The Tribune

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended the Bahamas’ record on human rights and transparency, as it criticised a recent US State Department report on the Bahamas for relying on “untested” and often times “untrue” narratives reported in the media or by non-governmental organisations.

“This is an annual report, which is mandated under US laws,” the ministry said in a statement.

“It should not give rise to undue concern by the Bahamian public. While we in The Bahamas do not have a similar mandate in our laws, from time to time we also pronounce on practices in the United States as they affect our citizens’ rights in their country.

“The overall report is not harmful. It is rather the sensationalising of extracts taken out of the general context that may cause some concern. The ministry in its discussions with the US authorities has pointed out that these reports ought to be prepared with careful forethought, and try as much as possible to scrutinise information received and avoid adopting uncritically the narratives of matters reported in the Bahamian press and by non-governmental organisations which are untested, often untrue and many times sensationalised.

“This applies whether the subject is human rights or corruption. Press allegations contained in sensationalised headlines about threats to investors in particular should not be accepted at face value. One example of an allegation of corruption in the report predated the time of this administration and is now before the courts.

“The Bahamas continues to have an enviable record in human rights and matters of governance and transparency. Improvements are always possible and necessary but in general we have an excellent record including adequate means of redress where necessary. We welcome the examination of our systems by any responsible entity in this open society. Bahamians can take pride in their country,” the ministry said.

In its 2015 Country Report on Human Rights Practices for The Bahamas, the US State Department identified the government’s ineffectiveness at implementing corruption laws as the reason officials engage in illegal practices without consequence, citing a vulnerable contract procurement process.

The US said the government procurement process was “opaque” given that there was no requirement for open public tenders or allowance for award decisions to be reviewed.

The report also referenced inefficiencies in the country’s “extremely backlogged” judicial system, mistreatment of migrants, and perceptions of impunity held by enforcement officials.

While the report acknowledged that the government generally respected the constitutional right for freedom of speech and press, it pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly threatened to revoke the permanent status of a critic of the government. The report said that civil rights groups reported the government used threats of prosecution in a way that had a “chilling effect” on free speech.

The State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cover internationally recognised individual, civil, political, and worker’s rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The report was released last Wednesday.