EDITOR, The Tribune.
The discriminatory element within the Free National Movement (FNM) government’s Fisheries Bill, 2020 has caused somewhat of a brouhaha within its ranks, with East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest and former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham both expressing opposition to it.
On the other end of the spectrum, I would imagine that the group, The Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA), which lobbied the former Progressive Liberal Party administration under Mr. Perry Christie to repeal the policy of granting permits to alleged Dominican fishermen married to Bahamian women in 2012, is ecstatic.
For years, Bahamian fishermen have complained about the practice of what seemed like marriages of convenience, in which Dominican men engaged in the fishing sector are marrying Bahamian women. In many instances, these Dominicans can hardly count from one to ten in English, yet are able to say “I do” in perfect English before a Bahamian justice of the peace.
With the Dominican Republic boasting some of the most beautiful women in the Caribbean and indeed the world, why are so many Dominican men anxious to tie the knot with Bahamian women?
The BCFA believes that these marital arrangements were designed to get the Dominicans into The Bahamas legitimately. They would then collaborate with their counterparts back home in the Dominican Republic, who would then engage in widespread poaching in the southern regions of The Bahamas.
Not being Bahamians, these men obviously have no sentimental attachments to this jurisdiction. Dominican fishermen have just about depleted their fish stocks due to decades of unsustainable practices. That’s why they have set their sights on the waters of The Bahamas. Our waters are teeming with marine resources. Left unchecked they would have depleted our fish stocks in the southern Bahamas in a matter of decades.
The Fisheries Bill, 2020 is one effective way of pulling the rug from under this apparent scam. Now, Dominican fishermen no longer have an incentive to marry Bahamian women.
I agree with Ingraham and Turnquest that this legislation is discriminatory. But not all forms of discrimination is immoral. For instance, no sane Bahamian parent would entrust their underaged children in the care of known paedophiles. That, my friend, is discrimination.
In any case, the Bahamian spouses of Dominican fishermen have made their bed, now they should lie in it. Years of abusing the process by treating our Bahamian birthright with contempt has finally caught up with them.
May I suggest to the naysayers of this Bill to direct their attacks at these misguided Bahamians, not the FNM. This is about putting Bahamians first.
KEVIN EVANS
Freeport, Grand Bahama,
December 21, 2020.
Comments
mandela 3 years, 3 months ago
Agreed, i also know of at least one person who sold their birthright to a DR fisherman for money, and to top it off these men don't love them but uses them, and the fisheries house uses them for cheap labor.
Chucky 3 years, 3 months ago
But not all forms of discrimination is immoral. For instance, no sane Bahamian parent would entrust their underaged children in the care of known paedophiles. That, my friend, is discrimination.
KEVIN EVANS
Only a complete idiot would give that example. Clearly Kevin Evans does not understand the action of discrimination.
Would it be so hard to open a dictionary?
Kevin Evans you should stick to facts; as you carry on Beyoncé fact with your foolish ignorant comments you loose all credibility and make our people look stupid.
C2B 3 years, 3 months ago
The Bahamas needs a better education system. Evidence: Kevin Evans. You see Kevin, some people used make up stories about black people being pedophiles and rapists to justify their racism. It's a slippery slope and you are near the bottom.
UN 3 years, 3 months ago
Maybe the SAD we’re-forever-wannabe-ing gals are trying to do what another did (have a kid or kids with all the ‘good’ things - hair, skin, etc)? I did notice former neighbors with light skinned kids ALL made sure to try to get my attention (but, um, who dey is? where dey at?). Or maybe their desperation for husbands has reached a breaking point (gurl, that 76% stat is embarrassing), so let them ride us like donkeys but at least we’ll get something out of it.
For many years now the ‘Christian’ ppl of this country have normalized the sexualizing of a certain girl/teen (visualizing kids and babies?? aka pedophilia is cool). We’re all doing it so it’s fine. Kids are not safe in their presence, it’s clear a ‘problem’ child especially means He/She (an adult) started it so we can continue the wrong. I’ve heard of teens marrying but it’s clear in this country the very young are viewed as innocent and therefore gullible. When a teen marries, she won’t stay a teen forever. One day she’ll be 25, 30, 40 (so the husband wasn’t trying to fulfill a fetish).
Their logic: the world’s youngest mother (5 years old) would be seen as fair game (she fast so dat means alright, she get period aka da body ripe aka dat ready and our brain da same age means she is TRULY woman aka we believe in shoddy science).
DWW 3 years, 3 months ago
The Bahamas voted whole heartedly against equal rights for women on 2 different occasions. Why would it be an issue now? I'm just saying. The Bahamas discriminates, don't pretend we don't.
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