By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE president of the Haitian Bahamian community in the Bahamas said yesterday she supports “1,000 per cent” Florida politician Daphne Campbell’s calls for tourists and international businesses to boycott the Bahamas because of the government’s new immigration policies.
Jetta Baptiste’s comments came after Mrs Campbell on Monday lobbied for a boycott of the Bahamas to “end discrimination against Haitian children” and gave the government a week to reverse the new immigration policies.
Ms Baptiste told The Tribune she supports Mrs Campbell’s assertions because the Haitian community is “simply tired of all the political games that have been played with (them) over the years”.
She also said she would follow Mrs Campbell’s lead and “wait for the answer to come from the government”.
“We know what is going on in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” Ms Baptiste said. “The illegal migration problem is a big political game being played by the Bahamian government so that they can enrich themselves and fool the masses who cannot and will never get employment from them.
“(A boycott) can be and it will be accomplished, not only in the state of Florida, but watch for other states to follow,” Ms Baptiste said. “(Mrs Campbell) has taken the lead and has written to the government, and she is awaiting answers. We will wait for the answer to come from the government. They have called us ‘dogs’,” Ms Baptiste added. “Well, do you know what happens to someone who messes with a dog’s puppies? Every dog has a master.”
During a press conference on Channel 7 News on Monday, Mrs Campbell, a Floridian lawmaker of Haitian descent, vowed to stop at nothing until tourists and international businesses boycott the Bahamas because of the country’s controversial immigration policies that came into effect on November 1.
Mrs Campbell, also a Democratic Member of the Florida House of Representatives, said she had the power to “slap Bahamas with a law in Florida.” She said she had “Cuban elected officials” in support of her stance, and also called on US President Barack Obama and Florida Governor Rick Scott “to make sure the voice of the voiceless are heard.”
At one point during the conference, she fervently exclaimed: “Boycott Bahamas! Boycott Bahamas to end discrimination against Haitian children!”
She said Bahamian government officials have one week to apologise and reverse the new policies, or she would travel here with a delegation to address them face-to-face.
In response to her statements, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell called her “a fool” and said he “can’t have any time” for “anyone who talks about boycotting the Bahamas.”
Shadow Minister of Immigration Hubert Chipman defended Mr Mitchell for “trying to defend the Bahamas” and said Mrs Campbell was “totally out of order” for her comments.
Comments
shortpants 10 years ago
Ms Baptiste ,we suggest you and all your puppies just sail on back to where ever the hell you'll came from .You people are a bunch of biggetty asses get out off our country . Boycott and trust me it will hurt you'll more, we home.All them shit you'll posting is going to cause you'll big time .We will make sure no one hire you'll .And this government need to make you'll ass pay you'll way back home just how they make the rest of the aliens do.Now get out .....
SP 10 years ago
.............................The Only Solution Moving Forward ...................................
1) Protect future Bahamians by implementing Bermudas' citizenship laws that would deny voting rights for anyone except indigenous Bahamians.
http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizensh…
2) Follow Dominican Republics new immigration policy and strip citizenship from, and deport every Haitian that arrived after Independence July 10, 1973.
3) Take off "Christian blinders" and recognize that Haitians are clearly defined as "parasites" like ticks on a dog that will only take, take, take or destroy us the "host".
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.
afficianado 10 years ago
Both of them are fools. Ms. Baptiste if the Bahamas is boycotted who is going to sponsor the illegals well-being? And how can you support a politician that was under scrutiny by the IRS for Medicaid fraud; What an idiot!
TalRussell 10 years ago
Pretty damn sure that Guardian Radio Station is trying find morning talk radio spot to slide in Comrade Baptiste to host her very own 2 1/2 hours 5 days week Haitian Creole speaking talkie show. If they say what they are prepared say in plain sight broken English, can you imagine if she had her own Haitian Creole Guardian Talkie Show? Please tell me their broadcasting license somehow was granted under some kind Grandfather Clause, cause their original license had to have been obtained by the original Mosley family back in days da old Bay Street Stop N' Shop store was selling everything under da sun? Somebody best spin by and see what kind broadcasting license is on they other Creole talkie show's studio wall? They say don't throw out baby with dirty water but in case this kind talk , I say throw out the damn tub?
duppyVAT 10 years ago
This is a problem of our own making going back 200 years ........... If you look at any society that has been infiltrated by immigrants without proper assimilation, there will be ghettoization, inequality, discrimination and social unrest.
javiebenz 10 years ago
Tell mis Baptiste & miss daphnie Campbell to make sure their haitians people start boycotting the Bahamas 1st. On top of that they both could take their haitian azz back to haiti & start the movement from their & tell daphnie to leave that last name Campbell before she carry her azz, thats not a haitian last name. Lan Med , Dan Sante.
licks2 10 years ago
Ms. Baptiste shows what many Bahamians of Haitian decent habours "right under their skins" when they talk and we tell them what we hear from them. . .like Lubby George they keep telling us we don't hear "anything". . .they love Bahamas too!!
Those two woman show why Haitian can be viewed as "backward" and unthinking in their social interactions with others. . .even their own people!
Fred said it right. . ."they are fools". . . boycott in Florida "F" Campbell them and that same boycott that Baptiste supports 1000% will "F" she dumb azz up here in the Bahamas with she boat load of countrymen. . .and they will have to leave we country!!!
Then we een ger have to "run" them home. . .they will tell us kiss thy tails and them will go running to someone else country to play biggity!!
asiseeit 10 years ago
This woman is living in our country because HER country is a a disgrace. She should be thankful The Bahamas has been so generous. These people are an invading force that is trying to take over and destroy our country just as they destroyed their country of origin. Their attitude is disgraceful and should warn Bahamians. I for one will never hire ANY Haitian again. You want to harm my country well Miss you just screwed your people because now I see you as the ENEMY!
ONELOVE 10 years ago
Shameful and disgusting how you Bahamians behave...products of slavery yourselves, as black as the Haitian folks yet you curse your own blood. Pure xenophobia and bigotry. Have you no heart??!!! :/
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years ago
Oh, playing the 'race card'? Didn't you get the memo? It's no longer valid.
This isn't about race, black, blue, white or purple. This is about illegal immigration and someone's attempt to shame Americans into not visiting.
Here's the juice: boycotting travel to the Bahamas helps no one and hurts everyone, most of all the Haitian people.
American left wing politicians just had their heads handed to them last week, so they're casting about, speaking out of turn, telling tales, in effort to rehabilitate their image.
BigDuffus 10 years ago
We all have heats but more so for our own children. We want aplace they can grow up and live where people speak english and not spend their live working to pay taxes that someone else takes for free.
BigDuffus 10 years ago
Is it shame flu to have jails and put criminals in them. Make no mistake an illegal is a criminal of there own doing and by having a child every 9 months they brought it on the chidren not us. We not putting them in jail we just sending them home. In my opinion we have done more for them than any country would have.
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years ago
shottaboy 10 years ago
I sure Martin Luther King Jr fight for this same reason for no man to be judged by color or race but in the Bahamas Haitians are being treated like dogs and animals l,like Haitians are not humans to the Bahamas.Bahamian travel to the USA and stay and is treated in society like regular people but in Bahamas Haitians are being treated like old dirty animals something have to be done about this
paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years ago
It's not really about Dr. Martin Luther King, though. It's about immigration, legal and illegal.
Look, many Americans would love to live in the Bahamas but realize your country enforces its laws; we respect that. We know if we travel to the Bahamas and stay past our return date, immigration officials will lug us to the airport and put us on a plane home. Fair enough, them's the rules.
Illegal immigration hurts everyone.
BigDuffus 10 years ago
Is it shame flu to have jails and put criminals in them. Make no mistake an illegal is a criminal of there own doing and by having a child every 9 months they brought it on the chidren not us. We not putting them in jail we just sending them home. In my opinion we have done more for them than any country would have.
BigDuffus 10 years ago
U hit the nail on the head shottaboy. We go to the USA and we get treated good.Y is that. We do not steal peopls land job and make them spend tax money to suport us. If we when there illegal what do u think they would do. Send us home if not put us in jail.
TalRussell 10 years ago
Comrade Baptiste just how many times have you been a guest on Guardian Talk Radio? No other civilized country would allow another nationality to capture their airwaves. If Guardian Talk Radio wants establish a cultural station, so be it but that is NOT the license they hang on their studio's wall. Do you really think your threats against Bahamaland''s tourism ministry, is the way to capture respect for your Haitian people? Of all the millions of travelers passing through and exiting Bahamaland, what did we do for God make Him stuck us your lousy behind? .
thomas 10 years ago
So...in their minds they think they should all flock to the Bahamas and make it their home, pick out a plot of land and build on it, and no one is to say or do anything about it.
DEDDIE 10 years ago
It insane the attention given to foolish talk. If the Cubans couldn't generate a boycott how in the world Campbell could. With regards to her name it most likely would have come when Bahamians look for work in the US. Panama and Haiti. LOL. Believe it or not there was a time when Bahamians in the South Eastern Bahamas especially from Inagua frequented Haiti. On a rare occasion you will come across Bahamian surnames in Northern Haiti.
jackbnimble 10 years ago
What I find so amazing is how these activists are all living in "udder people country". Notice the outcry is NEVER against the Haitian Government who been screwing them over for years and causing them to run to other people country. I guess they only grow balls when they done find their way out. Frankly it's laughable.
expatkz 10 years ago
I never witnessed discrimination as bad as when i was in the Bahamas the past 18 months. You Bahamians should be ashamed of yourself.
TalRussell 10 years ago
Comrade Expatkz do on your next visit take the guided tour through our illegal residential areas..Just ask any taxi drive for the Shanty Towns Tour.
Girly 10 years ago
See the problem is you have only been here 18 months and already judging something that you know nothing about.We have tolerated this onslaught,disregard for our laws and disrespect for more than 40 years.Shame on you.Why don't you be SO KIND and open your home and country and relieve us of this burden.
expatkz 10 years ago
As a US citizen, Over the past 30 years I have witnessed the onslaught of illegals crossing our borders. all borders from southwestern to southern eastern. Cuban, Mexican, Jamaican, Bahamian, ...you name it, we have tons of illegals. But my observation is that the bias against illegals in the Bahamas is more discriminatory and even cruel and disrespectful often. Please understand that they are human too. Treat them with some respect, they are not here because they want to be. It is worse where they are from.... that's why they risk life and limb to get to the Bahamas. Its the same in the US. Don't take away their dignity by burning their shacks.... don't take away their dignity by taking their children. Enact laws then be rational and respectful and most of all human in the way you deal with the illegal issue. You can just treat them like they are animals. They are human like you and I.
Stapedius 10 years ago
Well there is law and there is enforcement. They have already broken the law by entering illegally. When ICE goes to pick up illegals in your country there is no regard for if you're at work or if you have time or not to pack your belongings. They simply pick you up and your belongings are auctioned. The reality of it is the shanty towns have become a breeding ground fro illegal activity. So, first they break the laws by entering the country illegally, second they squat on someone's land, third they hook up electricity illegally. How many laws must they break before we do something about it? It would not happen in your country so please spare us the crap.
asiseeit 10 years ago
expatkz, First of all the onslaught you talk about in the U.S.is a joke. The ratio of illegals in the U.S. is about 3.5 % of their population while here in the Bahamas it is more like 16.5% of our population. We can not afford that ratio. If their shacks where LEGAL we would not remove them, nobody is burning their shack except themselves when their highly unsafe shacks catch fire. Also for your information and if you missed it in the news, nobody TOOK children away from their parents, the children where ABANDONED and sound alone because their parents had fled and left them. We have humane laws on the books and if these set would follow them we would not have this problem. So please stop saying The Bahamas is the bad guy in this situation, we actually are the ones that are being overrun by a people whose country is a piece of trash. Why not make noise about Haiti, the real problem?
BigDuffus 10 years ago
First of all they are not just picking up Haitian. They have picked up Jamacain and Chinesse as well so stop talking about discrimination.
Girly 10 years ago
This is why I am saying expatkz,don't let them risk their lives anymore to come to the Bahamas. Get your politicians to enact a law just like they did for the Cubans and accept all illegal Haitian's and all other illegal's everywhere and take this burden away from a country of only over 375,000 people.We have been the most humane country ever.We have given free education,health care,you name it etc.Before you talk about us being inhumane read up about the history of The Bahamas and like I said before and I am saying again,get your politicians to give the same treatment to the illegals like they are doing for the Cubans.Please and you'll are talking about discrimination,smh,give me a break.
DEDDIE 10 years ago
I thought the article below same to be a repeat of history. Only this time it is Haitians vs Bahamians. The article was American vs Chinese. In fact you can substitute the word Haitian for Chinese and Bahamian for American.
The Exclusion Act of 1882 created significant legal barriers to Chinese immigrants’ assimilation.
Around the turn of the century, politicians played into white workers' anxieties, pointing the finger at Chinese immigrants for economic hardship and labeling them fundamentally incapable of assimilation into U.S. society.
In 1877, a congressional committee heard testimony that the Chinese "are a perpetual, unchanging, and unchangeable alien element that can never become homogenous; that their civilization is demoralizing and degrading to our people; that they degrade and dishonor labor; and they can never become citizens."
Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, barring Chinese immigrants who were already in the U.S. from becoming citizens and restricting new immigration from China. The law marked the first time that the U.S. restricted immigration explicitly on the basis of race.
Along with the Exclusion Act's renewal in 1892, Congress required all Chinese-Americans -- including U.S.-born citizens -- to carry photo ID at all times or risk arrest and deportation.
Stapedius 10 years ago
Lots of smoke and steam these folks are blowing. Well tell her to boycott then. Its no use going on with idiots. This so-called Hatian-Bahamian talk is bullshit anyway. You are either Bahamian or you are Hatian. Now they may have Haitian heritage but they need to make up their minds where the hell their loyalties lie. They want ride us like donkey for 60 years and when the donkey finally kick up they want protest. You cannot have come here illegally and say you're Haitian-Bahamian. You are a Haitian and are afforded all the rights and privileges offered within your country. Get it? Your own country. I can't go to the US and expect education, social assistance and healthcare and in the people country illegally. You are indeed respected as a human being and are entitled to basic human rights. But the boldness and forwardness displayed by Haitians in this country would never happen elsewhere. Why don't they sail on over to Cuba or Jamaice more frequently get their business fix there? Haitians seem to have this sense of entitlement in this country and it is disgusting that they would even think of raising protest against this nation. But that's what they love to do and it is exactly why they themselves can never have a sensible election in Haiti. It is always this need to have some grand revolution.
TalRussell 10 years ago
Protesters Block Buses Carrying Illegal Women & Children Into "USA" California
.......//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4z5UlLCZm8
BigDuffus 10 years ago
I cant get over people talking what they know nothing about. Here in Abaco there are more people living in the shanty towns than there are registered voters in central Abaco. U under stand now. there are more of them than us. And we pay for it. Have u people ever seen a airel picture of what we dealing with in Abaco.
bahamianlove 10 years ago
Daphne Campbell, the loudmouth Fl. Rep, who called for a boycott of the Bahamas, should be busy minding her own business!! Newspapers report a list of legal problems facing her and her family; Medicaid fraud, IRS problems and scamming business associates!!!! Mess with us and you will regret the day you born!!..
Girly 10 years ago
You would always have the hypocrites,talking about how you should treat others in some one else's backyard but if you check their closets a whole heap of scandalous skeleton's would fall out.
Emac 10 years ago
The Jetta lady asserts that the illegal migration problem is a big political game being played by the Bahamian government . She is right with that point. Both the PLP and FNM are guilty of giving away Bahamian passports and citizenship to Haitian descendants in exchange for votes. This has been going on for years. I have been casting the blame solely on the biggity Haitians for this catastrophe we face. But in reality the past governments should also carry a large part of the blame. They have put all right thinking Bahamians in this position where we are being threatened by fake Bahamians in our own country. I see this situation getting worst, because hear me when I say it: Bahamians don't stand up for much. But oh threaten their livelihoods and their sovereignty and see their reaction!
The time has come for all true Bahamians to put pettiness aside, and come together to get this country back on the right path. We need to enact laws that will protect our country from any further damages brought on by this illegal migration problem. Our laws and policies must be clear on who qualifies for citizenship and what the requirements are. I have a good hunch though that the next government elected will be the one that puts forward the best solution for ridding this country of the plague of rowdy illegal Haitians.
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
): My goodness...I feel so guilty laughing at this...terrible LOL
SP 10 years ago
.........................................The Only Solution Moving Forward ........................................
1) Protect future Bahamians by implementing Bermudas' citizenship laws that would deny voting rights for anyone except indigenous Bahamians.
http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizensh…
2) Follow Dominican Republics new immigration policy and strip citizenship from, and deport every Haitian that arrived after Independence July 10, 1973.
3) Take off "Christian blinders" and recognize that Haitians are clearly defined as "parasites" like ticks on a dog that will only take, take, take or destroy us the "host".
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.
Reality_Check 10 years ago
WORTH REPEATING: 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 Haitian uprising is only just beginning thanks in large part to both the Christie (PLP) and Ingraham (FNM) led administrations buying votes come general election time from illegal Haitian and Haitian-Bahamian immigrants in exchange for granting them Bahamian citizenship. Both Christie and Ingraham and their political parties (the PLP and FNM) 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. Ultimately though, our corrupt Bahamian politicians like Christie and Ingraham simply do not care whether they subject Bahamians to Haitian or Chinese majority rule as long as they and their crony political and business friends get paid handsomely in any other currency than Bahamian dollars for allowing it to happen. Worrisome indeed that most Bahamian voters today have deliberately been deprived of an education by these same corrupt political leaders; deprived of a vital education that would allow them to realize their country is being sold to the highest bidder by the corrupt politicians they have foolishly voted for over the past two decades or so. McCartney and the DNA will be no different from the PLP and FNM. Come the next general election Bahamians will be doomed forever if they don't vote for a candidate who is now fed up with and totally independent of the PLP, FNM and DNA. Once elected, these new independents will hopefully form the new party(ies) we need to take back our nation and move it forward.
countryfirst 10 years ago
It would be good if the government was serious this time but this is just another political distraction to keep or eyes off of what really is going on.Deporting these people alone is not the answer we also need make Bahamians who hire illegals pay a fine or we will nly be fooling ourselves.WAKE UP BAHAMIANS IT IS UNPATRIOTIC TO HIRE ILLEGALS AND ITS THE SAME TO HAVE OVER 8,000 CHINESE HERE WORKING WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT 20%
Observer 10 years ago
Have never seen so many (English) grammatical infractions in any one publication. Improve on it Guys and Gals.
DEDDIE 10 years ago
Sorry our national average is a "D". Without the Haitian kids it would be a "U".
SP 10 years ago
Your solution of give the country to the Haitians is unacceptable.
Get rid of ALL the dam Haitian kids, focus on the "U", and give the educational system the opportunity to raise the standard of education that would afford BAHAMIAN CHILDREN their rightfully deserved chance of obtaining a proper education.
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?
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