The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Minister Fred Mitchell defended the government’s new immigration policy while speaking at the 28th session of the high level segment of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Addressing the body, Mr Mitchell warned international organisations that are criticising the immigration restrictions to be “careful” not to “undermine their credibility” by making assertions and judgments on the Bahamas based on rumours and not fact.

He said the government is concerned to see reports that vilify the country.

“There is a sense of a doctrine of ‘gotcha’ in the international arena, instead of one which seeks to work constructively with us to identify the issues and solve any problems. It seems that often even your friends think the worst of you rather than seeing the good intentions that may sometimes fall short but to which shortfalls (if any) our country is always dedicated to correcting,” Mr Mitchell said.

“The policies that we have recently put in place on immigration are meant to protect our identity and our national security. International organisations and non-governmental organisations have all made comments adverse about the policies portraying migrants as victims of a policy, which is designed for their welfare, as the opposite of what it is. The public should take note of reports that the trips that migrants pay to smuggle their way into the Bahamas and onward can range in prices from $1,500 to $5,000 US.

“This means that the new policies are blocking a sophisticated criminal enterprise. The non-governmental organisations and activists should be careful that they are not unwittingly running interference for these criminal enterprises. These organisations risk undermining their credibility and there is backlash of resentment over these assertions which seem designed to sully the country without proper context.”

In the past few months, the Christie administration has faced backlash over its immigration policy, which was implemented in November, as an attempt to clamp down on illegal immigration in the country.

The fiercest criticism has come from the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, which has insisted that actions of the government relating to immigration have been illegal and unfairly target Haitians or those of Haitian descent.

Mr Mitchell has repeatedly dismissed the association, and has rebuffed its attempts to meet with him and discuss the matters.

International watchdog Amnesty International has also voiced concern over the immigration restrictions.

Recently, the Organisation of American States’ (OAS) human rights commission gave the government two weeks to adopt precautionary measures in view of the alleged conditions at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

The measures call for immediate action to ensure the life and physical integrity of people held in immigration detention, who are believed to be at risk due to alleged inhumane conditions, including overcrowding and the lack of appropriate medical attention.