Daphne Campbell, a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A FLORIDA lawmaker of Haitian descent vowed yesterday to stop at nothing until tourists and international businesses boycott this country because of controversial immigration policies that came into effect on November 1.

Daphne Campbell, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, spoke in Florida about the matter during a press conference broadcast on Channel 7 news yesterday.

At one point during the conference, she exclaimed: “Boycott Bahamas! Boycott Bahamas to end discrimination against Haitian children!”

Proclaiming to be a “voice for the voiceless,” Mrs Campbell later told this newspaper that she took her position after seeing a video showing Haitian children facing deportation to Haiti being led away during recent immigration arrests.

Distressed Haitian parents in Florida showed her the video, along with other “alarming” photos, she said.

She said Bahamian government officials have one week to apologise and reverse the new policies, or she will travel here with a delegation to address them face-to-face.

She also pledged to be persistent in raising awareness around the world about the “injustices” performed in this country as long as the immigration policies remain unchanged.

She said she will hold another press conference in a week if officials here do not reverse the policies.

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell dismissed her threats yesterday.

“She’s a fool,” he said when contacted for comment. “Anyone who talks about boycotting the Bahamas, I can’t have any time for them. That’s absolute rot. It’s amazing the stupidity that’s circulating around this. It’s just astounding.”

He later noted in a statement that her claims about Haitian children being mistreated here are false.

Mrs Campbell said Haitian parents in Florida, expressing their distress over recent immigration apprehensions in this country, have been overcome with emotion as they seek her help even while she campaigns for re-election.

“I got the information from a group of Haitian parents who came to my office in alarming and overwhelming distress,” she said. “I was preparing my campaign for my re-election. Even though I have a very nasty opponent, I put everything on the side to make sure my office wrote a letter to the Bahamian government, the prime minister of the Bahamas and we even reached out to the consulate in Miami. Plenty people came to my office to complain with videos and pictures.”

“I call on President Obama, Governor (Rick) Scott and the people who are supposed to make sure the voice of the voiceless are heard; we must boycott Bahamas.”

Asked how she planned to succeed in her efforts, she said: “We will do as much we can. I am a lawmaker. I could slap Bahamas with a law in Florida.”

“I will get all my colleagues with me,” she added. “I will get elected officials. We have Cuban elected officials with us supporting that initiative because it involves every culture, everybody who understands the meaning of children.”

She said children born in the Bahamas should never be deported.

“To me it is very unfair (to deport them),” she said. “It’s an injustice. . .for them to be deported to a country they don’t know, a country they can’t speak the language of, with no one to take care of them, to be deported – that’s terrible.”

“Bahamian culture has been doing this for years,” she continued. “I think they have no heart of God of all.”

Fitmiss 10 years ago

I think she is forgetting something. When they came here illegally they didn't know here, many could not speak the language and had no one to care for them. They are from Haiti long and short of it. It is unfortunate if their parents have not tried to naturalize the children, teach them the language or history of Haiti in case such an event occurs. Do I want my country to spend millions deporting these people without their country footing the bill? No. We are not able to solve the crises and turmoil in Haiti which causes the people to risk life and limb to get here. I understand willing to do anything to provide a better life for your family. I also understand that by coming here without proper paper work and overstaying is against the law. We cannot bow to this woman's claim. If we allowed the wet foot dry foot policy that the Cubans have in America to pass here regarding Haitians, by year end we will be the ones risking life and limb to leave our country. We need to boycott this lady. Can she even run on with this propaganda? When the tourist boycott us how will we further support the illegals who already bleed our clinics, schools and social services as they are also on lunch programs. I want to see how our MP Mr Mitchell will handle this entire situation and her. She is too out of order. Just trying to get votes. Did she immediately fly here to check on the conditions her people were in over here? I wish to add if you are here legally and in order, please enjoy my land responsibly and all it offers.

SP 10 years ago

Boycott or no boycott.....Deport all Haitians that came here after Independence July 10th 1973.

Haitians are pain in the ass parasites just like ticks and fleas on a dog...All they do is take, take, take!

Dominican Republic has it right.....DEPORT ALL DAM HAITIANS!

jackbnimble 10 years ago

Well "vait". Doesn't OUR Immigration have the right to NOT let her in our country? What's to stop us from denying this 'heffer' entry? if we don't let her in, where the hell she ga protest.

Clamshell 10 years ago

Relax ... This blowhard is a state representative. Nobody pays any attention to state reps. She's also under investigation for tax fraud and other allegations. Her own political party has disavowed her. She cannot get any laws passed affecting the Bahamas. She's lucky if she can pass gas.

mangogirl01 10 years ago

Lmao! She needs to do away with the bad weave, stop bleaching and shut her mouth! Say she coming here if we don't reverse and she can pass a law against our Bahamas, what a bunch of bull shit, that is so laughable till it ain funny! Woman, go sit small, shut the hell up and let us know what your real Haitian name is cause it certainly ain no Daphne Campbell. Haitians say they are proud of who they are their heritage but quick to change their Haitian name to distance themselves from the reality of who they really are!!

Clamshell 10 years ago

Apparently she is so stupid that she does not know that states cannot pass laws affecting foreign affairs; under the U.S. Constitution only the federal government can do that. If the moron had gone to school in America she'd maybe have known that. But it is hard to tell a Haitian anything they don't wanna hear.

Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years ago

Daphne Campbell, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, is no different than the politicians in our own country affiliated with the FNM, PLP or DNA. THEY ALL GIVE GOOD LIP SERVICE TO REGISTERED VOTERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLIGHT WROUGHT ON US BY THE ILLEGAL HAITIAN IMMIGRATION PROBLEM, BUT THESES EVIL POLITICIANS (LIKE OUR OWN) ARE ALL PRO HAITIAN WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR EFFORTS TO GET ELECTED OR RE-ELECTED!! Don't be fooled by the PLP's latest publicity campaign to appear to be doing something about our illegal Haitian immigration problem, when in fact they are doing very little but the minimum necessary to keep tempers down on the local radio talk shows!

Sickened 10 years ago

This woman is a fool. I hope that she comes here and loses her passport so that we can deport her as well.

If the parents of these children didn't come here illegally and then run away like the criminals they are then their children would be with their parents and not abandoned and carried off by kind Bahamians who are now forced to take care of them.

She's a fool and all those illegal immigrants who complain are even bigger fools. Come in to my country illegally and then demand rights!!! Damn you to Haiti or which ever country you come from!! Stay in your homeland and make a better country.

TalRussell 10 years ago

What is there about Floridian politicians forever meddling in another nation's immigration enforcement? First, it was some out Florida politician advocating a boycott against Bahamaland on behalf of the Cubans who had broken our immigration laws and were being - lawfully detained by Bahamaland's government. Here we go again with another Floridian politician this time focusing on Haitians, who also just happened be be illegally in Bahamaland. Comrades another out Florida opportunity movement, again presents itself for the red shirts to join-in, as they rushed to do before, using the international media to call for boycotting Bahamaland's tourism industry. If I tried I couldn't make this stuff up. But being they're focused on a two-way leadership race, the reds might be smart pass on this Floridian opportunity. But the two-way race may be about welcome new force be reckoned with red shirts leadership hopeful?

..........//http://www.local10.com/news/children-of-haitian-descent-deported-from-bahamas/29641282

asiseeit 10 years ago

This woman is a complete idiot. Why don't these Haitians make noise and try and fix their OWN country? Why must we bend over backwards to look after a people who have destroyed their own country and are intent on destroying our country? Bahamians give these people health care (go to PMH and see), school their children (more people of Haitian decent at central Abaco High than Bahamian) and give them jobs. Why don't they try going to Cuba and see how that works out for them?

TalRussell 10 years ago

Comrade they are making a big mistake by underestimating the resolve of Bahamalanders. If the advocates for the Haitians are going to start economically or violently threatening Bahamaland, they best be prepared for a people's push-back, not of violence cause we as people's don't roll that way but once a decision is made, not hire Haitians in any capacity ...period .....it's their own own people who will have brought it upon themselves. It is pretty damn close!! Have wait and see how that pro Haitian Guardian Broadcasting Network handles this woman's remarks? What they're doing is a damn disgrace.

Muckracker 10 years ago

Why do you talk like we black Bahamians are different from Haitians? We all come from Africa period. The differences you cite are superficial. Most civilised world says if you are born in that country you become a citizen period. Bahamas is a rotten place and we should blame ourselves.

fallenashenwings 10 years ago

what makes us different? name a country we as Bahamians go to illegally like the Haitians do. Take all the nations freedom and demand more. make a country in a country and say you have to change your countries laws to benefit us.

Altalk 10 years ago

Hmmmm she suspect...she is a pure bred hyshin with a bahamian last name....

SP 10 years ago

Daphne Campbell, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives better include Dominican Republic on her itinerary because they too are deporting ALL HAITIANS back to the cesspool whence they came!

bismark 10 years ago

Stop hiring Haitians period,Bahamians get up off your backsides and cut your own grass it is a good source of exercise,take some pride in your own surroundings it is time for us to band together and stop these people from over running our country report all illegals,clean up the corruption at immigration these people are being assisted by the dishonest among us,that is why we have this problem now and it must stop before we be strangers in our own land,these people band together,now let us band together and rid our country of all illegals.

TalRussell 10 years ago

Comrade Bismark unfortunately, it's the leaders of Haitian community that are the main characters stirring up the trouble pot, not the Haitian people but they do have a responsibility speak out against such leaders. If you allow such advocates make your beds, then don't expect mattresses be all nice and soft. They will get pretty damn lumpy, if it doesn't stop.

SP 10 years ago

Totally agreement that we should stop hiring Haitians...FULL STOP. Then they will have no reason to come here.

duppyVAT 10 years ago

She is just like the other million ungrateful Haitians who should be grateful for the US and The Bahamas for saving their asses for the past 200 years. They can all go back where the other TEN million are on economic and social life support in Haiti.

licks2 10 years ago

Why Fred even answering this fool is beyond me!!! It sounds like that fool came from the Bahamas! A Haitian that old (late 30 to mid 40) who cant speak English properly and named Campbell? DON'T ANSWER A FOOL IN SHE FOLLY. . .is my advice to yinna all!

One of yall please go Google that woman past. . .all kinda dumb criminal shed and thing! She better go sweep she door first before she start telling the Bahamas that we some bad dudes them so!!

lucaya 10 years ago

Why yinna wan da woman to come here?Ain't da Foreign Affairs Minister say he ain't gat no time for dat woman talking fool?Let her stay were she dere and face her own demons!Yinna tink Uncle Sam gern easy on her wit all those corruption claims,vell wait!

TalRussell 10 years ago

Comrades we need more people like the Floridian lawmaker to step forward to remind each and every Bahamalander, born or legally immigrated here, that while we as people will continue to ensure all cultures from all regions are welcomed, we will never permit our own culture to become marginalized - and right about now we have good reason feel that is the strong objective of some among us? You must park your language upon admission and adopt the nation's own. You also must share-in helping to grow and to sustain the nation's identity. In so doing, together we will build a better and more prosperous Bahamaland. You must become a true son and daughter of soil as if, you're umbilical cord's done be burried in Bahamaland.. Comrades.I speak with welcoming love in my heart. I come to you in peace. But deep down I is have heart, that cannot and will not be dictated to. You must respect the National Flag of Bahamaland, not celebrate your own Flag Day. You must drop any malice you hold for whatever reason, or you must be prepared to make your exit from shores we Bahamaland.. If we the taxpayers must ever have deport you back wherever you came from, you, or no close member of your family will ever be permitted to reenter Bahamaland - ever again, not even as a visitor.

Amen!

shortpants 10 years ago

This Woman Evil read this : As for the tax liens, despite court records, Rep. Campbell told The Herald in 2012 “I don’t have no tax liens.”

She then falsely told The Miami Times that “The Miami Herald never spoke with me and I don’t know anything about any tax problems.” But then she reversed herself by saying she has a payment plan with the tax agency and that “my accountant is working with the IRS.”

On Friday in an interview with a Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times state capital bureau reporter, Campbell also disputed the evidence of the red-light tickets issued to her husband’s Honda Odyssey.

The company that runs the ticketing program, American Traffic Solutions, provided video of the minivan running red lights on two occasions. It also furnished a photo of the back of the Odyssey showing a Campbell campaign sticker.

“It’s a lie,” she said. “That camera is a made up story. You can do anything with the computer now.”

Campbell said her red-light legislation isn’t about her or her husband.

SP 10 years ago

She's HAITIAN! No dam red lights in Haiti. They all do the same dumb crap here as well. Haitians routinely run red lights, stop signs, hit & runs daily etc. They have no concept of law and order because in Haiti THERE IS NO LAW AND ORDER!......DEPORT THE PARASITES!

shortpants 10 years ago

A Campbell family minivan has racked up five tickets for running red lights since 2010.

Most citizens would slow down. But Daphne Campbell isn’t like most citizens.

She’s a Democratic state representative who has another way to deal with future red-light tickets: file legislation to ban the traffic-surveillance cameras that shot video of her husband’s Honda Odyssey breaking traffic laws.

It could seem like a conflict of interest. But as long as a lawmaker’s bills don’t benefit him or her or a family member uniquely, it’s generally not a conflict of interest.

This is the state of ethics in the Florida Legislature. It’s a citizens’ legislature of 160 part-time lawmakers. They theoretically come from all walks of life and private professions.

This is representative democracy.

And Campbell, of Miami Shores, represents so much more in Miami-Dade.

Many citizens run red lights in Miami-Dade. Campbell is from Miami-Dade. And someone in her family ran red lights five times.

Miami-Dade is also a Medicaid fraud capital. Campbell and her husband own businesses that bill Medicaid. And the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit began investigating them two years ago. Their son, 30-year-old Gregory Campbell, faces Medicaid fraud charges in an alleged $300,000 scheme.

Many in Miami-Dade have tax problems. Campbell is from Miami-Dade. And she and her husband last spring were slapped with $145,000 worth of liens. The IRS also began examining the Campbells over financial transactions involving a web of family healthcare businesses. Two former business associates told The Herald and IRS that the Campbells scammed them.

Miami-Dade has questionable mortgages. The Campbells own numerous properties in Miami-Dade. Campbell’s husband pleaded guilty in 2007 to a federal charge of falsely using someone else’s Social Security number to obtain $829,103 involving six separate loans, one of which was from a Honda dealership.

Emac 10 years ago

It is funny she is not saying, “Boycott the Dominican Republic! Boycott the Dominican Republic to end discrimination against Haitian people!” Lady, if you feel that strongly about your people, get your lazy ass up and put your talks into action, make Haiti a better place so there be no discrimination against your people, perceived or real!. I certainly hope that Bahamian officials are taking note. Cause in the likely event that one of these roaches gets in the Bahamas Parliament in the future, we are finished!

SP 10 years ago

................................................ AMEN! ..........................................................

Haitians are well known for corruption and ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED!

We need to immediately implement citizenship laws like Bermudas' so that no naturalized foreigner can ever vote or run for political office. See link below for Bermudas' laws on citizenship:

http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizensh…

TheMadHatter 10 years ago

You can't help Haiti. If you brought 2000 companies in there to hire tens of thousands of people, and created a good food supply, and brought in medical care and supplies and did everything you could imagine to the tune of like two or three billion dollars invested - all that would happen is they would triple their breeding rate and the population would double in 10 years and the same problems would return. It is not a lack of things in Haiti, it is an overpopulation of people.

You add supplies? They'll add more than enough people to consume them. It's a no-win situation. Condoms must be illegal down there.

Emac 10 years ago

I agree with you 100%. My problem is why fake the fraud. Don't pretend to care for your people and at the same time steal from them. These rodents are the only people in the world that enter other people country illegally, then try to take over, demanding that they get the same privileges as hardworking citizens. Well this election indigenous Bahamians need to show all these tired ass politicians that we ain't for dat! I agree with SP. The citizenship laws need to be amended immediately to protect the interest of all right thinking Bahamians. If this is not an eye opener for this government, then I don't know what is. You cannot be nice to people who threaten you. Need I remind everyone that these people gained their independence through fighting without reasoning? They can dress up in suits, sit on boards and even be apart of the lawmaking process as much as they like. But trust me, sooner or later the bush in them will always start to pop out.

shortpants 10 years ago

Miami-Dade has lots of immigrants who get ripped off. Campbell’s legislative office is in Miami-Dade. Turns out, her top aide Janice Shackelford was arrested for grand theft last fall for allegedly charging constituents, mostly Haitian immigrants, phony fees for help that never materialized. Before Campbell hired her, Shackelford had pleaded guilty to a 2006 grand theft charge in Miami-Dade; a swindling charge was dropped.

North Miami has been plagued with “unscrupulous” absentee ballot irregularities at assisted living facilities, a county ethics group reported in 2008. Campbell campaigned in a North Miami ALF. And that very ALF was highlighted in the ethics group report that pointedly mentioned the Democrat by name.

Some group home residents have died or been raped in Miami-Dade. Campbell and her son ran Professional Group Home, based in Miami-Dade. And two developmentally disabled Miami-Dade residents died in its care in 2006, one after she was raped by a dangerous resident. The rapist wasn’t supervised closely despite Daphne Campbell’s assurance to a judge that he would get “’one-on-one” monitoring from staffers who will “’be with him everywhere he goes.”

Beyond Miami-Dade, in Lee County, two other disabled people died in Professional Group Home’s care in 2006. One disabled man, who had profound trouble eating, was allowed to have a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich that choked him to death.

The four deaths — plus inspections that found everything from rodent feces, cockroaches and squalor at the Campbell’s facilities — led the state to try to terminate their contract for about 10 group homes. The Campbells fought the state to keep their license so they could continue to work in the healthcare field and bill Medicaid.

In 2011, The Herald began an award-winning investigation into ALFs and found tales of horror and mistreatment at some facilities throughout the state.

Facing reforms, the ALF industry fought back with the help of Rep. Campbell. She co-sponsored legislation to deny public access to the state-kept list of troubled ALFs. Without access to the information, The Herald would not have been able to document the abuse of the elderly in state care.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the bill.

Campbell was also ribbed on the House floor in 2011 when she spoke in favor of a bill limiting lawsuits. Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, brought up the horrific group-home deaths that happened under Campbell’s watch.

Campbell said Randolph was persecuting her because she’s anti-abortion and he’s for abortion rights.

That’s one of the stock responses from the Campbells in all of the above controversies: They’re being persecuted for doing the right thing, the court evidence is wrong, or there’s more information that hasn’t gotten out.

“

Regardless 10 years ago

Ministry of Foreign Affairs better insure her fat ass is on the stop list. The Ministry should also put all the illegals on a freight boat and ship them to her in Miami freight collect.

Emac 10 years ago

Lol...Not ship them to her in Miami freight collect man!

javiebenz 10 years ago

Tell her LAN MED , DAN SANTE' !!

Emac 10 years ago

She said Bahamian government officials have one week to apologize and reverse the new policies, or she will travel here with a delegation to address them face-to-face. Haitian Translation: You Bahamians better say ya sorry and stop foolin with our people or I gon bring my machete toting posse to the Bahamas and fight y'all just like we did when we take our independence from France over 200 years ago! LOL..

TheMadHatter 10 years ago

Aren't many of the people in Long Island (Bah) descendants of the French who were run out of Haiti during their independence?

TheMadHatter

TheMadHatter 10 years ago

I also want to be clear. I have nothing against Haitians, and I wish that their lives could be better. I wish they would work on making themselves better and providing better for their families. It is just sad that they want to have such large families both here and at home. They just need to understand that is simply not possible today. Things are too expensive. It is not possible to live like you did 200 years ago or even 100 years ago. Times have changed. If they want to be better and prosperous, they need to behave mainly like the people in the country's that they run to behave (USA, Canada, Bahamas, England, etc).

You can't hit yourself over the head with a hammer and complain of headache, and then say I'll move to the USA and my health will improve - but you take your hammer with you. Stop hitting yourself on the head. Change your lifestyle. Live like you see the people on TV live. You don't see families on TV now with 8 children. That was the Brady Bunch 30 or 40 years ago.

I hope that all Haitians will prosper and have better lives soon.

TheMadHatter

jusscoolin 10 years ago

Daphne Campbell, Daphne Campbell, with the last name Campbell I would most surely think that Mrs. Campbell is boycotting her own country men! She should really think before she speaks! We should check this out ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfHaoHz…) Daphne Campbell Avoids answering Medicare fraud allegations

jusscoolin 10 years ago

She's just looking for attention!

jusscoolin 10 years ago

EVEN THOUGH YOU FELL ASLEEP DURING REDISTRICTING HEARING!

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2014…

Stapedius 10 years ago

She is exactly the reason people get annoyed with illegal immigrants. First thing, there is a US and a Hatian embassy in this country, both are aware of our governments policy. If she wishes she could've easily availed herself of the proper diplomatic channels to get a better understanding of what is going on. Second, this wild threat slinging is unbecoming of any politician. But this appears to be how Haitians role. Shes's no better than the guy in the shanty town. Put a mic in their face and they go mad. But many of the posters are absolutely correct about her neglect to comment on the DR, Haiti's closest neighbour. These folks out of Florida have time and time again found an opportunity to get some media attention at the expense of the Bahamas. Let us ignore them, defend our borders, and do what is right and just. We have been a lenient, passive people for years allowing anything to just go.

If the lady is such a big cheese in government there why not ask the Florida legislature for special consideration to allow Haitians refuge there? Then you would see all hell break loose between the Cubans and Haitians there. You see, both these groups want attention at any cost and the Bahamas has become their punching bag to get it. She should by all means invite herself and let Fred lambaste her.

SP 10 years ago

What I find most totally amazing is this woman and all the other parasitic disingenuous Haitians is that none of them talking about "the children" have a problem with, or ever complained about, their own people that put unaccompanied children on badly overcrowded leaky boats to risk illegally traveling to a country they do not know, have no relatives, do not know the language or know the culture.

Yet these same dam lying Haitian parasites say we should not send their children back whence they descended????

WTF is that all about? How stupid do Haitians think we are?

Reality_Check 10 years ago

From the comments above it appears many of us are frightened and intimidated by the ever increasing threats being made against Bahamians by individuals of Haitian descent both at home and abroad. The uprising is only just beginning thanks in large part to the Christie (PLP) or Ingraham (FNM) led administration buying votes come general election time from illegal Haitian and Haitian-Bahamian immigrants in exchange for granting them Bahamian citizenship. Both of these political leaders and their parties have been heavily engaged in this type of vote buying activity whenever they have been in office since 1992. If this practice continues, The Bahamas will be a republic with a president of Haitian descent in less than 20 years time....assuming of course our corrupt politicians do not grant Bahamian citizenship to millions of Chinese nationals between now and then in exchange for their votes come general election time. Worrisome indeed!

SP 10 years ago

.......................................... Good observation! .............................................

We can avoid the inevitable you described by simply copying Bermudas' citizenship and voting laws which prohibits any nationalized citizen from EVER voting or running for political office.

It is up to WE THE PEOPLE to DEMAND this be done, and no government can stop us from exercising our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to cause a referendum be held for this purpose.

Click the link below to review Bermudas' citizenship laws:

http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizensh…

asiseeit 10 years ago

Sir L.O. Pindlings government did the exact same thing in the 80's. I will never forget a certain Haitian fellow cussing his employer and saying he don't need no work permit no more because he get passport for his vote. Politicians only care about the next election!

Stapedius 10 years ago

I don't think Bahamians are frightened but its the first time in a long time we are putting politics aside and standing up for this country in a collective way. With all our faults and problems in this little country I am pround to say I'm Bahamian. Haitians want say they are proud to be Haitian but doing it in someone elses country. Why not be proud Haitians at home and work together to build something?

TheDominican 10 years ago

Haitians are NOT STATELESS: Haitian Constitution March 29, 1987

ARTICLE 11: "Any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth." IF HAITI REFUSES TO DOCUMENT ITS NATIONALS THEY ARE THE ONES CREATING THE STATELESSNESS

TheDominican 10 years ago

Unlike Haiti, the DR is a multicultural, multiracial country. Even before our first independence—from Spain—in 1821, we were first in the Americas to host a community of maroons running away from slavery in French St Domingue. Well before the US, we received hundreds of Germans of Jewish descent. More recently, thousands of Haitians came to our hospitals after the earthquake of 2010 and stayed on to recover in Dominican homes.

Just like Tayllerand wrote about treason being a matter of dates, so are atrocities in Hispaniola. Unlike Mandela, who chose reconciliation to avoid the economy of the graveyard, Haiti chose upon independence to destroy its colonial production, redistribute land in micro-sized lots, practice slash and burn agriculture and chop down 98% of its forest coverage. So now they have no farms of adequate size, no fertile lands, no trees and of course no rural jobs.

No mention is made about what happened to the white or mulatto population during and after their independence; what happened to the DR population during the many Haitian invasions of the 19th Century, before and after our second independence—from Haiti—in 1844. No mention is made, either, of the fact that the DR has never invaded Haiti, before, during or after our third independence—again from Spain—in 1865.

There is no need to refer to the over 30,000 Haitians who died as recently as the government of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, whose policy of “negritude” did so much to expel most educated Haitians in the 1950s and 1960s to countries such as Senegal, Canada, France or the US.

The unacceptable international campaign against the DR fails to recognize that—excluding Haiti—the DR generates more jobs for Haitians than the entire rest of the Caribbean. This is so, in spite of the fact that Haiti signed the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas in 2003, which provides for free movement of skilled and professional personnel as well as for contract workers on a seasonal or project basis for all members of CARICOM.

The DR is fully attached to the rule of law, respect for human rights and complies with all its international treaty obligations. It is a country with a longstanding tradition of nondiscriminatory access to public services.

It is in DR hospitals where Haitians are giving birth to their babies—1 out of every 5 children born—given the fact that the majority of hospitals in Haiti are private. About 18% of the health budget covers the needs of Haitians seeking services in our hospitals.

It is in DR schools that Haitians are educating their children—2 out of every 5 children in many of our public schools—given the fact that the majority of schools in Haiti are private. Thousands attend our universities, paying local rates. 15,000 of those are able to study with full scholarships from the DR government.

TheDominican 10 years ago

It’s good to know that our nationality is not for sale and even less for 'HAITIANS', due to historical factors. Including, but not limited to, a brutal "OCCUPATION" that lasted 22 years (1822-1844). "EL DEGUELLO DE MOCA" ( The MOCA Beheading s) where 40 children were beheaded in front of the alter because haitians believe the Church was part of their enslavement. Also, the over 500 Civilians who consequently were locked inside the same church and then set ablaze while still alive with them inside. And their "Manifest Destiny", a self-proclaimed "Providence", which they believe that the entire island is "One and Indivisible" and it belongs to them. Just quoting a clergymen in a speech in 1951 witnessed by a Dominican Consulate person, during the celebration of the Haitian Independence, makes their intent even more obvious; “The Haitian people must forcefully find our vital space”. Said father Angenor, Secretary to the Archbishop in Haiti. Know that since 1929 to date, it has been the position of all competent constitutional bodies that to acquire the Dominican nationality there are "4" different ways. HEAR IT WELL, "4"!

TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW: - JUS SANGUINIS: Latin; Right of Blood - JUS SOLIS: Latin; Right of the Soil

1.-- JUS SANGUINIS: For the children born of father and mother who are "Dominicans".

2.-- JUS SOLIS (restricted): For the ones born in the territory and are the children of foreigners with "LEGAL residence". HEAR IT WELL, "LEGAL"!

3.-- By marrying a Dominican.

4.-- By Naturalization "according to the law".

Only 30 of the world's 195 countries follow jus solis (Latin: right of the soil). Oh and guess what, Haiti does not follow jus solis EITHER! 160 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD DO NOT, including HAITI.  So your argument is MOOT!
Haiti denies citizenship by birth to people who are not of Haitian blood (Jus sanguinis; Latin: right of blood). So I guess shame on Haiti too, right? If you are a foreigner on HAITIAN soil (although LEGAL; JUS SOLIS), Haiti denies the citizenship of your children. Saying NO, NO, NO, like a 5 year would get you nowhere in the jurisprudence process.
TO CONCLUDE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS A ‘REPUBLIC’, A ‘NATION OF LAWS’. NOT A FAIILED-STATE LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST. SO, READ AND EDUCATE YOURSELF, BEFORE GIVING YOUR UNINFORMED OPINIONS.

TheDominican 10 years ago

Haiti: Procedures for obtaining citizenship > > http://tinyurl.com/ndzdwqv FROM: UNCHR (Refugee Agency)

The Haitian Constitution of 1987 is the only legislation governing the issue of Haitian nationality (Haiti 19 Jan. 2007; Citizenship Laws of the World 2001). Under the constitution, Haitian nationality can be obtained by descent or naturalization (Citizenship Laws of the World 2001). Simply being born in Haiti does not automatically confer Haitian citizenship (ibid.). Articles 11 and 12 of the 1987 constitution state, respectively, that [translation] "any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth" (Haiti Mar. 1987, Art. 11), and that [translation] "Haitian nationality may be acquired by naturalization" (ibid. Mar. 1987, Art. 12) when the person requesting it has resided in Haiti for five years (ibid., Art. 12.1).

SP 10 years ago

Thank you for shedding some light on the Haitian vs. Dominican disposition. It is obvious that Haitians are indeed ungrateful, useless parasites like ticks on a dog. Always taking and never giving anything in return.

Dominican Republic and the Bahamas share the same burdens of these parasites. Hopefully Bahamas will follow the Dominican lead and rid ourselves of these Haitian parasitism.

DEDDIE 10 years ago

You seem to have a lot of hatred in you. Don't call a person made in the image and likeness of God a parasite. Hate the fact that they are coming to the Bahamas but don't put on a Hitler like mentality. Remember that some fisherman feel the same way you feel about illegal fishing by the Dominicans.

SP 10 years ago

.............Don't be an ignorant judgmental hypocrite hiding behind GOD.......

Definition #2 below clearly describes Haitians as parasites

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/… noun

an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.

3.(in ancient Greece) a person who received free meals in return for amusing or impudent conversation, flattering remarks, etc.

I am a realist. It is what it is!......

SP 10 years ago

.............Don't be an ignorant judgmental hypocrite hiding behind GOD.......

Definition #2 below clearly describes Haitians as parasites

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/… noun

an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.
(in ancient Greece) a person who received free meals in return for amusing or impudent conversation, flattering remarks, etc.

I am a realist and It is what it is!......

Veaney 10 years ago

My brothers and sister of Bahamas:

We Dominicans has to bear 2.5 millions of illegals haitians coming to our country, they think the island belongs to them. But we are here since the begging of the times, the Arawks -Tainos where klled by the spaniards but we still have their bloods. Our hospitals a full of haitians, they get free and1class treatment, somethingthey never get in haiti. Yesterdays newspaper, it is in spanish, but you can get the idea:

http://elnacional.com.do/rd-gasta-5200-…

We have to pay 5,200 millionsin DR's pesos on health care. Not counting the old, the childrens etc etc.

http://hoy.com.do/madres-haitianas-grav…

Hospitals has to treat women with AIDS, pregnant free of charge, in case mother dies, nobody claims the body, so the DR has to provide all the burial expenses.

All, they don't care.

And they want DR citizenship. Long story but the Inter American Human Rigths Court has a struggle againts the DR

Each week there are at least 4 to 7 assasinations made by haitians to anotherfellow orto a Dominican.

They have 18 months to regulate there legal migration statues in the DR, freely , completly free of charge. Trinidad and Tobago gave them only 2 months to do paper works. Or else, that means a "Camiona" a bus to haiti. The correct word is camíon, as usual they do what ever to the spanish language.

We are sick and tired by the haitians, ungratefull, fill of hatred to the DR. May Jesus be our judge.

My tweeter:

Blockquote

Veaney_Arteaga

DEDDIE 10 years ago

Please tell your fisherman to leave our waters alone. We have a problem with Haitians on land and Dominicans on our waters. It is said that Santa Domingo waters are totally fished out so how in the hell you are able to export millions of pounds of crawfish and scale fish annually. Our fisherman have been threaten by Dominicans in our own waters. You can help by refusing eat any fish sold in your restaurants because you will be aiding and abetting a crime. Appreciated.

Veaney 10 years ago

Territorial waters,

Well before your independence, that waters belongs to us. Go tell the british.

SP 10 years ago

@ DEDDIE......Don't be an ignorant judgmental hypocrite hiding behind GOD.......

Definition #2 below clearly describes Haitians as parasites

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/… noun

1) an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.

2) a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.

3) (in ancient Greece) a person who received free meals in return for amusing or impudent conversation, flattering remarks, etc.

I am a realist and It is what it is!......

Emac 10 years ago

Well I describe them as roaches:Crawling all over the place infecting areas with bacteria, producing eggs and populating everywhere they go. I could give a fck what people say about my demeanor. I am speaking from experience. No hear say here. Those who are not affected directly by these rodents will never really know the severity of these people.

DEDDIE 10 years ago

lol

DEDDIE 10 years ago

Where does Dominicans fit in your definition, or maybe parasites as you described don't come in that shade of color.Or maybe they sell the fish they get from our waters and give the Bahamas its cut from the profits.

SP 10 years ago

.........................Not MY definition......Whomever the cap fits etc.................

DEDDIE 10 years ago

Or you speaking from experience as a roach or a rodent. Not calling you either, just trying to understand what you are writing.

DEDDIE 10 years ago

Veaney,I was not aware that the waters of the Bahamas once ago belong to Santa Domingo. I will do some research to confirm your conclusion. I know that it once belong to Spain but not Santo Domingo.

BigDuffus 10 years ago

We wont have tourists and international businesses much longer if this is not done. What go is it to have tourists and international businesses when they are over run.

SP 10 years ago

....................... Who said that the health care in Bahamas was not up to par??? .....................

A Haitian immigrant in Nassau goes to the doctor and says "I feel terrible."

The doctor examines him and then says:

"You need to pee and put your bowel movements in a bucket for a week,

then throw in a dead fish and some rotten cabbage.

Put a towel over your head and inhale the vapors for three days."

The Haitian does this and goes back to the doctor 3 days later and says

"I feel wonderful! what was wrong with me?"

The doctor replied, "You were homesick."

Emac 10 years ago

@DEDDIE. You are trying your best to be the objective voice. But that Haitian heritage in you is pulling you steadfast into the banana field. Sorry this is cut and dry. The only way to solve this problem is to get rid of the Haitian masses. This may sound ugly, but the grim reality is there is no getting around what needs to be done now.

duppyVAT 10 years ago

I support Daphne Campbell ................. Haitians SHOULD boycott the Bahamas!!!!!!!!!! We would be so much better off .................... imagine a Bahamas without Highshuns!!!!!!!

SP 10 years ago

November 15th, Nassau Guardian page A7 "Deal Locator" advertises a 70' vessel just out of the boatyard with a 150 passenger capacity delivered to the Bahamas for $29,500.00

Bahamasair charges $37,000.00 per movement to repatriate 130 Haitians each time.

Government could purchase this vessel or something similar, step up roundups, expedite deportations on a sustainable level and save the treasury ton of money in the process.

Why aren't government capable of rational thinking?