Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
WHILE stating “too many” illegal immigrants are “taking” jobs from Bahamians, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis last night again urged undocumented migrants to leave the country by his December 31 deadline or apply for legal status.
Dr Minnis made the comments during an interview with a ZNS News reporter shortly after returning to the country after a trip to Washington, DC.
“Those who are here illegally, do the honourable, respectable thing and leave – or apply through the legal channel so that you can be matriculated.”
He also said, according to ZNS, Cabinet will discuss immigration matters when it meets today.
“We will concentrate especially on immigration and other matters related to immigration,” Dr Minnis said.
“There are too many individuals who are here illegally and taking jobs of Bahamians. They must be dealt with. I’m not saying you can’t stay, but there is a law and we are a society of laws – respect our laws, that’s all I ask.”
In early October, Dr Minnis made his first call for illegal immigrants to leave the country by the end of the year. Speaking in the House of Assembly at the time, Dr Minnis warned an aggressive pursuit and deportation will be the fate of anyone who does not comply.
Yesterday the prime minister also revealed Cabinet has approved an independent board that will oversee the granting of citizenship applications. This was something foreshadowed by Dr Minnis earlier this year.
“There are many outstanding . . . individuals who qualify for citizenship but Cabinet can’t deal with it in an expeditious manner that is necessary,” the Killarney MP said. “We recognise that. We have already established an independent board that will be functional in January. That board will be able to make those determinations quickly so that individuals can be matriculated into society very easily.”
He added: “We will do everything possible in a humane manner to ensure that you will receive what you should under the law.”
Dr Minnis also confirmed Immigration Director William Pratt will no longer hold that post as of January 1, 2018 and will be replaced by Clarence Russell, chief passport officer at the Passport Office.
Comments
banker 7 years ago
Someone please tell Minnis that illegals are NOT taking Bahamian jobs.
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
Sooooooo, how do all of those people in the 40 shanty towns in Nassau survive???? ......... Is there one big informal economy for Haitians?????
jamaicaproud 7 years ago
You can get rich by setting up a few Jerk Chicken stalls and bag ice stands in these places.
My2centz 7 years ago
Of course they are. The well off Bahamians who hire them keep jobs out of the economy because they can hire an illegal more cheaply, than a Bahamian. He needs to address these people as well.
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
Minnis will be defined by this immigration-cum-citizenship issue ........ He better don't be DOA come December 31, 2017, because he will be a lame-duck PM for the next four years........ He has to WIN this issue that HE initiated.
TalRussell 7 years ago
Comrade New Citizen's potentials. Waiting to become Bahamalander Citizenship, ya swearing-in ceremonies may be delayed by waiting dead appointees show up who will be named in New Year to serve on red shirts new citizenship board? The PM sees dead people, lots times. {There's no making dead people, up}
Gotoutintime 7 years ago
Love It!!
ThisIsOurs 7 years ago
"#“There are too many individuals who are here illegally and taking jobs of Bahamians. They must be dealt with. I’m not saying you can’t stay, but there is a law and we are a society of laws – respect our laws, that’s all I ask."
I'm not saying that you can't stay?????!????? What kind of message is that
ThisIsOurs 7 years ago
I don't think any of these persons should be given citizenship. They should get residency and work permits at a maximum
joeblow 7 years ago
Anyone who comes here illegally should never be allowed to apply for work permits, residency or citizenship. In other words, illegal status should automatically disqualify any one from having any kind of status in this country in the future. That is the only way to discourage illegal immigration!
ThisIsOurs 7 years ago
I agree with you, a person here illegally should be made to leave and apply for a permit from their country. They should not be allowed to stay for 18 years waiting to apply. Let them go back with the illegal mother and become acquainted with the land of their parent's birth.
Now, I didn't agree with the CEB either but they passed it, just look at what Dr Minnis said "I'm not saying they can't stay...", what kind of signal is that?? And they want to get upset with Mitchell who said they're sending the wrong signal then they come back and send more wrongheaded signals.
I don't think Dr Minnis is trying to clean up the problem, he's keeping a voter constituency happy. This is a political calculation. The church visit was a political calculation, using Campbell to translate was a political calculation. The dangerous thing is, he doesn't seem to strategize beyond 24 hours with his calculations.
jamaicaproud 7 years ago
Sheeprunner, reason with me, brother. Minnis says go or regularize. What does he mean regularize? That means applying to Immigration and clogging the system, a system that's already overburdened.
It's obviously cheaper to apply for stay, than to get tickets at own cost to Haiti, so what is going to happen? You will have many people walking around with "Pending applications." No one is going to leave. He also knows that if there is a mass deportation, especially of those "born in the Bahamas", there will be a regional outcry and perhaps economic sanctions.
Because record keeping in Haiti is dubious at best. new arrivals who come during this Christmas will get on the application gravy train. It's all a boondoggle. What we Jamaicans call bandoolo, trick, anancy business.
In other words, the Government is playing a trick.
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
I suppose Jamaicans would know about boondoggles and bandoolos ........ More of yall live outside of Jamaica than on the island ....... Go figger
jamaicaproud 7 years ago
More people of African descent live outside of Africa, go figure. Can you never be at peace, my brother.
sheeprunner12 7 years ago
Go and check your African population stats ........ that cannot be true ..... Nigeria alone has 150 million and there are 60 countries in Africa....... The Caribbean has 30 million and give the American mainland about 80 million. And that is half-breeds included ........ mulattos and creoles.
My2centz 7 years ago
I agree with you @ Jamaicaproud...there's a first time for everything.
joeblow 7 years ago
So illegals will be rewarded with "status" for breaking our laws? Nice!!
jackbnimble 7 years ago
What kind of nonsense is this? "If you are here ILLEGALLY get out OR apply through the proper legal channel to be matriculated? "
There should not be an OR after the word ILLEGAL. If you are here illegally how can you apply when the law requires that to be matriculated (i.e. for a job) you have to apply while outside of the country.
He's already back-pedaling.
jamaicaproud 7 years ago
People, I am not expressing any opinion. I believe in law and order. I have lived in various places and understand Haitians like to "take over." I am simply saying Minnis declaration is duplicitous. Plain trickery. If you give people a chance to regularize, why would you think they will get up and go to Haiti at their own expense.
Maybe, the sloops being sighted, came empty and are bringing people back to Haiti, just maybe.
banker 7 years ago
Glory Hallelujah! All Bahamas problems solved. So there are about 70,000 illegals. Let's say half of them go home. Let's say of those 35,000, one in four is working. That means over 8,000 jobs for Bahamians opening up. I can see the lineups now for those jobs. Attention Bahamians, you will have over 8,000 gardener, house cleaners and labourer jobs in the new year. We is saved. I can see the lineups for the jobs now. They will be lined up from Navy Lion to Rawson Square, just a-waiting on those jobs. Hail to our economic saviour Minnis. Unemployment down by the equivalent of 4 Baha Mars with the stroke of a pen. Jeezus, that deserves a Nobel Prize in economics.
stillwaters 7 years ago
Sarcastically said. Congrats
OldFort2012 7 years ago
As always Banker has hit the nail on the head. For all those that cannot connect the economic dots, let me do it for you.
These "illegals" are employed by Bahamians, not Martians. They work for and create wealth for Bahamians. They are not self-employed.
Bahamians use them to service the local economy, with prices depending on your location. If in West, they charge them out as gardeners, plumbers, bricklayers, etc . at 3 times what they charge them out back East. Now they will be replaced by Filipinos, Peruvians, etc, who will be brought here totally legally, to work and reside West, work permits and all. Believe me, it is more than happening right now. People have bought small flats for their staff and are getting permits for thousands of them. Basically cutting out the Bahamian middle-man.
End result: the Bahamian who used to charge them out will have less money. The shops these illegals frequented will see a collapse in trade. The East will become even poorer. I don't see any economic gain for any Bahamians from this.
I do appreciate that illegal immigration is a serious problem and illegals must be dealt with. I wish someone could come up with a plan that is not going to hurt Bahamians economically, though.
DEDDIE 7 years ago
Conversation between Landscape worker and Property owner.
Property Owner ; "Don't use the weed wacker on the weed you need to weed them out."
Landscape worker; "You think I Haitian eh."
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