The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Human Rights Association President Fred Smith said he has received numerous complaints from former detainees about “deplorable conditions and brutal treatment” at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Mr Smith said since the implementation of the new immigration policy on November 1, he has heard “dozens” of stories that “paint a terrifying picture of the country’s main immigration holding facility”.

“Over the past several weeks, we have heard from Haitians, Americans, Dominicans, Brazilians about the deplorable conditions at the centre and the brutal treatment of detainees,” Mr Smith, a Queen’s Counsel, said in a statement yesterday.

“Together, these testimonials paint a picture of a (place) where there is inedible food, insufficient water and shelter, and where verbal, mental and physical abuse are endemic.”

According to Mr Smith, a Dominican tourist in possession of a Bahamian visa who was held at the centre for four days in October, described conditions as “horrible”, with people sleeping on the floor and several women forced to share bedding.

“This tourist, this visitor to our country, was forced to live in unsanitary conditions, and given what she described as disgusting food, and far from sufficient water,” Mr Smith said.

“She told of between 40 and 50 women crammed into a single dorm, with up to five women sharing two small foam mattresses. Basic necessities, such as clean clothes and toiletries were not provided. Asked how she was treated, the woman said “like a dog”. The Constitution demands that rights be afforded to everyone taken into custody by law enforcement. The government cannot simply continue to break the law. These people deserve and will get justice.”

Mr Smith said the association intends to represent anyone held at the Detention Centre without charge, bail, or access to an attorney.

Last week, Mr Smith said his organisation will mount a constitutional challenge against any legislation that is passed in parliament concerning the new immigration policy.

He also called for all persons adversely affected by the new policy to join a class action lawsuit, which his organisation intends to file “in due course”.

However, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell dismissed Mr Smith’s previous threats as a “joke”.

“(Mr Smith) is a joke. He’s looking for attention and he needs to use some common sense,” Mr Mitchell said.