By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Haitian community in Grand Bahama is “terrified” and people are going into hiding with their children in the aftermath of new immigration restrictions and raids on Saturday, a local human rights activist said yesterday.
Joseph Darville, of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA), called on government to exercise “extreme care and diligence” in its handling and separation of children during round ups.
He said it is important that such exercises are carried out with proper care for children.
He spoke to The Tribune after meeting with several Haitian families in Grand Bahama. “They are terrified of being separated from their children – some are begging to be hidden by Bahamian families and some are going into hiding,” Mr Darville said.
“There is an incredible blight on this nation, and I am begging that, for God’s sake, that my country do the right thing by these people. I do support my government in trying to bring some semblance of normalcy to the invasion of non-Bahamians in the country, but at the same time it must be done in very humane manner.
“And when you are talking about rounding up and the collection of children and putting them in a detention facility, that must be done with extreme due care and diligence, with respect to the amount of pain and suffering psychologically and physically that can be inflicted on these children.”
On Saturday, immigration officers apprehended illegal immigrants and their children during exercises in Nassau. Officials said 77 migrants were taken to the Detention Centre.
Images and videos showing children, one in a soiled diaper, being led away by immigration officers drew outrage from some observers who questioned if the children were being mishandled.
Mr Darville said there is a lot of fear and anger in the Haitian community in Grand Bahama as it anticipates the government will perform similar raids throughout the country.
He has requested to visit the detention facility to see the conditions under which detainees and their children are being kept.
Last weekend’s exercise, he said, was reminiscent of raids which took place 38 years ago. He noted that at the time, undocumented parents of Haitian children were sent to prison and children were kept at the Boys and Girls Industrial School.
“There was no detention centre then and there was so much suffering inflicted on the children that the GBHRA got directly involved and demonstrated in front of Her Majesty’s Prison,” he recalled.
At the time, Mr Darville said a telegram was also sent to the Queen of England about the situation, particularly the separation of children from their parents.
The association also took their complaints to the Organisation of American States. He said back then, raids were conducted “at 2am.”
Mr Darville stressed that the country does not need another “black eye” over its handling of illegal immigrants.
“We hope that we will not have to criticise government internationally, but we will not stand by as a human rights body and allow little children to be treated less than we treat our animals,” he said.
“We are a Christian nation and we should treat the children as if they were being handled by Christ himself, who had a special place for children.”
Immigration officials have repeatedly said no children were mistreated during the roundups. Director of Immigration William Pratt has said the children who were taken into custody on Saturday were abandoned by parents, some of whom left children at home with the stove on.
Officials have said children born to illegal immigrants will be deported with them.
Comments
John 10 years ago
This immigration policy has pushed the economy into a critical slump as some businesses have seen their sales fall off by 50% since November 1. This may make Christmas and the holiday season even more gloomy than expected, especially as consumers and businesses prepare for VAT in less than two months.
TheMadHatter 10 years ago
Of course this is to be expected - since Bahamians don't have any jobs, if the Haitians are carted off then there is nobody left with any money in their pockets to spend.
But, soon enough, unemployed Bahamians will finally be able to find work and they will be able to spend again and the economy will recover.
TheMadHatter
John 10 years ago
Many Bahamians with money in their pockets are government workers or hotel employees. They do not shop locally. What is Bahamasair going to and from Miami next month?
OliviaPope 10 years ago
Really!? Poor argument: F (see below)
OliviaPope 10 years ago
So by your estimate there are no employed Bahamians or if they are employed they are not earning a wage. Furthermore the Haitians (all) are being "carted off" and nobody will be left to spend money. Then the Bahamians that didn't have jobs will gain the jobs left by the Haitians. You really are mad but not very clever. Poor argument: F+
RTStorm 10 years ago
Are these Creole owned businesses that has seen this slump? Where did you get your statistics? Fact: The months of October and November are usually slow periods for retail businesses. This slump you are referring to can only have occurred where Immigrants or foreign nationals frequent. They usually support their communities first and purchase outside their communities only when needed. Their buying power with most Bahamian businesses is not substantive.
John 10 years ago
IS SUPER VALUE A Creole owned business? Or the Chinese food stores on Carmichael? Go and speak to any of the owners or managers of stores in the areas where there are dense Haitian populations and they will tell you that sales are off, more than is usual for this time of the year. Your claim that Haitian buying power with Bahamians businesses is not substantive is like saying an island does not have to be surrounded by water to be an island.
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
Your argument cannot be that by immigration doing their job and rounding up illegal immigrants they are hurting business. That's like saying putting drug dealers in jail means children in the inner city won't get bicycles this Christmas. If store owners are dependent upon illegal immigrants for their sales, a pox on them. they could care less about this country, they just want dollars. they are implicit in the degradation of this society. I have never seen a city so disorderly, it's almost as if overnight we "imported" a culture that has no idea what a crosswalk looks like, what a red light means, how to use a roundabout, that you can't just get a chair and sell products anywhere and then leave your packing crates and garbage on the side of the road for the next day,
RTStorm 10 years ago
My point exactly . . . a slump only where (illegal) immigrants frequent. And two stores (or a few) on Carmichael Road does not equal the entire Bahamian economy. Note well: The less there are of foreign nationals crowding the job market – the less money or remittances leave the country annually. So more money remains and circulates in the Bahamian economy and people’s pockets. This is what is needed now. Fear mongering about an economic slow-down (because the immigration laws are being enforced) is unpatriotic and will Not Work. Check your facts/stats . . . then check again!!!
OliviaPope 10 years ago
Something is not a fact just because you write a colon after it "Fact:". I love how you questioned the writer above and then you go on to say things like "They usually support their communities first and purchase outside their communities only when needed. Their buying power with most Bahamian businesses is not substantive." Haha, classic! But seriously your a racist right? Poor argument: F minus (racist)
OliviaPope 10 years ago
Which businesses? Why would some businesses seeing sales fall cause the holiday season to be gloomy for consumers and businesses? Are they large employers where are you getting 50% from. Poor argument: F
TalRussell 10 years ago
We stopped buying few days back a certain form of false compassion. Comrade Joseph what you failed to mention is the "misplaced compassion" that seems only be evident when told you must abide by the immigration laws Bahamaland. Instead of true compassion the Haitian people have told Bahamalander's how they are one's who must learn get along with the Haitians. That 6,000 Haitians were summoned under radar of even the media to assemble for the president of Haiti's per-election rally. Somehow Haitians have talked an English speaking talk radio station into blocking off 5 nights prime time airing for their Haitian Creole speaking show., That you can insult the National Flag of Bahamaland, by declaring your own Haitian Flag Day. I'm sorry, many no longer will tolerate a new kind of Creole compassion towards the people's Bahamaland. Yes, we find so much lately to be too Haitian being forced fed down throats of a tolerate, peaceful, loving, generous, christian. A people's who cannot help but feel there are many out to replace Bahamaland's people and culture.
duppyVAT 10 years ago
terrified????????????? of what???????????? we wont eat them!!!!!!!!!! If they are illegal they should be worried....... but they will be assured of a plane ride home....... not the sail boat that they came in.
SP 10 years ago
..............................................What an inexcusable shallow mentality!.....................................
Too many money hogs are ready to sell their birthright for a few dollars. Shameful!
WTF is wrong with some people? So what if sales are off? We are building a country for ourselves and future generations of Bahamians.
If that means hitting a few bumps with temporary "low sales" or a few of us must die as we readjust to stop this dam Haitian invasion then so be it.
No child or grandchild of mine are EVER going ask me "how did the Bahamas become a Haitian & Creole speaking country?"
I would much rather have them saying "Dad died protecting our country for future generations of Bahamians".
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
Exactly. I'm shocked that any Bahamian businessman opened their mouth to raise the complaint. Stop arresting all criminals in that case. If you take these guys off the street that's less people shopping...sheesh...
PastorTroy 10 years ago
SIGN THE PETITION: Because we are losing our identity as BAHAMIANS, with our close proximity to the USA, now an influx of undocumented, often uneducated, angry/violent, ungrateful, UNPATRIOTIC, (AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON) IMMIGRANTS. This influx of undocumented immigrants in The Bahamas is out of control immigrants MUST BE STOPPED LIKE THE EBOLA VIRUS. My fellow Bahamians, if, for political reason(s) ANY Governing Party Of The Bahamas, choose to discontinue this 'round up of illegal immigration process' VOTE HIM/HER AND THEIR PARTY OUT OF OFFICE EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!!! Then and only then will they FEEL how serious we as Bahamians take this vexing issue! THIS HAS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG! Sooner than later THEY WILL BE THE MAJORITY VOTERS and will ALWAYS VOTE FOR THEIR OWN INTEREST, This will then cause HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OR EVEN MILLIONS (Haiti's population is10,317,461 people) THIS WILL SINK THE BAHAMAS AS WE KNOW IT! This is Compassion, Its wrong for us to take the REJECTS or the BRIGHTEST Haitians/Jamaicans/D.R's etc from playing a critical part in DEVELOPING THEIR OWN COUNTRY! This is LOOONNNGGG OVERDUE!!!!! 40 years late!! STOP BORROWING ALL THESE PEOPLE MONEY (IMF, WORLD BANK etc) BEFORE WE GET SCREWED LIKE JAMAICA, OR LIKE FRANCE IS DOING TO HAITI... Borrowing 'Those People' Money is a TRICK!!! LETS KEEP TRIMMING THE UNNECESSARY 'FAT'. Immigration, Political Corruption etc before we all start running to Haiti for a better life!
https://www.change.org/p/government-and…
HisExcellency99 10 years ago
Comment listed at 25 minutes ago, i totally agree with you. Bahamians are selling their birth right for a bowl of soup. We've been crying for years for the government to do something and finally they did and its a problem. SMH!! ungrateful bastards we are. Soon there will not be any natural born Bahamian left. We would be over ran and out populated by that specific segment of race.....the Haitians.
licks2 10 years ago
As long as they cant work willy nilly all over the place. . .tuff titty!!!
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
"Terrified" is exactly what we want people operating outside of the law to be.
SP 10 years ago
..................... Tens' of thousands of Haitians will now be deported back to Haiti..................
Dominican Republic removed themselves from Inter American Court of Human Rights
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/dominica…
ohdrap4 10 years ago
they are taking away citizenship over there too.
and, many years ago, cuba had a law prohibiting them from work and they had to go back.
let them go to brazil.
Emac 10 years ago
John is always quick to quote biblical verses on the fly to support his comments. Yet there is nothing Christian about breaking the laws of a country. You cannot pick and choose which laws you would like to support. Further, I simply don't get it when someone's main argument for NOT supporting the detainment and deportation of illegal immigrants is based on 2 stores on Carmichael Road sales drop. Certainly no one could be that shallow unless there is some ulterior motive.
SP 10 years ago
.......Sign the petition to stop the Haitian invasion and change Article 7 of the Constitution.........
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sto…
Emac 10 years ago
I hope there are at least 30,000 or more signatures by the end of this month! At least it would show that Bahamians have awaken and are ready to fight this longstanding misconception about who is entitled to Bahaman citizenship.
countryfirst 10 years ago
while conducting these raids we should also be arresting those folks that hire these illegals then and only then will we start to solve this problem we are the ones that hire these people if they cant find a job they will not come back.Raids alone will not work because we deport 100 and next week 500 come.
SP 10 years ago
AMEN to that!
Observer 10 years ago
This is like 'comic strip'. Tell me, so how long do they intend to hide from Immigration?
Observer 10 years ago
John, you lie. Produce the proof.
SP 10 years ago
..................................... JEHOVAH IS THE MOST HIGH GOD! ................................................
Ungrateful Haitian idiots prayed to their phony voodoo obeah god for tsunami to hit Bahamas, now they are suffering flooding........LOL
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir…
Westgal 10 years ago
We as a country need to tackle this problem by its roots! Don't forget, the boat captains that bring the illegal Haitians here are BAHAMIANS!!! So the government needs to stop these boat captains. These captains are making a lot of money, because they are charging the immigrants anywhere from $3000.00 -$5000.00 a piece, from what I have been told. The legal Haitian people that I know here, are all kind, honest and hard working persons. They do contribute to the communities here. You can't stop the illegal movement here until you capture the boat captains. As long as there are boats, the illegal immigrants will come in search for a better life here in the Bahamas. Can you blame them?
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