Brent Symonette
By MORGAN ADDERLEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
PEOPLE must be “properly dressed” when they come to the government building, Immigration Minister Brent Symonette said yesterday in answer to reports that women have been turned away from the Department of Immigration for wearing shorts.
“Proper dress at immigration, or don’t come in,” Mr Symonette told The Tribune when contacted about the claims posted to social media.
He added there are signs at the gate reiterating this rule and others which govern dress and behaviour at the facility.
Yesterday morning, a woman posted about her experience in a popular local Facebook group.
“Just tried to walk in to immigration to pay for a work permit renewal and got turned away because I’m wearing shorts,” she wrote.
“What year are we in? And who is so special in that rat-infested building that we need to be so-called ‘properly dressed’ to get in. This country is screwed up.”
At the time, the post had 70 “likes” and more than 74 comments, many of which were in support of the woman.
Another woman commented that she too had been turned away from the Department of Immigration because she was wearing a sleeveless, knee-length dress that she had worn to work.
However, Mr Symonette defended the rule.
“We’re having people properly dressed to come into immigration, not sloppily dressed. Is that a problem?” he asked.
“If you see what people wear and carry on when they come into (the Department of) Immigration — we’re trying to improve the ambience here. There’s a large sign outside that (speaks) about properly dressed, no swearing, no bunch of other stuff,” he continued.
Mr Symonette elaborated that “properly dressed” refers to “respectable clothing”.
When asked about concerns that such rules perpetuate ‘slut-shaming’, Mr Symonette replied: “Then fine. Then fine. And they’re applying to the government of the Bahamas for a permit from the government of the Bahamas? Please. That’s reflective as well.”
Macmillan Dictionary defines slut-shaming as “criticism of a woman for any form of sexual behaviour that is disapproved of, such as having more than one sexual partner or wearing sexy clothes.”
Mr Symonette, however, noted the rules apply to both men and women.
“That goes for everybody,” he said. “Proper dress at immigration, or don’t come in.
“I don’t see what a big issue is about it. She felt offended, I’m sorry about that. Maybe the officer spoke to her in the wrong way. But before you get in the gate there’s a big sign that says about it.”
There was a significant public outcry in late 2016 when The Tribune exclusively revealed some women were turned away from voter registration sites because of what officials called “improper” attire. In December 2016, then Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall defended the right of his staff not to process people because of their clothing, telling The Tribune that women registering to vote with “half their breasts out” was not permitted.
This came after a pregnant woman who did not want to be identified, told The Tribune she was told by registration officials at the Elizabeth Estates Post Office that she would not be allowed to register to vote on separate occasions because of what she was wearing at the time.
Later a lawyer claimed she was “physically removed” from the Cable Beach Post Office by police, after she refused to accept she could not register because she “had on a sleeveless dress”.
A subsequent outcry from the public and politicians prompted then Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage to announce a person’s attire should not bar them for voter registration.
Comments
joeblow 5 years, 10 months ago
We live in a dumbed down society where decency is seen as elitist and sluttiness is sexiness!
Engineer 5 years, 10 months ago
Full support of the properly dressed rule. The way some people dress is totally wrong. There is a time and a place for shorts. Buy a mirror!
hrysippus 5 years, 10 months ago
Hey Enginesneer, Ever visited Bermuda? Closed mouth may catch no flies but closed mind stuck with outdated ideas.
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
Sweet Joseph, the daddy of comrade Jesus, can you imagine the hell of a "Do the UPB wiggle ya big fat butt dance" that even the white citizens would've performed up and down Bay Street - had Sir Stafford mandated that the comrade citizens must dress up come do business with his, and Pop Symonette's, UBP government. { Just impossible have made such "Do the UPB wiggle ya big fat butt dance".
"Do the UPB wiggle ya big fat butt dance"
....//////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efK_Nzc6wQU
Socrates 5 years, 10 months ago
This is a very dangerous precedent being set.. if this is allowed to stand, you have to wonder what will be the next restriction.. who set this rule and even more, how come only at Immigration?
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
I always thought that you know little about the Bahamas. . .this adds evidence that you are ignorant of this nation. . .THAT POLICY HAS BEEN IN ALL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS FROM I WAS A LIL CHILE GROWING UP AROUND HERE. . .IT WAS PLACED THERE BY THE BRITISH AND HAS NEVER CHANGED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU GO INTO COURT WITH A BUSH JACKET ON THEY WILL MAKE YOU PUT THAT INTO YA PANTS. . .OR THROW YA OUTSIDE FOR WEARING BRIGHT COLORS. . .the Bahamians then just never changed the rules. . .in the last 40 plus years!!
ohdrap4 5 years, 10 months ago
well some people go around in clothing that would be best described as underwear.
people should know to dress differently to go to a nightclub, beach or government office.
i see some women come to an airconditioned office and start bitching about the cold. if you are that sensitive, carry a sweater. but no, they are so entitled as to tell the people in the office to turn off the air conditioning and likely post it on facebook. Can't take the jungle out of the junglist.
yari 5 years, 10 months ago
The people who object to the appropriate attire rule have no problem with not even being allowed to take their car keys or cell phone in the U. S. Embassy. We have a nation of hypocrites and complainers.
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
I swear sweet Joseph, the daddy of comrade Jesus,some things minister Brent be out with - would be best left him do two handed shove up his Imperial red jumper.
geostorm 5 years, 10 months ago
I see nothing wrong with what is being asked of people entering government buildings. People waste so much time on nonsense!
TalRussell 5 years, 10 months ago
In da meantime just another Imperial red distraction - after comrade peoplepublic were much emphatically promised that copy US report pertaining serious allegations high immigration officials being bribed was to be turned over police commish? How did crown minister skipped over allegations bribes to women's wearing shorts.... and I'm sure some ain't even wearing no thongs underneath?
birdiestrachan 5 years, 10 months ago
I am not sure what the dress code is.. dress without sleeves in this warm climate should be all right
boopboop 5 years, 10 months ago
“What year are we in?----
2018
And who is so special in that rat-infested building that we need to be so-called ‘properly dressed’ to get in-----
The work permit you want and need.
This country is screwed up.---- *Then go back to your home*
Then when theres no rules you'll say " this country so slack"
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 10 months ago
This is the kind of stupid mentality we need to get rid of. I could give a rat ass how someone is dressed.....
SK 5 years, 10 months ago
This precedent is a slippery slope. There was public outcry about the student at CR Walker who was scolded about her natural hairstyle(s). We have to be careful of holding persons accountable to another persons individual opinions. How is this any different from withholding service from a person because of their religious beliefs or political divide? The difference is one's moral compass/belief system. If this is a standard to be adapted then this needs to be upheld straight across the board. Otherwise, it easily looks like discrimination.
DEDDIE 5 years, 10 months ago
I had a talk with my nephew about looking appropriate. I told him don't create disadvantages for yourself. Your are black, you are not connected, so why add another disadvantage by wearing your hair in locks. I told him maybe one day when he has moneys like the athletes or rappers then he can do whatever the hell he wants to do with his hair.
boopboop 5 years, 10 months ago
The problem is when you stop giving a rats but about how people do this or that,,or in this case, dress, issues are created. They bring the same attitudes in the workplace. Try it in other countries and see what happens.......That's why people feel they can come to the Bahamas and do whatever the they want to do.....because this is the "Bahamas"....Go ahead put your phone to your head when you clearing US customs at the airport....Bet you wouldn't try it.... Sometimes I wonder how some of yall be thinking!!!!!...smh...smt
CatIslandBoy 5 years, 10 months ago
I have a problem with this; not because I don't believe that people should dress appropriately when conducting serious business in government buildings, but who gets to decide what is appropriate dress and what is not. As a whole we have lowered our moral standards to that espoused by our big neighbour to the north, and children are no longer influenced by their parents, teachers, and community leaders. We take our cues from the television sitcoms, and other shows that are beamed into our home. While I would never be caught in any government building improperly dressed to conduct business, I still don't feel too comfortable with Brent Symonette deciding what is appropriate, or inappropriate dress. I would not want my application, or business transaction, to be impacted by the interpretation of some biased government worker who is having a bad day.
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
Check General Orders on dress in the Public Services. . .the British them "do dat". . .not Brent Symonette. . .LOP them "keep it" at independence in 1973. . . Mr. Symonette was a lil boy when them rules were made policy for government buildings. . .so for the life of me I can't see how the hell you can blame him for their enactments!!
bcitizen 5 years, 10 months ago
Tuxedos and ballroom dresses next election to enter the polling booth. Slippery slope here. Could easily fall off. If they are not in contravention of the law how can you deny access to a public office? Sounds like a lawsuit in the waiting.
killemwitdakno 5 years, 10 months ago
I guess they mean promiscuous. Maybe it's to deter women from enticing workers to approve them.
I'm trying to think of a US gov't building for the public that doesn't look the same as a free clinic. Maybe I should look at England's.
If buildings look well kept and important, people will dress nicely.
Socrates 5 years, 10 months ago
So if we are going to be so pious and self-righteous, how long before this Taliban mindset starts stoning all the single women having babies? surely that must offend their moral standards?
licks2 5 years, 10 months ago
I walked into a shopping mall in VA with a mask on during a Halloween event. . .the security stopped me at the door and informed me that it was illegal to cover my face in a mall in that state!! Another example is that it is illegal to ware the Muslim face covering in the streets in England and a few other EU nations.
My2centz 5 years, 10 months ago
Any business, including government services, has the right to impose dress codes suited to their business. I’m sure she did not present herself in shorts while interviewing with her employer out of respect and the nature of their meeting. Same respect should be shown for this meeting, and the authority of the people will ultimately decide her fate. Her disrespectful attitude and obvious disdain for this country are unfortunately typical of immigrants, but yet they will never voluntarily leave.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 10 months ago
Just go online and read the dress code for the Public Service ........ it applies for workers AND customers in ALL public offices ............ But we just slack and want to mimmick Caribbean jungalists and "ghetto fabulous" Americans ........... What happened to our social standards???
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