The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell is “behaving like a spoiled child” by “throwing tantrums in the media,” Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday.

He was responding to Mr Mitchell’s repudiation of his call for the government to disclose the findings of ongoing investigations into detainee abuse claims and to ensure that a spirited public relations campaign is launched to combat negative perceptions of this country’s new immigration policy.

Mr McCartney’s criticism of Mr Mitchell follows a critique from Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GHRA) President Fred Smith and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, who criticised his personality on the floor of the House of Assembly recently.

Mr Mitchell is currently in Washington, DC, to attend a series of meetings that will culminate in him addressing the permanent council of the Organisation of American States concerning the controversial immigration policy.

“For what seems like the umpteenth time, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell has taken the defensive position when responding to views which differ from his own, and like a spoiled child, has chosen to throw a tantrum in the media rather than seriously consider the concerns being expressed by the likes of myself and others,” Mr McCartney said. “I, like many Bahamians am often taken aback but not surprised by Minister Mitchell’s belligerent stand over issues of national importance. His most recent media comments regarding the handling of the new immigration policies seem to suggest that rather than being open to constructive criticism on the government’s initiative, what he wants is blind allegiance. This is the folly of Fred Mitchell.

“Since taking office, Bahamians have been reminded far too often of this administration’s lack of transparency. In fact, the minister himself is guilty of some of the most egregious instances of secrecy, with the voting public still waiting to be given the details of the minister’s many trips and the cost to the public treasury.”

Mr McCartney likened Mr Mitchell’s defence of the conduct of immigration officers to his statements last year that allegations of abuse at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre were false.

In that instance, testimonies from defence force officers suggested abuse had taken place.

“Having served as the minister (of state) with responsibility for immigration I am all too aware of the challenges facing immigration officers in the execution of their duties,” Mr McCartney said. “I am also acutely aware of the level of dedication and sacrifice these officers make to meet the standard set for members of the armed forces. I am not so naive to believe, however, that there are no bad apples within the ranks. It is the responsibility of a good government to ensure that all the persons charged with overseeing the implementation of any government policy acts within the confines of the law.”