Wayne Munroe
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
PROMINENT attorney Wayne Munroe, who recently joined the Progressive Liberal Party, has come under fire for suggesting that the country should start “flogging” people for committing immigration offences.
Mr Munroe, QC, said officials in this country should begin “caning” persons under 18 and flogging those over 18 who are caught entering the country illegally.
Mr Munroe, in a recent post on Facebook, wrote that the “price is too low” for immigration offences in The Bahamas, suggesting that if illegal immigrants – particularly Haitians – believed “we tortured and killed them, they might not come”.
He later told The Tribune yesterday that while “flogging” people may appear to be brutal, it would effectively serve as both a physical and psychological barrier for people seeking to continuously enter the country illegally.
When contacted for comment, President of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association Fred Smith, QC, said he was “shocked” and urged Mr Munroe to “please rethink these comments and to find himself on the proper side of humanity”.
The issue emerged following the circulation of a video on social media over the weekend, which showed an immigration officer slapping an unidentified man off a dock into the sea. The video drew the ire of numerous social media users, most of whom accused the officer of being abusive.
According to Mr Munroe, the controversy surrounding the video on Facebook prompted him to justify the use of corporal punishment for immigration offences, because, according to him, there seemed “to be some prospect that (the officer’s actions) must be the wrong thing to do.”
One of Mr Munroe’s posts read: “…If slapping some back to creation is necessary to reduce them to custody, the law, specifically the Penal Code, permits it. Now if only these folks believed we tortured and killed them they might not come.”
When contacted for comment, he told The Tribune that the government is being too lenient on those caught entering the country illegally. He said the country should focus on cultivating another immigration minister like Loftus Roker, who held the post in the Pindling era, who had people voluntarily repatriating themselves to avoid his wrath.
“Minister (of Immigration Fred) Mitchell isn’t compared at all to Minister Roker,” Mr Munroe said. “No one is running out of the country because of Mr Mitchell’s policies; people were running out of the country because of Mr Roker’s policies. It is not insane to say you should not illegally come to my country, you should not illegally stay in my country. It’s lunacy to say that we should be receptive of people who invade our country without our consent.
He added: “Do we the Bahamian people keep paying to send them back, or do we decide when we’re deporting you, on your exit from the Bahamas, we cane people under 18, flog people over 18, and it will be very brutal, and appear very brutal, but you wouldn’t want to go back to face it again would you? And if you know that was going to happen you might not want to come to face it in the first place.”
Yesterday, Mr Smith said he was taken aback by Mr Munroe’s suggestions.
“I am shocked that a queen’s counsel and a lawyer for whom I have had such great respect would stoop so low in promoting abuse of human rights for scoring obviously political points in support of Fred Mitchell’s obscene immigration policies,” Mr Smith told The Tribune yesterday.
“How can we expect the Bahamas not to be a violent country when we are driving people to the brink of revolution? If we’re not careful, if we don’t stop ramping up this emotional, political train that Fred Mitchell has set in motion about immigrants, we are going to rue the day as a nation because of the violence that is going to erupt.”
Mr Smith added: “We are forcing people to be violent because we’re giving them no option. And (Mr Munroe) wants to start flogging people with the cat-of-nine tails? He and his political cronies in the PLP have gone insane. They are leading the Bahamas into violence, and I beg them to stop doing it. Take a chill pill and adopt a more respectful and humane approach to these complicated social issues.”
When given a chance to respond to this, Mr Munroe retorted: “I need to go and live in his house then. Everybody needs to go and stay in Fred Smith’s house, all the poor people in Freeport, because the only reason they come here is because of poverty. So every unemployed, homeless person in Freeport should go move into Fred Smith’s house and see how he likes it.”
The government introduced a stricter immigration policy in November 2014.
Comments
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
This guy is a Neanderthal!!!!!!!!!!!! ...................... but I like his approach .......... illegals should feel uncomfortable entering this country ......................... they sure do fear coming to Long Island
TruthHurts 9 years ago
I heard that! Wonder why that is?!
sansoucireader 9 years ago
Saw this headline on today's TRIBUNE while waiting in line @ the food store. Fer real, Mr. Munroe? This is what it's come to? Flogging people?! Man, the PLP are really going backwards.
TruthHurts 9 years ago
LMAO.. I couldn't contain myself when I saw this heading. Joke of the season; Christmas does come early. I had to look up the definition of flogging to see if it still meant what I knew it to be?
I agree with the poster below.. Let's Flog Lawyers and Ministers!!
cmiller 9 years ago
These immigrants pass Cuba straight by, to come here. Cubans do worse than that to them, so they do not go there.
GrassRoot 9 years ago
how about flogging lawyers? or people that don't pay the property tax? or people that induced BOB to give them overinflated loans? politicians? aggressive drivers? drug users? gun owners? HIV positive people? artists? person with last names starting with a "S"? journalists? educated people? your neighbor?
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years ago
Start with Fred Mitchell aka Fweddie Boy.
Chucky 9 years ago
What next is Wayne going to suggest we put them in chains and make them work to earn their keep and cost of deportation?
Perhaps Wayne would like to see an ISIS form of "justice" in our country.
Wayne has clearly lost his mind along with any and all sense of humanity or justice.
There is not one person in our country who's origin is from here, have we not learned anything from the suffering of our ancestors who's travels and experiences upon arrival in this land were far from civilized.
themessenger 9 years ago
Why don't you try flogging the dead horse party you have recently saddled yourself with. If you're skillful enough with the whip you both might just make it to the gate by 2017.
Cas0072 9 years ago
The suggestion of flogging for illegal immigration is ridiculous when we don't even flog violent offenders. However, Fred Smith is in no position to talk. This man, who is also a QC, said it is reasonable to resist arrest by running away from law enforcement and just recently, he gleefully commended rogue judges for disregarding penalties that were amended into the constitution to help deter illegal immigration. Fred Smith already tried it with his concentration camp lies to the world, and no deterrent. So again Wayne Munroe is wrong.
GrassRoot 9 years ago
we need the Fred Smiths because we have the Wayne Munroes. In the best worlds we would need neither of them. It is ok to have strict laws, that are enforced, sent them back home, if needed, but immigrants, migrants, refugees, foreigners, are to be treated with respect and dignity. The issue is simply that our government is so incoherent and corrupt, the actors not held responsible and accountable, and the Ministers in for the title and the financial rewards and not the work, that cheap populism is the only way for them to disguise there failure to lead this country in all matters incl. immigration.
Cas0072 9 years ago
Sure, let's continue to gloss over his incendiary remarks as if he is not a part of the problem. My perception of him is that he is no different from these attention seeking, money hungry politicians except he does it under the guise of human rights.
My2cents 9 years ago
If the QCs and/or so called activists are also incoherent and corrupt aren't they just adding to problem? Fred Smith's selective approach to the law is just as nonsensical as the politicians he accuses. And when he praises or condones behaviour that threaten and challenge law enforcement he reveals his true self.
GrassRoot 9 years ago
you certainly have some points there.
Publius 9 years ago
I was going to say something, but the admins would delete it anyway so I shall just carry on away from this lunacy.
TalRussell 9 years ago
This Monday's outbursts by two PLP's and the sun ain't yet set no where's across we Bahamaland islands - and you knows it's causing Comrades Pindling's, Milo's and Clearance's dead bones be discharging clanking noises to all passers-by their graves.
First, today we heard the expected as normal irrational statement from a well-known PLP calling for vigilante justice to be administrated against criminals.
But here a more rationally minded expected Wayne the newest recruit from Bran's "Public Flogging" DNA bringing that exact same whipping the bareback people stupid and lame ideology over to Pindling's Milo's and Clearance's PLP.
One wants whip citizens the other illegal immigrants?
Not sure if Wayne and Bran want government paid floggers use bamboo sticks or not? The people's public treasury pays the Hangman $1610.89 cents to pull the trap door per hanging but not sure what the intended pay scale for government contracted floggers will be scaled at?
Wayne you is making Minnis be looking really judgement good - at least his red party only got Renward's equally as lame$650,000 LOI explanations -and lame they sure as all hell have been.
DEDDIE 9 years ago
There are far more deserving floggees in this country than immigrants. The first grouping are lawyers who are politicians. We need to find someway of discouraging them from entering the halls of parliament. I think flogging will serve as both a physical and psychological barrier for crooked lawyers entering politics.
wasturrup8493 9 years ago
Donkey of the Day goes to Greg Munroe.
MonkeeDoo 9 years ago
It is impressive that a Wealthy Black man can get away with Flogging Poor Black men and presumably women. Had a poor or wealthy White man or woman espoused similar treatment of any Black person, the comments would have been far worse and the charge would have carried a heavy racial content. I think that Black on Black cruelty is far worse than Black on White or White on Black. It was the Black Tribal Chiefs that sold the poor Black Africans to the White Europeans these many years ago. Black people have controlled the government of this country for nigh on 50 years and they talk now about Universal Health Care but they walk slop buckets and communal out houses over the hill and in the densely populated communities. They don't give a rat's arse about Black people in reality. Just their vote every five years. Wayne is on board the right train for sure though.
The_Oracle 9 years ago
Aught to revoke his QC for this statement, although we know his QC was a local political gift. What is amazing is that the Village idiots all find themselves in politics and law. Neither must be a very difficult profession. Certainly very little competence visible. We have been remiss in prosecuting Political fraud and theft though, to our detriment. It attracts others of the same ilk.
TalRussell 9 years ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
Regardless 9 years ago
Perhaps a "work for your repatriation trip home" program would be a better deterrent. When illegals are captured, they must be charged a financial penalty which proportionally covers all costs associated with their being repatriated. Have them clean the island of debris, cut bush, paint public buildings etc. Once the debt has been paid, they can enjoy, for the majority, their first plane ride home.
My2cents 9 years ago
Having no filter or common sense must be a requirement for QC because Fred Smith has made equally stupid, inflammatory remarks about the country and Bahamians. And in the process of doing so, he managed to make light of one of the greatest human tragedies in history.
jus2cents 9 years ago
Out of their tiny minds! The power has gone to their heads, they are officially insane.
Why not make it a Public flogging whilst your at it!? Just think the tourists will come flocking here to see the floggings. (NOT!)
Bunch of imbeciles can't even see how idiotic this is, as they try to "rationalise the irrational" just like the Nazi's rationalised killing Jews, it is a dangerous mindset, this government has worked themselves into a hysterical mob of Yes Men, trying to out-do each other's shock tactic bullshit rhetoric.
Sickened 9 years ago
We could charge the southerner's from the U.S. $10 - $20 a lash to flog our immigrant negroes. We would finally make some decent money from these simple minded American cruise ship passengers. WTF!
John 9 years ago
O what a tangled web we weave...We would expect more from someone as learned as Wayne Munroe. Immigration is as old as the bible and many prominent persons, including John the Baptist and Moses and even Jesus Christ himself, had to flee their native land at some point or another. At some point in their lives they were illegal and unwanted sojourners. Some NINE MILLION persons have fled Syria and sought refuge in various parts of Europe. The bible predicts that Syria (Damascus) will be destroyed and turned into a heap of rubble. As a small nation we cannot accommodate and keep every immigrant (illegal or otherwise) that makes it to our shores, but here is some of the teachings from the bible as to how to treat sojourners: .
Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV / 808 helpful votes
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Matthew 25:35 ESV / 376 helpful votes
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Exodus 22:21 ESV / 290 helpful votes
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
Malachi 3:5 ESV / 158 helpful votes
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Deuteronomy 27:19 ESV / 146 helpful votes
“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Hebrews 13:2 ESV / 123 helpful votes
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Zechariah 7:9-10 ESV / 120 helpful votes
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
Ezekiel 47:22 ESV / 88 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
Jeremiah 7:5-7 ESV / 80 helpful votes
John 9 years ago
continued: .
“For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.
Leviticus 25:35 ESV / 58 helpful votes
“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.
Proverbs 31:8-9 ESV / 56 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Deuteronomy 10:18 ESV / 55 helpful votes
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
Philippians 3:20 ESV / 50 helpful votes
. WOE UNTO YOU LAWYERS:
DEDDIE 9 years ago
Its easy to advocate flogging for a black man but I wonder if he feels the same way about flogging a white Canadian or English women. Deep in the blackman's psyche is the belief that the only way to control a black man is to use the tools of the slave master.
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
I may not agree with flogging but something has to be done . to discourage them from coming to the Bahamas . make their trips less comforting. they come on leaky boats and return on planes. Now Fred Smith himself did speak about uprisings. And remember Alli and his threats. Never mind Fred there are no shanty Towns where Fred lives. But it is all right for other Bahamians.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade stand up like a real man's cuz even a four-legged ass of a donkey would not be so inclined sung from same song book as lawyer Wayne.
These are human beings we're talking about. We don't even whip our pot cakes - although one might be given the the green light for the go ahead to be whipped by da bamboo cane. He could easily qualify be whipped daily for 1200 days just catch-up on all the stupid things he done said both in and outside Honourable House of Assembly..
A King's Counsel - more likes a Royal recognized donkey's ass
Baha10 9 years ago
Well, based upon the reaction to this ridiculous suggestion, not only would I say whatever political aspirations Wayne may have had are "dead on arrival", but he may well be the first Bahamain to have their QC Appointment revoked for espousing such utter nonsense. I suppose even he is a product of Generation D Average, hence even our "supposed" smart Cookies are in reality dumb, dumb, dumb Coconuts!
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade Baha 10, we both know Wayne's King's Counsel intelligence is far above his ideological need flogs bare-shirted people brainwashing performed on him as a DNA, although I still wants think, he is too smart to have really become a paid card carrying member Bran's political alliance.
pablojay 9 years ago
This from someone who has made millions defending people whom he knew may have committed murder and other heinous crimes is astounding,------ but if we had done as he suggests say, fifty years ago, i doubt very seriously that we would have the illegal immigration problem that we now do
jamesg30 9 years ago
flog them after they cut your grass or before.
jamesg30 9 years ago
Cuba is going to kick Bahamas ass and if we don't get our act together with what really is important, Haitains taking $5/hour jobs from not a Bahamian that would work for that amount is last on the list. Noise, noise, noise. Cuba is a very attractive location for the same tourists that Bahamas is trying to attract. What are we doing to impact their decision to come to Bahamas? Rip on the poor, cheap labor that is holding things together? Come visit our hideous and stinky downtown? Give them a tour of a $3.5B albotrous? Go over the bridge and have the U.S. Shopping mall and water park come to them in the Bahamas versus leaving their home. Such beautfiul assets this country has, but the pigs at the trough are too busy trying to eat and breath at the same time, and it impacts their ability to deal with the real issues. Flogging? Flog him. When was the last time he picked up a broom or a shovel? Ask your local Hatian. He/she will tell you.
My2cents 9 years ago
A Bahamian would not work for $5 an hour? More accurately,a Bahamian cannot work for $5 an hour because they are not living in a shanty town, splitting a $50 rent with 10 others, siphoning utilities or paying next to nothing for it. The wealthier Bahamians prefer cheap labour and circumventing their legal requirement to pay NI by taking advantage of the Haitians.
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
5 per hour? Thats 200 for a 40 hr week, Many Bahamians are working for that. Slightly more since the minimum wage increase, but not much more
FaTrue 9 years ago
Perhaps Mr Munroe should consider becoming an American and spouting the same nonsense over there. I'm sure Donald Trump would invite Mr Munroe to be his running mate. And the Republicans might even capture some of the Black vote for a change!
I hope right thinking Bahamians, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations around the world condemn Mr Munroe in the strongest possible terms. We don't need this fascist mentality in the Bahamas.
Economist 9 years ago
Wayne, they left the country under Roker because they were here legally in the first place. Roker kicked out the educated persons who were contributing in a meaningful way to the economy.
They had skills that other counties were very happy to have We were just to dumb to see what we were doing to our children and our economy.
Mr. QC you are being careless with the truth.
Sorry, maybe you are just speaking to the D- average that Mr. Roker helped create.
Nooooooooo 9 years ago
Munroe should be disbarred and his QC should be taken away. Take the immigration element out of it. We now see what he will do to people when he gets a little power.
banker 9 years ago
I say that we flog all PLP's. Beat the stupidity out of them.
SP 9 years ago
.......................... Extreme situations require extreme measures .....................................
Mr. Wayne Munroe is absolutely correct considering all else has failed with Bahamas efforts to stop the flow of illegal Haitian parasites that are literarily sucking our country dry by overwhelming health, education, social service and creating more unemployment nightmares for many 1000's of Bahamians.
Haitians are hard people accustomed to harsh treatment who consider Bahamas, Bahamians and Bahamian law as the biggest joke imaginable.
Flogging illegals as a deterrent would be economical and immediately effective in reversing the unrelenting invasion of Haitians that to date feel no threat in returning time and time again.
Additionally, government must also be held responsible for the illegal immigrant invasion for not convicting Bahamians for employing and housing illegals.
If Bahamians caught hiring illegals were also flogged along side their illegal, the problem of illegal immigrants would vanish overnight!
Let the flogging begin!
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
Honestman 9 years ago
With Wayne Munroe's ridiculous comments, I am coming to the conclusion that there is no hope for The Bahamas. I mean, this is a supposedly highly intelligent Bahamian making suggestions that would have gone down well with the ISIS death cult!! This man is a Queen's Councilor? Really? What an embarrassment.
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
Public Flogging should be instituted for the jackass who suggested it ............. and all of his circle of PLP, FNM, DNA, UDP etc friends, cronies and lovers ............... this is becoming more ridiculous by the day!!!!!! ........................... BOL
But I maintain that an illegal immigrant should not feel comfortable entering our country ........ this will only occur if Bahamians stop facilitating illegal activities and human smuggling (which will never happen) ..................... we are our own worse enemy in this matter (and flogging will ultimately not solve it) ...................... that is why this is a ridiculous suggestion from such a learned person
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
I'm with Honestman. It's shocking that an intelligent man could make such a comment. On first read I said "ok, it was fb", but he doubled down when the tribune called him, he'd had time to think it over by then. There's some faulty synapse wiring in that brain
My2cents 9 years ago
What about Fred Smith's equally shocking and distasteful comments? Why does he always get a pass for his recklessness?
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
Good point. Bad wiring in both brains. But I've never heard Mr Smith call for flogging women as a sign of equal rights. If I had to weigh the two....
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