Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald discussed emails involving Save the Bays in Parliament last year.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE United States has highlighted the Bahamas government’s “intimidation of non-governmental organisations” and efforts by the government and authorities to inhibit “free speech through criminal libel laws” as problems for the Bahamas in its latest human rights report.
The report also referenced alleged cases of immigration officials soliciting bribes from migrants and alleged beatings of migrants and prisoners in custody.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the report had “inaccurate” and in some cases “incomplete” information.
Referring to an incident in which Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald discussed the emails and financial information of Save the Bays in Parliament last year, the report says: “Cabinet members sought to intimidate a local environmental group by reading its hacked e-mails and financial information from the floor of Parliament, accusing the group of attempting to overthrow the ruling political party.
“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights requested the government to undertake precautionary measures to protect six members of the environmental group following reported threats against their lives and personal integrity ... An activist with a reform-oriented organisation (also) claimed police questioned him for his activities. Police reportedly investigated the background of a judge who ruled in favour of a human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO).”
Regarding the pursuit of people based on criminal libel laws, the report referred to a case involving an explicit song recorded about Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family, suggesting the pursuit of “suspects” in the case raises questions about the country’s commitment to freedom of speech.
The report says: “Although the International Press Institute called on the government to begin reform and elimination of criminal defamation laws, the government increased its use of libel laws during the year. In August the government arrested two men for a rap song that attacked Prime Minister Perry Christie in explicit language, held them for 36 hours before release, and continued to investigate them for criminal libel. One of the detainees was an outspoken activist frequently critical of the Christie administration.
“In September authorities arrested a lawyer on criminal libel charges for ‘defamatory statements’ intended ‘to inure and expose’ senior police officials to ‘general hatred, contempt, or ridicule.’”
The last example refers to attorney Maria Daxon, who was hauled before the courts on charges of defaming Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethel. Ms Daxon was eventually released on $100 bail.
In its report, the US also describes in detail some of the problems encountered by juveniles who interact with the justice system.
“Children as young as 10 years old can be charged as an adult or a juvenile before a criminal court,” the report says. “When a juvenile is arrested and taken into custody, if authorities are unable to contact a parent or guardian, police call in a social worker as a de facto parent. There was no protection to prevent juveniles from being shackled to, or transported with, adult offenders.
“The (Bahamas Department of Correctional Services) maintained a juvenile area at the prison facility; however, there was no strict enforcement of the sight/sound separation of juvenile and adult inmates.”
The report adds that juveniles face a conflict of interest obstacle, as “the government-assigned social worker tasked with protecting and safeguarding the welfare of the child is the same individual tasked with writing the report to the judge recommending the appropriate punishment for the child.”
‘Bribery and beatings’
Over the years, the US has continually identified bribery of immigration authorities as a problem.
Addressing the matter in more detail than usual in this latest report, the US says numerous Haitian migrants “reported being detained by immigration officials and solicited for bribes of $1,000 to $3,000 Bahamian dollars, with the Carmichael Road Detention Centre front office functioning as a clearing house.”
“Many claimed that immigration officers targeted their dwellings once their undocumented status was discovered, demanding multiple bribes,” the report said.
Treatment of prisoners also remains a concern, the report indicates.
Describing an incident not reported to the press, the US alleged: “On July 8, a foreign citizen reported he had been beaten by two or more corrections officers at the Bahamas Department of (Correctional Services). He said that following an altercation with an inmate, prison guards placed him in handcuffs, bent him over a cart, beat him with a PVC plumbing pipe wrapped in duct tape, and then took him back to his cell without providing any medical attention.
“A migrant held in the immigration detention centre in Freeport alleged unprompted, regular beatings from the guards, as well as inappropriate sexual behaviour toward female detainees.”
Other human rights problems highlighted by the US include inefficiencies in the judicial system, the “perception of impunity on the part of law enforcement and immigration officials accused of using excessive force,” as well as “substandard detention conditions, including poor nutrition, violence and discrimination against some, sexual abuse of children and discrimination based on ethnic descent, sexual orientation, or HIV status.”
Similar to previous reports, the US also criticises the government’s contract procurement process, saying its lack of transparency, lack of requirement for public tenders and its failure to review award decisions makes the process “particularly susceptible to corruption.”
On Sunday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration released a statement which said representatives of the government spoke with representatives of the United States prior to the release of the report.
“During those conversations, it was made clear to the US that the proposed report contained significant inaccurate information with no basis in fact and in some cases incomplete information,” the ministry’s statement said.
“Now that the US report has been publicly released, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is preparing an official response from the Bahamas government and intends to issue a formal protest in this regard.
“With regard to the matter pertaining to the minister of education, the ministry reminds the media that the ruling of the Supreme Court is being appealed and it is only upon the resolution of the matter that it can be substantively addressed further. The media is further reminded that it is the position of the Parliament that no court can injunct the Parliament or MPs in what they can say.”
Comments
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
"#The report says: "Although the International Press Institute called on the government to begin reform and elimination of criminal defamation laws, the government increased its use of libel laws during the year. In August the government arrested two men for a rap song that attacked Prime Minister Perry Christie in explicit language, held them for 36 hours before release, and continued to investigate them for criminal libel. One of the detainees was an outspoken activist frequently critical of the Christie administration."
To us in the Bahamas the pursuit of the two rappers seems "normal" enough, if you can call it "normal", after all they were very disrespectful. But when you look from the outside, it's really very alarming. "Someone was arrested for writing a song???". Think back to when breaking news hit the wire that the all female rock band Pussy Riot was arrested in Russia for writing a song unfavourable to the Russian government, what is the difference? Our democracy is looking scarier and scarier under this administration and Jerome Fitzgerald is the scariest proposition to date.
Franklyn 7 years, 9 months ago
disrespect is not a crime - the issue is "Free Speech" and this "clown show" we call (the PLP) wants to silence "Free Speech". I can remember while working as a member of the Bahamian Press for a Leading News Paper; I had cameras smashed, kicked out of press conferences, denied photo opportunities, arrested while on assignment, verbally abused by government officials and had a knife put to my neck while at a PLP rally.
The PLP has forgotten and always forget that they are elected servants of the people and are not entitled to serve.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
Yeah I agree, "disrespect" is not a crime, I'm referring to the debate that followed where some persons cited the distasteful nature of the song as justification for an arrest. BUT, looking at the same scenario in a communist country suddenly the real sinister nature of the arrest becomes apparent.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 9 months ago
The spy bill is just another example of Crooked Christie and Allyson Maynard-Gibson a/k/a the Evil Wicked Witch seeking to trample all over our constitutional rights by suppressing freedom of speech through intimidation and throwing our God-given right to privacy out the window. Small wonder that governments all over the world were aghast upon seeing pictures and/or video of Crooked Christie's recent vulgar middle finger gesture aimed at the almight God above. One can only imagine what the Queen must have thought when she saw Crooked Christie's display of the most unbecoming kind vulgarity. What will this deranged thug do next? Will he next unzip his pants and wave his ding-a-ling at us while attempting to pee on us?! And the fact that his cabinet ministers and all sitting MPs (no matter what their party affiliation) have not called for his resignation is appalling and tantamount to each of them endorsing Crooked Christie's shamefully despicable lude conduct.
TalRussell 7 years, 9 months ago
Comrades! You Bloggers are so Sugar High to retain what has be one the top five of the worst and most oppressive colonial holdover libel criminal laws on we books to enable the all powerful political and monies lords to suppress the Free Speech of the working man's and woman's.
Go out to the street corners and chat with the ordinary people cause some bad things remain unchanged from the days the original Bay Street Boys.
I cannot think of a more wicket colonial law - can you?
DDK 7 years, 9 months ago
Amazing that it takes a body of non-Bahamians to point out the flaws and atrocities of our civil rights and judicial, immigration and correctional systems. It seems that our educational system has taught our MAJORITY to allow their RULERS to do exactly as they please.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
Yep. Sounds like a report on some socialist country
Alex_Charles 7 years, 9 months ago
not like bahamians care anyway
banker 7 years, 9 months ago
No matter how right these external bodies are, all you have to do is tell the stupid ones that someone is telling us how to run our country, and immediately the el stupidos (PLP supporters) say that everything is all right and these external bodies should mind their own business. It is not hard to convince apathetic Bahamians of anything.
Sickened 7 years, 9 months ago
It is soooo sad how right you are. The PLP can EASILY spin this so that their supporters don't give it any credence.
realfreethinker 7 years, 9 months ago
I am surprise birdie hasn't commented yet. Wait for it.
John 7 years, 9 months ago
It is good the United States is up on human rights violations in this country and around the world. Now can the same agency tell us what part the CIA is playing in violence and murder in this country? Also why most states in America have changed their laws to charge under age teen offenders for certain crimes as adults and why have the also expanded the number of offences teens can be charged with as adults? Which two presidents were involved in this scheme to lock up hundreds of young black teens and use them on experiments to inject them with chemicals and turn them into 'super predators.?" One president recently stated that once these young (black) kids get the drugs and are sent out on a mission to kill, they don't return until they complete that mission. Another high ranking US official refferred to the young men as 'persons who have been"damaged beyond repair." That they need to be put away or put in institutions (locked up) "where they can be managed." The chemicals they gave these youth have altered their DNA even. And evidence that they are using the drugs here as the Minister of National Security says,' Theye are a group of prolific offenders who are hell bent of wreaking havoc on the rest of society." The commissioner of police says there are some cold blooded, criminals out there who will kill in an instant." And a care giver at Sandilands Rehabilitation Center says, " We do not know what it is, but something gets into their system and sets them off. We can only sedate them and restrain them until the chemical wears off." They were telling mothers of young teens that if they used drugs in the past they were responsible for their children becoming juvenile super predators. Now the books are out confirming that the CIA used these young men as ginuea pigs. It was like giving a dog a piece of clothing and sending them to find the owner. The books are out there and donald trump is only just now finding out about it.
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
You need a mental evaluation
John 7 years, 9 months ago
You are my mental evaluation @ concerned citizen. You read what i wrote and even though you disagreed with what i wrote, you cannot deny it. Go and research it. There's nothing so hurtful as when you look up to someone like a big brother and a protector and they do this to you...But guess what 10 inches of snow fell in the dessert last week..you may not believe that either but things are changing. weeping endureth for a night..but joy comet with the morning light. Judgement is coming still ya c,
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
Bro your out there , the US murder rate is 9 times lower than ours . I have smoked grass for 40 years as have many of my law abiding peaceful friends that came of age in the 1960,s 70,s .I have never had a physical altercation apart from wrestling as a kid and walk way from loud argumenitive people . We need more spirituality and less of the man made religions .The three Abrahamic religions have had man kind on a 2000 year blood bath trying to prove who has the really god .Quit blaming others , mostly white people , and admit we are a violent society heading to a failed state .Don, t even get me on that spare the rod shit ,,beating the snot out of kids just makes anti social violent adults ..The proof is in the pudding , look at the crime rates in the Nordic states where beating kids is frowned upon and even outlawed and religion is not pushed by the state ,,they have the lowest crime rates in the world ..We need to take blame for where we are not the CIA putting something in the black mans smoke ,,Actually your an idiot boss
birdiestrachan 7 years, 9 months ago
Agreed two wrongs do not make one right. But this a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black, and there are those who take this report as if it is coming out of the mouth of God. While poor black men are shot in the back like animals in the good old USA. Our offenses pale in comparison to their many sins.
Chucky 7 years, 9 months ago
Hey Birdie, yes the USA is bad, likely the worst offender on many basis. Yet this has no bearing on what the report says. Clearly the people who wrote the report are not out their shooting black men in the streets.
We have serious problems here, and anyone who tries to deflect from these problems just makes matters worse.
You maybe should get a transfusion in hopes of getting that PLP blood out of your system so you can begin to think clearly on issues.
realfreethinker 7 years, 9 months ago
I knew birdie was coming. He/ she don't disappoint me.
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
The US murder rate is 8 per 100,000 we are running about 35 per 100,000 ..more than some war zones
John 7 years, 9 months ago
The US murder rate in America is 8 per 100,000. How much is it around the world..let me guess
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
Don,t guess look it up and no the CIA is not putting anything in the black mans smoke that makes them uncontrollable killers ,,Mix religion and racism ,either white to black or black to white, and out pops a wacko
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 9 months ago
There's no need to ask God about details that happened right in front of our eyes, private emails read in parliament, Jerome Fitzgerald loudly declaring he would do more if they tested him, rappers arrested for a song, save the Bays accused of trying to overthrow the government. It happened right in the open for everyone to see.
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
Smith and a high ranking officer traveling to St Lucia to try to discredit a sitting judge
John 7 years, 9 months ago
A 30 year plot to uproot black people who only want a piece of the pie they help to make. and you turn them into blood thirsty killing savages and call to the world and say look at the black people how they killing up one another. How long will they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look? You judgment draweth nigh ole boy
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
I think we sold ourselves out to Nygard and the like .Bro we are an independent black run country ,take some responsibility and quit blaming whitey ,, are you that easily manipulated
Gotoutintime 7 years, 9 months ago
Human rights no longer exist in the Bahamas.
themessenger 7 years, 9 months ago
Agreed Chucky, the remarks about "Super Predator" he refers to are attributed to Hillary Clinton when she was First Lady in 1996 in support of policies implemented by her husband and have no relevance to the current report by the State Dept regarding our own dismal human rights record. We raise all kind of hell when our black brothers in the US get shot by white police but its perfectly OK for our black police to kill and beat Haitians, Jamaicans, Cubans and our own poor black boys aye?
birdiestrachan 7 years, 9 months ago
I do not agree with any human being or animals being mistreated. There are Immigration and Police officers who do wrong. But the USA is not without faults. I say again our faults pale in comparison to theirs. Can we write a report on their human rights? All concerned should try to do better. This is no political football.
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
Our murder rate is 9 times that of the US , lets not even talk about our pilferage ,teefin ,rate
John 7 years, 9 months ago
White collar crime vs blue collar crime..amen
concernedcitizen 7 years, 9 months ago
your linear thinking mixed w racism and religious dogma was mildly amuses, but after hearing it daily from so many loudmouths under the tree it has begun to bore me ,and reinforce my believe that we are headed to be another shit hole like Haiti etc , where the Black leaders use religious nonsense ,mystical bullshit ,and whitey is bad to rob us blind like Papa Doc etc while they hob nob w/ the white jet set they claim is killing us
DEDDIE 7 years, 9 months ago
Yes, I agree the US is a bigger violator of human rights when compared to the Bahamas but that still doesn't discount our poor record. It is an accepted norm for young men out of the ghetto when taking into custody to be beaten. There is a total lack of discretion on the part of our police. A group of young men left my job site on the way to the bank and was stop by the police. The police found a joint in the car and even though one of the young men owned up to the joint they held them all over the weekend until they were paraded before the courts.How do you tell these young men, the police is your friend.
John 7 years, 9 months ago
Y'all still missing the point still. It is not "our murder rate". it is 'their rate of murdering us", poisoning our young black men, changing their entire personalities their DNA, their ability to exercise proper judgement and setting them up to kill their best friend, their family even, changing laws to send them to jail and damaging their minds 'to the point of being beyond repair,' then telling your white citizens, "don't come to the Bahamas, because they are savages, murderers, robbers and your safety cannot be guaranteed." HOW SAD!
John 7 years, 9 months ago
So with this being exposed do we still have to wonder how the guns are getting into this country and all over the Caribbean and into hands of 'young thugs' who don't even travel..PLEEZE!!
John 7 years, 9 months ago
One of the books goes on to say what Hillary Clinton would have done if she had been elected president..Starting in Chicago...read it and weep! For the sins of this world.
John 7 years, 9 months ago
Jesus wept for his friend Lazarus had died
TheMadHatter 7 years, 9 months ago
John...the sad fact is that not enough people have been raped and murdered yet in and out of prison fot anyone to take your info seriously. Society will wait until the current rates increase at least four-fold before it will wilingly consider your words. One Leader!! LOL
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