration officers are tasked with a difficult but very important job and I salute all those who do it with honesty and dedication.
But the way this case was handled should serve as a warning to every expat that has made a home in The Bahamas. At the end of the day, we may not be as welcome as we once thought we were.
Kind regards,
A BRITISH SUBJECT
Nassau,
December 14, 2015.
Comments
shortpants 8 years, 4 months ago
When we change this nasty corrupt government everything should go back to normal .Only when this party is in power every government department does as its feels. Everyone is in charge and changes all the rules to suit their likings .They treat everyone like a stepping stone. The only thing about them is money ,money and more money bribery is the order off the day. Please not everyone is greedy,corrupted and mean spirited like this crew . You've been here long enough to know that some of us believe in expat being apart of our community.
For the sake of crime yes we can really blame this government for this mess that they have created ,yes I said they have created by telling lies about believing in Bahamians and than turn around and tax the hell out of us, what do they expect to happen CRIME when you can't feed and supply your family with basic needs and social services only works for some .
This is the worst three years most Bahamians have endure ,since Perry have all his members doing and saying whatever the hell they feel like .We should overcome this mess of a government in short order .The people of the Bahamas should be ashamed for the way a lot of expats and even Bahamians are being treated ,we are weak and hopeless and refuse TO STAND with one another on all of the social ills that have taken us over since 2012. Bahamians please stop talking among ourselves and lets stand together to right all the wrongs this government has inflicted upon us .They are not the BOSS of us ,We are the BOSS of them they should answer to us .NHI we must stand united on this one ,we must not let them shove this one down our throat with out making a stance .
DillyTree 8 years, 4 months ago
In fairness, Mr. Rufa did the same thing before and was told he could not work while in the Bahamas. He was allowed to remain in the Bahamas. He chose to ignore that warning and break the law again. He really has no one to blame for his troubles but himself.
I'm sure the the British letter writer will agree that breaking similar laws in Britain would not be tolerated. So why would one expect to come to the Bahamas and break laws here with impunity? This case has absolutely nothing to do with being an expat. It is willful disregard for the law that got Mr. Rufa into hot water -- twice!
GrassRoot 8 years, 4 months ago
yes, he may be a bad example. however in these days, I would not recommend a non-working foreign spouse to an expat to even consider cutting her children's hair herself, or be a Yoga teacher and take donations. This government is feeding its people's fear. get Bahamar going and you reduce the amount of fear and anxiety in this country by 10,000 per cent already.
newcitizen 8 years, 4 months ago
Totally right on Mr. Rufa, bad example, but that does not take away from the fact that there is a deep seated divide among many Bahamians and foreigners. For every Bahamian who is a shining example of the smiling laid back and welcoming stereotype, there is a Bahamian who is filled with racism and xenophobia.
This country has a terrible problem with racism and since most expats tend not to blend in all that well here, they receive more than their fair share of hatred.
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 4 months ago
The late Dr. Paul Albury, as a Senator some years ago, noted that the immigration act would preclude his friends from Florida, after a day of fishing in the Bahamas, to assist him with washing down his fishing rods. And that would have been in Loftus Roker's time. We are such an insular people, it is amazing that we even recognize that there is a world and Universe around us. Ignorance is a blight on humanity.
newcitizen 8 years, 4 months ago
Ignorance is one of the foundations of our government. It's why we don't bother educating our youth, we can't keep them ignorant if they start learning things.
Voltaire 8 years, 4 months ago
Dilly Tree - hang on now. Correct me if I am wrong but the Immigration Act says that engaging in "gainful employment" is illegal for people holding this man's status. As in, working to earn money. If the man wasn't actually earning money the first time, and he wasn't earning money the second time, then he never broke the law at all. It is for the authorities to prove an expat is working for money and if they do not, they must leave that person alone. He does not have to cease a lawful activity just because some officer tells him so. People in uniforms are not our daddies, who we have to obey without question. Their powers are strictly outlined and limited in the law and they are not allowed to step outside those guidelines and bother with anybody. So, no proof he is earning money, he should be allowed to tend that bar all the livelong day.
DillyTree 8 years, 4 months ago
Voltaire, while I agree with you in principle, the fact remains that Mr. Rufa "worked". It does not matter that he did not receive money for his work (and we do agree that he "worked"), what does matter is that he was doing a job that would typically be paid. The fact that he was not paid is irrelevant in this case.
Someone else brought up expats being fearful of cutting their child's hair -- bad example really, but the one in which a yoga teacher accepts "donations" - let's call it what it is "donations" is just a sneaky way of being "paid" We aren't really that stupid, are we? But the point being is that Mr. Rufa was previously cautioned about his activities -- yet he chose to do so again. That is his crime -- arrogance and disregard for the law.
Do I agree with the laws as they stand? Not at all. In my view, the country should have a very liberal foreign worker policy, and the Bahamians would have to compete with the jobs with everyone else. I don't get the sense this would be a very popular point of view, but in my opinion, it would force the Bahamas to have to compete on the world stage. Education would become essential as a means to compete for a job, and this would force a far better standard of education. Just my 5 cents, but I'll step away and let the outrage begin!
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 4 months ago
We live in the Bahamas where 90% of business is conducted under the table.
When I read the first few lines of how unfairly Mr Rufa had been treated, then arrested, I was like "oh no",. Then I read how "helpful" he was, "volunteering" for the owner's association and then "lending a hand" at the bar...I wonder if the community needed any help with garbage collection. Because they could probably have saved some maintenance fees if they'd given him a heads up. This of course doesn't address the issue of how nice Mr Rufa is or what a wonderful neighbour he's been, but the country has laws and you have to abide by them.
seagrape 8 years, 4 months ago
VOLTAIRE - are you suggesting that it is okay for foreign persons to work in the Bahamas at Restaurants & Bars, food stores etc. as long as they are not being paid? The point is a Bahamian could have been employed to do the Job that he was caught doing for free. As a tourist Mr. Rufa should not have been working at a bar without the appropriate documents, not even for free. Why didn't he seek Immigration's permission to work? He was caught already working "for free", put out of the country, allowed to come back, now he was caught again working "for Free". How do we know he was working for free?
sunnyday 8 years, 4 months ago
signed A BRITISH SUBJECT , really ??? I will say A CANADIAN SUBJECT !! Sandra, Bruno is it you ?
sunnyday 8 years, 4 months ago
In the article you said , " Mr Rufa would seem to have been a respected member of his community. " well ,NOT AT ALL , him and his BOD are in Court for OPPRESSION OF THE MINORITY . he is an OPPRESSOR . Ask people who had to sell and leave the Bahamas because the pressure they go from him !
bluesky 8 years, 4 months ago
Bruno Rufa fired the Bahamian Bar Manager and took her Job. Working for free my A$$.
cooperboy 8 years, 4 months ago
Rufa is reaping what he sowed and this is just the tip of the iceberg as Rufa and his gang of merry board directors' end, are in touching distance.
birdiestrachan 8 years, 4 months ago
A British subject right. "All are welcome in this place" just obey the laws of the country the same as one would obey the laws any other Country.
GrassRoot 8 years, 4 months ago
you "just obey the laws of the country the same as" Bahamians obey the laws of the Bahamas? or are you holding foreigners to a higher standard?
themessenger 8 years, 4 months ago
Birdie, more of our people, including expats, might be more inclined to respect and obey the laws of the country if our leaders set an example by doing the same. Poor black boys from McCullough Corner and Bain Town going to jail for stealing a purse while our government stealing a country and living' large.
DEDDIE 8 years, 4 months ago
Our immigration laws are archaic and need to stop playing on the fears of the Bahamian people. A client of mine needed 50 work permits for his company that had intentions of moving their headquarters to the Bahamas. After several months of stonewalling he ended up in Florida.
GrassRoot 8 years, 4 months ago
right decision, what you safe in taxes you lose easily in fees, legal costs, higher cost of living, unrealistic rent, import duties on pencils and waste bins, loss due to unreliable internet, phone services, loss due to power outages, loss due to governmental working attitude, corruption.
newcitizen 8 years, 4 months ago
I'd say more than any of the higher costs, it's the government's arbitrary insertion into private business that should scare anyone from moving or starting a business here.
The laws are not set, and they can be adjusted, manipulated, or simply ignored by the government and they have shown a will and a desire to do that time and time again.
The uncertainty of when the government will decide to mess with you and your business is not worth all of the tax breaks in the world.
cmiller 8 years, 4 months ago
People, we have to face the bald truth here. We are a people who sit on our behinds waiting for foreigners to bring money,invest in our country, create jobs, and hire us, so we can survive. Until we can change that, we had BETTER make them feel welcomed!!!!
OrdinaryMan 8 years, 4 months ago
Hello - I'm new to this site, taking a look at things before buying a place in the Bahamas. From the comments after the article, I'm now wondering: as a expat homeowner in the country, will it be illegal for me to, say, plant a garden on my property, or mow its lawn, or paint its porch. Just wondering, folks, but wondering seriously.
Any advice, kindly sought??
asiseeit 8 years, 4 months ago
The sad truth is that your money is welcome but you are not. The politicians have made sure of this!
sunnyday 8 years, 4 months ago
I would like to point out to Mr. Smith that Coral Beach Board of Directors, Lead by his client, declared some owners at Coral Beach UNDESIRABLES, and forced them to leave the Coral beach community and the Bahamas. In my opinion, this is a classic example of Chickens coming home to roost.
bluesky 8 years, 4 months ago
We are talking about FOLLOWING the BAHAMIAN LAWS. Don't you follow the laws in your country ? So , why are you supporting B.Rufa who doesn't follow the Laws in the country where he is a Guests ? He is in Court for not following the law ! He keep saying CB is a society within a society .....look where he is now! ... in Court with 2 cases , one for WORKING illegally, the other one for challenging the Government ! ! And who will pay the legal fees and who will support him for this challenge ?... YOU? The owners at Coral Beach Condominium had to pay almost 1 million dollars in legal fees for 4 years and I am not counting what will come with those 2 cases ( already 300 K ). There are a large number of owners who would like to stop B.Rufa and his BOD doing foolishness , unfortunately we are under dictatorship and they are afraid to speak and and have their power shut down and their guest evicted without any respect by the security. This is not about how The Immigration Department doing wrong with B.Rufa , it is how Mr Rufa doing wrong with the Bahamian Laws , he think that he is above the law .
bluesky 8 years, 4 months ago
Information for the British Subject that wrote to the editor.
There was an alleged death threat complaint filed against Bruno Rufa at the Lucaya Police Station in Freeport back in 2006. There was another incident where a bound over the peace case was filed against Bruno Rufa,in the Freeport Magistrate court,where he got away with just a warning from the Judge. He was arrested by Immigration back in 2007 for allegedly working illegally and escorted out of the country for breaching the Immigration Act. He was arrested again by Immigration officers and charged in the Magistrate Court in Freeport,on February 3rd 2015, with engaging in gainful occupation contrary to Section 29 (1) an (2) of the Immigration Act.
A British Subject- you said the Director of Immigration suddenly declared that Mr Rufa was an “undesirable person” and should be deported as soon as possible. No explanation, no justification, just a pronouncement from on high.
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