The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Christian Council President Dr Ranford Patterson chided the government over its immigration reform policies and urged the Christie administration to “send home” all illegal immigrants.

Dr Patterson’s charge came as he delivered a speech during a celebration at Clifford Park Wednesday night for the 41st anniversary of independence. His remarks triggered cheers and applause from the audience as he called on legislators to address the marginalisation of Haitian-Bahamians who have not been able to contribute to the Bahamian society.

“Let them contribute and pay their fair share in our country,” Dr Patterson told the hundreds gathered at the park and viewers watching on television.

“My brothers and sisters, too many of our brilliant

Haitian-Bahamians who were born here in the Bahamas (and) went to our schools are being marginalised and are unable to contribute to this country’s development effectively. I have personally seen brilliant young people who can’t get ahead because of who their parents are.

“Those who are here illegally, we need to send them home. I believe that if we fail to enforce immigration reform we will have a country where there will be two nations in one country. I believe that that’s not good for the Bahamas. We must tackle this immigration reform going forward into the next 39 years. We must know who is in our county and make sure they are paying their fair share in this country.”

When contacted for a response, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said he was unsure what Dr Patterson was referring to. He said persons in the Bahamas illegally were being repatriated on a daily basis and those who can apply for naturalisation are allowed to do so. However, he did admit that immigration officials are facing a backlog because the process is laborious.

Mr Mitchell said: “People who aren’t here lawfully are being sent home on a daily basis and the people who apply for naturalising are entitled to do so and they are being dealt with as quickly as possible.

“Now I will admit that there is a backlog, but that is because naturalisation is a tedious and lengthy process. In those cases we are working assiduously to have those people dealt with.”

Dr Patterson also said the future of the country was resting on Prime Minister Perry Christie’s shoulders. He said Mr Christie is expected to make hard decisions with a view to securing the future of all Bahamians.

“Prime Minister, the next 39 years (are) on your shoulders. Sir, you have the opportunity that no one else in this country has had or will ever have. You must put in place policies and procedures that will set the course (and) that will take us into the next 39 years.

“God placed you in this position as prime minister to prepare the country for a new move,” he added. “You must set the course for the country and I believe we will succeed if you set the right course. I ask you to seek Godly council and make the right choices. God expects you to make the hard choice and if you make the hard choice God will bless you and bless everything that you touch.”