Dept of Immigration reviewing report on Christmas choir incident

Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell speaks at the BIS Office in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

As of Thursday, December 31, 2015

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Minister Fred Mitchell confirmed on Thursday that the Department of Immigration is reviewing a report concerning allegations that stem from an incident involving the Grand Bahama Youth Choir (GBYC) at the Memories Resort in Grand Bahama on Christmas Eve.

He stressed that abusive conduct is sufficient grounds for revocation of the status on a non-Bahamian who is a guest in the country.

On Christmas Eve, the 25-members GBYC and its director Kevin Tomlinson were abruptly interrupted while performing and told by the general manger to leave the resort. The incident went viral on social media, with persons calling for an immediate investigation into the matter and the removal of the manager in question.

While in Grand Bahama on New Year’s Eve, Mr Mitchell said “that insulting children and their musical director is a serious matter particularly when as it has raised the ire of the community”.

“The community in Freeport seems united on this point, which is a unique position,” he said. “I can tell you people are outraged across the board from all walks of life about this matter.”

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said that following the incident at Memories his ministry had received a number of reports via print and electronic media, alleging abusive and disrespectful treatment of employees by the general manager Gabriel Varela. As a result, he said the government conducted a complete investigation into the allegations.

Dr Darville said that an investigation conducted by a team from the Department of Labour into the alleged matters has been concluded. “We are in possession of it and currently reviewing its contents,” he said. “We take claims of this nature very seriously. We remain resolute in our commitment to fight for Bahamians.”

Mr Mitchell indicated that certain recommendations have been made and the Department of Immigration has been called upon in the report to take certain actions. “They are studying the report and any necessary actions are expected to be taken shortly,” he said. “As you will see abusive conduct is, in my view, prima facie grounds for the revocation of the status on a non-Bahamian in this country. We must however be certain of the facts and never move in an arbitrary or capricious fashion.”

The resort executives were expected to meet with immigration officials on Thursday.

Mr Mitchell noted that there are too many complaints concerning abusive conduct towards Bahamians in Exuma, Grand Bahama and New Providence.

“There is this feeling that people believe that when they come to The Bahamas and obtain a status here that they can act and speak to Bahamians in any way, manner, shape, form or fashion. That on the face of is abusive conduct and it seems to be incompatible with the status of someone who is a guest in the country. That is the prime facie position that we ought to operate from,” he said.

Economist 8 years, 3 months ago

Has anyone spoken to the owners of Memories?

If they are the type of corporate citizen we want they will issue a public apology and transfer the manager to another operation or dismiss him.

This is not a matter for immigration at all. The owners have been given permission to operate in The Bahamas, by the government. The appropriate minister for investment should make a call to the corporate headquarters.

If I have a problem with the manager in a store, I go to the owner.

What were you going to do if the manager was not a foreigner. That is the procedure you should follow.

Tarzan 8 years, 3 months ago

But if this were addressed in that manner, Commissar Fred would not get his mug in the news and could not demagogue his favorite issue, which is evil foreigners, particularly evil foreigners from that imperialist power next door.

DillyTree 8 years, 3 months ago

If this is true, then the manager is a complete disgrace to the hotel and should be dismissed. But somehow there must be more to the story, as no sane, right-thinking person would throw out a choir of CHILDREN from a hotel. There must be more to the story.

If not, it reflects very poorly on the hotel, and certainly on the manager. This is hardly an immigration problem - it's a huge PR problem.

bahamian242 8 years, 3 months ago

Agreed its not an Immigration problem! It is a PR problem with that Resort! No one should act that way to another fellow Human Being!

TheMadHatter 8 years, 3 months ago

I find it curious that the article does not say WHAT the choir was doing there in the first place. Were they performing at a resort function? Was it a Christmas Play?

This fact was left out. This leads me to wonder whether the choir felt that just because they were a religious group, that gave them the right to enter onto the resort property and just wander around the parking lot and into the lobby singing and doing whatever they please.

Of course, that may not have been what happened - but you have to wonder when the facts are left out of the report.

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