By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A MAN who spent nearly two months in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre despite being born in the Bahamas said he is grateful to Florida House Representative Daphne Campbell who had lobbied for his immediate release.
On January 8, the Florida politician filed an official complaint with the Department of Immigration in the Bahamas against a senior immigration officer over the alleged illegal detainment of two men.
Noille Joseph was one of those men, the other has reportedly been deported to Haiti.
“I would like to thank Representative Daphne Campbell from the bottom of my heart. I am grateful for all she has done for me.”
I hope to use this experience to help others like me,” said Mr Joseph following his recent release on January 15.
Ms Campbell is being described as “a voice for the voiceless” Haitians in the Bahamas.
However, she is not without her critics. Last year, she called on international businesses to “boycott the Bahamas” because of what she saw as a discriminatory immigration policy against Haitians. This prompted outrage from some quarters.
Ms Campbell has claimed that although relatives provided documentation verifying their identity and right to be in the Bahamas, immigration officials deported Albury Wallace to Haiti in December, and refused to release Mr Joseph, who was arrested on November 19, 2014.
Ms Campbell requested that an investigation be carried out, Mr Wallace be returned to the Bahamas, and Mr Joseph be released.
Human rights lawyer Fred Smith has announced plans to file a $100,000 lawsuit against the government on behalf of Mr Joseph, claiming illegal arrest, false detention and “abuse” of a man born in the Bahamas of Haitian descent.
Jetta Baptiste, a well known advocate for Haitian Bahamian community, said Mr Joseph’s release is a huge victory.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 10 months ago
Ms. Campbell is a criminal and she is using the Haitians for her own purposes....
It's called being a scam artist...
TalRussell 9 years, 10 months ago
Comrades, if the $1 million dollars talk on the street is true, why not just tell Florida House Representative Daphne, that the cabinet of Bahamaland would be honoured to have her ass serve as the Grand Marshall 2015 'Bahamas' Junkanoo Carnival? All her big mouthed expenses paid in fullm by this anti-native entertainment PLP cabinet.
This mornings talk on street has it, that the PLP Cabinet have agreed pay USHER $1 million dollars to headline 2015 Bahamas 'Junkanoo' Carnival? That without USHER, hotel rooms WILL go empty?
Please Grand Bahama and Bimmi,Tourism Minister Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe, you might want to explains, exactly what was meant by:
"The birth of' Bahamas' Junkanoo Carnival emerged from the vision of the Right Hon. Perry Christie, cultural icons, Percy “Vola” Francis and the late Gus Cooper among others, who are passionate about presenting our unique culture and Bahamas J'unkanoo' Carnival to the world."
Lord Help we natives, cuz if talk true, I guess there goes BTC's $1 million dollar donation? Pretty sad when average amount offered to be paid native performers, with amounts ranging as from as little as FREE to hundreds of dollars to tops being $5000 - $20,000.
Greentea 9 years, 10 months ago
wait until people realize that Usher is of Haitian descent! lol. seems like that makes him a kind of native.
TalRussell 9 years, 10 months ago
Comrade Greentea (sounds Chinese me) I am not sure about Usher's connection Haiti but you'd think the Bahamas 'Junkanoo' Carnival, would be promoted to the world, not as an Usher or Janet Jackson headliner event, but as important way showcase our own nation's native dance and musical customs. I hear da PLP cabinet done offered millions dollars to Usher and Janet Jackson to come Bahamaland, to perform as carnival headliners?
Greentea 9 years, 10 months ago
I agree with you- and KB- who held on to his principles. if carnival is successful - whatever that means- what do u think will happen to the declining and poorly organized Junkanoo parade? I think it will slowly die or at least strip back to the music- hopefully without brass! Bahamians are going to follow the money. most leaders of the Junkanoo groups already are in their support of carnival...not the symbolic leaders but the real leaders in the shacks
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 10 months ago
I really believed in September last year that this was going to highlight Bahamian culture, that's what the PM said, not so much that I have confidence in what he said, but who doesn't love Junkanoo. "Carnival" was only used so potential guests would recognize the event as a street parade, without an explanation. I always thought the argument itself was silly, people have first time events ALL THE TIME, they use MARKETING CAMPAIGNS to let people know what it's about. What was the trip to China about? What was the trip to perform at Martin Luther King 's service about?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 10 months ago
On a talk show yesterday an angry female called in to say "no Bahamian artist could book the empty rooms. Further, CARNIVAL is for young people so we need to stop blocking their hustle" I was completely shocked. First, from the break the COMMISSION said this parade was for the BAHAMIAN PEOPLE. In no communication did they say middle aged or old people should stay home because nobody cared about them anyway. They said this was a promotion of CULTURE. Secondly, I thought this WASNT "CARNIVAL", the word "carnival" was just used for promotion, remember?? Thirdly, if you want middle aged and older people to stay home and stop blocking your hustle, please make sure that any PUBLIC money you use for this "young people's carnival" only comes from young people's taxes.The host asked the young lady if she worked for Tourism or the Commission but she'd already hung up. If this statement came from a representative of either organization,My God, this is starting to look like a scene from Damian III, who have we handed control of our affairs over to?
Obie Wichombe is being disingenuous when he says he came on board a month ago.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 10 months ago
Meeting Janet Jackson is probably some Commission member's childhood fantasy. Usher is at least relevant (no disrespect to Miss Jackson if you nasty)
Cas0072 9 years, 10 months ago
Being delusional about the issues with illegal immigration is not productive. People are already well aware of Usher's alleged heritage. Usher is not an illegal immigrant and he is American citizen, regardless of his roots.The problem is he should not be headlining an event called Junkanoo Carnival.
birdiestrachan 9 years, 10 months ago
The Tribune paints Campbell as some knight in shinning armour but the woman has duped and scammed many her husband and her son, have all faced criminal charges . Medicaid fraud agents are tracing hundred of thousands tied to a web of family health care business. Nebert Whyte and Rose White have suffered from her scams. But the Tribune never mentions this I wonder WHY? Who knows she may be speaking from a jail cell very soon. All of this is reported in the Miami Herald , But the Tribune ignores it all.
Her party has asked her to step down, she has refused. Campbell can not run the Bahamas. nor can Jetta or Fred Smith.
CatIslandBoy 9 years, 10 months ago
The story is not about Daphne Campbell. No one cares about her! However, the story is about a man, born in the Bahamas, and illegally detained for a prolonged period of time. All of you government apologists keep avoiding this fact. The story is not about Fred Smith. The story is about a human being, born in the Bahamas, and illegally detained by this government. So he wants to thank Mrs. Campbell for her efforts, and if she is responsible for his eventual freedom, then let her get her thanks. No one deserves to be arrested and illegally detained by any government. If the Bahamas wants to play in the big leagues, it has to abide by the same rules, regulations, conventions, and human rights obligations as the other countries.
ispeakthetruth 9 years, 10 months ago
The story is actually about Daphne Campbell...the headline implies as much.
The question is why did this man not take some responsibility for himself, and have his documents ready? He was not illegally detained. He had no documents to prove his legal status and it seems he left it up to the immigration officials to prove his case for him. If the process had to be started from scratch, birth certificates, affidavits, etc...it will take a while. I waited for weeks for just a copy of my own birth certificate in 2013. Our infrastructure and resources are clearly nowhere in the big leagues - you seem to forget that fact.
What happened to this man is unfortunate but these things happen especially in a third world country - such as The Bahamas. I'm sure some of the folks at Fox Hill Prison can relate. By the way, where is the outrage and claims of human rights abuses on their behalf?
Andrewharris 9 years, 10 months ago
The Bahamas is not considered third world and I wish people would stop saying this. The Bahamas is considered Developing World
licks2 9 years, 10 months ago
Do you think that with all the international furor about abuse of Haitians that we the Bahamas will detain a man with all of his relevant papers in tact with no questions for all of that time??? Keep in mind that there are many false papers among the Haitian community. . .however sold by Bahamians to them. . .GIVE THE PROCESS ITS DUE!
CatIslandBoy 9 years, 10 months ago
Heaven help us, if we condone a policy that encourages the detention of any Bahamian-born resident who is suspected of being an illegal immigrant until they could prove otherwise. Not only is this policy silly, but is a direct contravention of generally accepted international human rights standards. Two months, illegally detained, is too long, even for a third-world country, to determine whether or not a person suspected is an illegal immigrant. We are too willing to give this inept government a pass. It doesn't take very much to have a database available to immigration officers that gives instant verification of the identity of a suspect, and whether or not the papers he has, or claim to have, are authentic.
ispeakthetruth 9 years, 10 months ago
Nobody is encouraging lengthy detentions for anyone, but this is clearly a one-off.
His human rights, as far as we know (unless you know otherwise) were not violated. Was he denied food, tortured, deprived of legal counsel, medical treatment, etc? Remanding a suspected illegal immigrant or Bahamian suspected of a crime, until their identity can be confirmed is not an international human rights violation.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 10 months ago
if you have a non-traditional Bahamian sounding surname, how unlikely is it that you could be stopped anywhere and failing having documents on you be thrown into the detention center. Say for example your car ran out of gas, and you caught the bus to the gas station. On the way, the bus is stopped by Immigration. If it happened to you, you would wonder what is going in in your own country. If the man had legal status, there should be a better way to prove it.
Cas0072 9 years, 10 months ago
If people want to disregard the law that requires having the stated documents, they may be subject to the same red tape that we all sometimes encounter when dealing with government entities. Haitians, legal or not, are not exempt from the slow wheels of justice. If ones documents are in order, how hard should it be to carry it as the law states or at least have it easily accessible.
Economist 9 years, 10 months ago
Regrettably, this is not a one off. You are burying your head in the sand. Members of my family witnessed one of the "round ups" and was appalled at the way the Haitians (and some who are 1st generation Bahamians) were treated.
The Immigration "hit squad" marched into a Bahamian owned business, took cell phones away, did not allow anyone to call and to get someone to bring their papers or passport (so that they could prove that they had papers), instead they just ordered them into a bus and drove off. They were not allowed to take any belongings.
I am aware of another instance where someone was on the job and Immigration tried to take him away until a white Bahamian pointed out that the person was the son of a prominent Bahamian.
Rounding up people this way solves nothing. It only brings the Bahamas in to disrepute.
SP 9 years, 10 months ago
Daphne Campbell is a prominent figure in human smuggling!
birdiestrachan 9 years, 10 months ago
the man in question was born in the Bahamas to foreign parents as a baby. he never applied for Bahamian citizen ship, He got into trouble with the law in the USA. Now I suppose he wants to bring his trouble here. I believe the Tribune is well aware of his situation???
birdiestrachan 9 years, 10 months ago
the man in question was taken to the USA as a baby. The USA does not play the game, I do not know any other country, or I been here long time. they will ship you out regardless. He had no concern for Bahamian citizen ship until he was kicked out of Uncle Sam's Country.,,
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