Donna Nicolls and Noelle Nicolls at a press conference held at the Crisis Centre yesterday. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
TWO local women’s rights groups are urging Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade to launch a probe into the arrest and detainment of 11 Jamaican women amid allegations that the group was forced to urinate on the floor of the cell where they slept on cardboard boxes.
The groups believe the women were victims of “misconduct” by officers who allegedly discriminated against them based on their nationality.
It is also alleged that the women were not allowed phone calls and were threatened while police held them for 36 hours.
During a press conference yesterday, representatives from non-profit organisations Bahamas Women’s Watch and the Bahamas Crisis Centre called on the Royal Bahamas Police Force and all state agencies, including the Department of Immigration, to cease and desist the reckless and unconstitutional practice of discrimination against Jamaicans, and more broadly, immigrant women who suffer the indignity of systemic discrimination because of their nationality.
The watchdog groups said the officers’ alleged behaviour must be investigated and condemned in the strongest manner by Commissioner Greenslade.
They are also requesting an urgent meeting with the commissioner to discuss how he plans to eradicate what they say is the systemic practice of discrimination against vulnerable immigrant women within the police force.
The groups are in the process of drafting a formal complaint to submit to police.
According to police reports, the Selective Enforcement Team went to a nightclub on East Street near East West Highway around 2am on Saturday and arrested 11 women from Jamaica on suspicion of solicitation for prostitution and breach of the Immigration Act.
The women were released on Sunday evening without any charges.
Noelle Nicolls, communications co-ordinator, said the women who were arrested were paying patrons of the establishment. She said several of the women were attending a private birthday party being held in the upstairs section of the bar, while two of the others were there having a drink, catching up as one recently came to the Bahamas to visit her friend. They had not been inside the club for more than 15 minutes before this raid occurred, she said.
As previously reported, one of the women arrested is a complainant in a rape case against an immigration officer. The woman fears this incident was an attempt to harass and intimidate her specifically.
Ms Nicolls said: “Bahamas Women’s Watch condemns the unwarranted arrest of 11 Jamaican women on the weekend in a police anti-crime operation at a sport’s lounge in New Providence. Police claimed the women were at the sport’s lounge for the purpose of solicitation for prostitution and suspected they were in breach of the Immigration Act; however, these claims were proven to be completely unfounded.
“While detained with no charge for two nights, the women were subjected to degrading conditions and (alleged) contemptuous verbal abuse by officers of the law. It was only after the aggressive intervention of attorneys, women’s rights advocates and the Jamaican Honorary Consul Patrick Hanlan that the women were finally released.
“When dozens of police officers descended on the sport’s lounge, some dressed in face masks, carrying ‘long guns,’ looking like ‘the death squad,’ as described by the women, the women said the police instructed Bahamians to stand to one side and Jamaican women, specifically, to stand to another. Without any due process, the Bahamian men and women were allowed to leave while the Jamaican women, some of whom had documentation of their legal right to reside in the country, were violently hauled off,” Ms Nicholls said.
“To compound the issue, the level of professional misconduct that is claimed by these women while in state custody is astonishing. While in custody, all of the women were not allowed phone calls. They were refused toilet tissue and denied free access to the bathroom. As a result, some of the women urinated on the floor inside the cell, only inches from where they were required to eat and sleep. They slept bundled together on the floor on cardboard boxes and newspaper. And they were verbally abused,” she alleged.
“One of the women said the officers were just ‘dishing out their contempt for Jamaicans’. One of the women, a mother of a small infant, reportedly begged to breastfeed her baby. Her breasts were so swollen with milk that she was in pain, having been separated from her sick newborn for more than 36 hours. The police refused to allow her the interview room which was more sanitary and instead forced her to breastfeed inside the unsanitary prison cell,” Ms Nicolls claimed.
Asked if she felt that the alleged treatment of the women was the result of xenophobia, Ms Nicolls said the matter highlighted the need for state agencies to engage in sensitivity training.
“We think that that police force, the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Social Services require sensitivity training because it is important that when you are a part of a state agency that has a responsibility to protect and to serve and to respect the community that even where you might have personal feelings whether xenophobic or otherwise you have to conduct yourself in a professional manner in accordance with the laws and in the Bahamas. Discrimination on the basis of country of origin as in this particular case is unconstitutional,” she said.
When contacted for comment, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean directed this newspaper to Acting Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ferguson, however he could not be reached up to press time.
Comments
lkalikl 9 years ago
Bahamian civil society is waking up with each passing day. The days of this government are numbered. The real Bahamas is stepping up again and the PLP's abuse and lack of transparency and accountability in all areas of government will finally be sent to the dust bin of history where it belongs. The courage of the citizens of this nation cannot be silenced. We know what is right, even if our dinosaur leaders don't. The Bahamas is not a third world country, even if the PLP's leaders are determined to drag us there, they will fail. Bahamians are better than the pathetic PLP government would have us believe. We demand transparency and accountability from our government and, if it can't provide it, then vote them out and put in people who will do their jobs according to 21st century principles and ideas, not 19th century practices inflicted on us by the old Colonial system and to which the PLP are all too happy to stoop. We can and must do better Bahamas! Vote out the jokers and clowns!
YesiJed 9 years ago
I agree with you 100% ! However after seeing the way the majority of our people vote when it comes right down to it, these jokers in government know they only need to hand out some t-shirts, throw a party, and grease a few palms and they will be right back in office.
ms_frustrated1 9 years ago
Here we go again! ..Inhumane yes! But for God sakes why are you here!? Shucks this is just the same condition you ran from! Legally or not!
DonAnthony 9 years ago
Why can this government not respect human and civil rights ? Why do we abuse Cuban detainees, Haitian immigrants, and female detainees? We need to stop the abuse, the world is watching!
Sickened 9 years ago
The PLP abuse ALL but a select few. They have abused Bahamians for years now!!!
cmiller 9 years ago
The abuse probably happens because these officers are usually political appointees with no idea of how to conduct themselves in such positions of responsibility.
Honestman 9 years ago
If this account is true then it is a shocking indictment of this country's attitude towards Human rights. I don't believe that the PLP is any worse than the FNM in this regard. We delude ourselves that we are a Christian Nation yet this week we have this story coupled with Q.C. Wayne Munroe's outrageous suggestion that illegal immigrants should be flogged before being deported!!! How low can this country sink? While all this is going on, Perry Gladstone Christie is in London trying to sell foreign investors how The Bahamas is a wonderful place to invest their millions. I imagine he ignores the part that once the government has your hard currency investment, it reserves the right to acquire your business (as it saw fit with a certain Mr. Izmarilian) or if one of your employees happens to find himself working before he is in possession of a renewed work permit, he might end up being flogged to teach him a lesson (if the aforementioned leading Bahamian QC has his way!) And so we continue with the tired old mantra "It's Better In The Bahamas". Is it really?
bahamian242 9 years ago
Look even Bahamian Citizens are abused by Immigration & the Police!
cmiller 9 years ago
Why doesn't the government just deport these people regularly instead of holding them so long?
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrades unless we think these Jamaican woman's are nothing but illegal garbage it is tempting to dismiss stories of police and immigration abuses and inhumane treatment by the very people empowered to enforce the laws of the land.
If we are truly a free society we must challenge any institution or law enforcement officials when they themselves fail to humanly treat or demonstrate respect for the people they take into their custody.
The stories are becoming much too frequent to simply be dismissed as anti law enforcement. It is easy to say those who are 'accused" of breaking our laws have a vested interest in crying foul but the reports are too numerous be discounted as nothing more than media reporting flaws. .
Comrades there is an urgency to recognize something is ugly wrong with pictures of mistreating persons coming into contact with the peoples institutions and law enforcement officials.
Comrades we better quickly fine the fine line in da sand against those who select to abuse their authority granted by the people.
jusscool 9 years ago
With all the high level of incidents involving illegal immigrants it shows the need for continuous working surveillance systems at all times. I say to the Department of Immigration cover your backs . In every Government Department we have bad apples that must be taken out, which is the case right now. But there are also Illegal persons out there that will do and say anything to straighten their lives as well as their status here. You cannot be Deterred from the true purpose of your jobs! .....ps ,by the way . I'm a big fan also of The Domestic Tourist.
lazybor 9 years ago
Incredible!!!
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My2cents 9 years ago
News flash: detainees at Fox Hill prison also sleep and pee on the floor. I have not heard as much concern for the thousands more Bahamians in Fox Hill in my life, versus the handful of immigrants provided with extensive publicity. Your concerns cannot be genuine if the only time you speak up is when a foreigner is involved.
Honestman 9 years ago
The women were released on Sunday evening without any charges! The Groups' concerns are therefore perfectly legitimate.
My2cents 9 years ago
You also seem to be missing the point! Point is where are the advocates for innocent and/or guilty Bahamians who endure the same inhumane conditions at home, in Haiti (one died remember?) or Jamaica where the conditions are just as harsh or harsher.
Tarzan 9 years ago
And one of the women was carrying papers documenting her legal status in the country. What is wrong with you? What if you were visiting a foreign land and this happened to you? Arrested without cause, other than being a foreigner; put into a prison with no access to a bathroom; and subjected to all sorts of humiliating comments if not worse! You defend that? This is the logical result from Mr. Fred Mitchell's assault on the Constitution of this country, not to mention humanity, all for perceived political benefit. He operates just like his pals the Castro Brothers.
My2cents 9 years ago
What is wrong with you? Limited comprehension? Where did I ever advocate for inhumane conditions for anyone. I guess you could not go on your emotional tirade without implying that is my position. But to answer your question, I would expect to be treated no better or worse than the native population...some of them are also innocent. Where is your concern for them using slop buckets, 4-6 in a darkened tiny cell while sleeping on cement floors? Do you ever rant against Bernard Nottage like you did Fred Mitchell because of the human rights violations against them? Has Fred Smith? Probably not. And that is my point!
asiseeit 9 years ago
One thing, every person who gets arrested and locked up over night pretty much sleeps on the ground, they where lucky they had cardboard. Go up to Fox Hill, them set sleep on cardboard every night.
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
Sooooooo, we have 11 Jamiacan women dancing butt naked on a stage in a Bahamian nightclub .............. did they have proper documents to be here........... and is the club licensed to take part in exotic dancing and other X-rated activities ............ BTW: who owns the night-club anyway and is the DPM a platinum member of the club??????????
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
................ and may I add .............. for Bahamians who get locked up in Jamaica .............. our police cells and jail cells are hotels as compared to any Penitentiary in the Big Yard .......... hope these so-called human rights activists know that as well ......... you smell a Jamaican jail when you are within two miles of it
Cainn 9 years ago
Those are ridiculous comments sheepherder12
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
Soooooooo, what u gat 2 say about the young Bahamian pilot who languished in a Highshun detention centre for over a year and died from lack of treatment????? Any activists check 4 dat???????
My2cents 9 years ago
Nobody had anything to say...they're unconcerned about Bahamians because apparently, they deserve it but foreigners don't!
SP 9 years ago
.......... Only Haitian and Jamaican lives matter. No one steps up for Bahamians! ............
Totally astonishing how these so called human rights activist mysteriously crawl out of the woodwork with unabashed support whenever Haitians or Jamaicans are ill treated, but could never find any level of concern whatsoever for Bahamians that endure the exact same circumstances 365 days, year in and year out.
Where are the activist protesting and liaising with international human rights organizations about well known deplorable conditions at Fox Hill prison being unfit conditions even for animal habitation, and routine daily abuse and torture of suspects in police custody?
Notwithstanding the fact successive governments thinking that police thuggery is a viable means to governance, condoning massive unbridled police brutality, civil rights violations and corruption.
Not only Haitians and Jamaicans "lives matter". NO ONE should be subjected to the inhumane conditions, brutality and treatment of Bahamas so called "law enforcement".
GOD forbid someone should abuse a dog, cat, horse, dolphin or turtle!, But Bahamian human beings lives are obviously considered as totally worthless!
Chucky 9 years ago
hey SP , your point "GOD forbid someone should abuse a dog, cat, horse, dolphin or turtle!, But Bahamian human beings lives are obviously considered as totally worthless!", while it might be a good point, we can't ignore that if true , for the most part we've earned that position with our lazy , ignorant and criminal and just plain nasty ways that are exhibited by so many of our citizens.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrades since when did dancing nude on stage - as a citizen or undocumented immigrant - become a jail-able offense?
Did they arrest and lockup the operators of the club?
positiveinput 9 years ago
Who was this officer in charge of this operation. Is he/she on some type leave due to these allegations?
jus2cents 9 years ago
Uncivilized behaviour is born from lack of self respect.
If you don't respect yourself, you can't respect others.
These 'Officers of (our) laws' are just becoming thugs, they are NOT Civil, and they see and act as such, they obviously don't like themselves or others.
Everyone in their right mind should be VERY concerned when BASIC Human Rights are being trampled on and blatantly disregarded.
This could easily be YOU or your family next time.
WAKE UP!
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
The woman said she was away from her sick baby? Why did she leave her sick baby to go to a bar in the first place? I agree no one cares about Bahamians locked up in fox hill. now that is a situation that is in needs of attention.
birdiestrachan 9 years ago
The Jamaicans are fighting for the Jamaicans , and the Haitians are fighting for the Haitians who will fight for the Bahamians in the Bahamas?
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
Agreed................. Birdie ............ Bahamian Lives Matter Tooooo
Emac 9 years ago
Birdie, sheeprunner,My2cents and SP I concur with your statements. By no means do I support the abuse of visitors to our country, be they legal or illegal. But the nagging question still remains, who is speaking up for the countless Bahamians that are being abused by governments, past and present, and these enforcement agencies on a daily basis??? You see, the problem is the media is playing devil's advocate by sensationalizing these stories of foreign abuse, yet they overlook any complaints by Bahamians who have been suffering for years. Shit, everyone in this country has more rights than Bahamians anyway you put it. Let us speak out for our brothers and sisters in the south, but for God's sake Bahamians, let us stand up for our own also!
hurricane 9 years ago
You are all missing the larger point. When black man treats another black like an animal its all based on self-hatred and the legacy of slavery. Most people in the Caribbean are so unaware of this and that's why it will continue to occur, years after year, decade after decade, century after century. Sad state of affairs when there is a lack of insight.
DEDDIE 9 years ago
Our law enforcement agencies have been out of control for some time now. We turn a deaf ear to practically all cases of abuse whether it be Bahamian or foreigner(except if you are white). In our collective conscientiousness we feel that the biggity nigger deserve a cut behind or to be treated in a degrading way. We have been taught to hate self and if you are a reflection of me in color, in features and hair, I hate you. Thus our dilemma as a people.
SP 9 years ago
........... Whoever taught you this idiocy did a dam good job!...........
In all my 50+ years I have yet to meet a single "hate self individual because they black with bad hair, broad nose and big lip"!
This "black self hate" theory is a frequently repeated misconception without a shred of supporting evidence and frankly an extremely ignorant belief for one to fall prey to.
Anyone looking in a mirror will agree "Out of all your parents children, you love yourself the best"!
DEDDIE 9 years ago
You probably hang around persons who are not black. Supporting evidence, Bright face and black knuckles, straight hair. Need I say more.
SP 9 years ago
No, please STFU. Your unquestionably an ignorant moron.
hurricane 9 years ago
Whoever taught you to ignore the long term traumatic effects and social learnings of centuries of chattel slavery has done a great job of keeping you ignorant. It has worked like a charm and you don't have a damn clue still.
paradiseabaco 9 years ago
Is it just me or does it seem like most of this Human rights groups in The Bahamas only represent a particular grouping of people and not the entire country as a whole? And secondly do these groups attack the root of the problem ? The countries where these immigrants come from ,I feel if they were to address these issues at ground zero like in Haiti and Jamaica may be it would stem the tide of illegal immigrants coming into the country .Prevention is better than cure in my opinion .
My2cents 9 years ago
It's not about race, it's class and money. The same circumstances of corruption, inhumane treatment and inept governance that exists in the Bahamas, exist in Jamaica and Haiti to a greater degree because of poverty. The situation is the same in the Philippines and also non black countries in South and Central America. Weren't the (white or mixed?) Cubans and the Japanese immigrant treated in the same manner in Bahamas? And so would a poor white man. I highly doubt that a millionaire and/or celebrity, black or white, would be handled in the same manner as the masses. The bottom line is wherever there is poverty, there will be corruption, high crime, overwhelmed agencies, frustrated and/or corrupt law enforcement...and human rights will not be at the top of the list. It's not a Bahamian thing or a black thing. I don't believe it's impossible to turn it around, but no lasting solution will come from the outside. So why start there?
bri 9 years ago
This is totally unacceptable....what are our immigration officers doing. Too much of this nonsense being circulated about abuse in the Bahamas at the detention centre. We need to get this fixed ASAP. ....on another note, what was this woman doing at a bar while she had a sick newborn at home, but blaming immigration for not allowing her to breastfeed her baby!!
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