The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE Haitian Embassy in Nassau has condemned “irresponsible rhetoric” made by a shanty town resident of Haitian descent last week which many observers saw as threatening.

The embassy also urged the Haitian community to refrain from engaging in negative comments that could “potentially strain the good relations” between Haiti and the Bahamas.

The man’s comments were aired in an interview on ZNS last week and spread over social media.

A statement released by the embassy yesterday said it noted the man’s “inflammatory” comments with “dismay.”

“The embassy deeply deplores and vigorously condemns such irresponsible rhetoric which is totally unacceptable and would not be tolerated.

“Those feelings are not shared in any way and at any moment by the Haitian community as a whole; they engage the sole responsibility of the individual who expressed them.”

The embassy said it understands the outrage Bahamians feel over the “misguided and unfortunate isolated incident” the shanty town resident created.

Meanwhile, radio show-host Louby Georges yesterday charged that the controversial comments have worsened the strained relationship between the Haitian-Bahamian community and the general public.

In his rebuke of the shanty town dweller’s words, Mr Georges, an activist and community spokesperson, acknowledged that the man’s statements were indicative of the country’s failure to address long-standing immigration issues.

He said that he and others have become innocent targets of a viral outrage that has swept social media following the broadcast of the man’s violent statements.

While he appealed for persons not to allow the actions of one man to represent an entire community, Mr Georges explained that the shanty town dweller was in an emotional state because he was interviewed as his home was being demolished.

“It’s a very sticky and peculiar position he was placed in,” Mr Georges said. “He acted on his emotions but he was wrong.”

“I honestly believe, and a lot of people believe, he (shanty town resident) was speaking out of emotion. Your home, everything you’ve known all your life is being broken down in front of you, and then you stick a mic in someone’s face – what did you expect?

“But with that said, he was absolutely wrong. He should not have said it and I do not condone it. If there was any law that he broke then authorities need to come down on him and he has to pay the price.”

During a demolition of a shanty town off Joe Farrington Road last week, one irate resident warned that clearing down communities like these could lead to reprisal from the Haitian community. He added that there were more Haitian Bahamians than Bahamians and told Bahamians not to start something they could not finish.

At one point he said felt he like putting a “Colombian necktie” on people, which is slang for cutting someone’s throat.

The comments sparked heated criticism and commentary on social media.

Police and Immigration officers are now investigating the incident, according to Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell, who cautioned Bahamians not to give in to hysteria over the issue.

Yesterday, Mr Georges questioned the network’s decision to broadcast the inflammatory remarks given the circumstances under which they were made.

He called for the country to unite and refocus efforts to further national development.

“We need to get back to business and see how we can come together and build this country,” he said. “Let’s try to preach unity, we need all hands on deck. Bahamians of Haitian descent need to demonstrate loyalty to the country and stop holding in animosity if they have it, and every ‘royal Bahamian’ needs to look at the true picture.

“Look at the message and not the messengers, oftentimes we think Bahamians of Haitian descent are blaming Bahamians for their situation – but we’re not. We’re just saying let’s look at it holistically. Let’s look at the systems that are contributing to this,” he added.

On Monday’s newscast, ZNS reported that its reporter Genea Noel-Ferguson had come under attack following the report. The network revealed that Mrs Noel-Ferguson was a “Bahamian from birth” after she received threats and hateful commentary over her nationality, motive, and integrity.

Yesterday, the newly formed Bahamas Press Club came out in defence of the ZNS reporter, who serves as the club’s membership chairman.

The BPC statement read: “We reject and condemn any attempt to intimidate our members or any other member of the media in the discharge of their duties, and will vigorously defend their rights to do their jobs without fear or favour.

“We also call on all media houses to utilise all legal means to protect, support and defend their employees as they continued to perform an invaluable public service.”