PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis. (File photo)
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has instructed Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson to form a “strike force” targeted at aggressively pursuing undocumented migrants throughout the country.
Charging that “we must take our country back”, Dr Minnis said Bahamians could no longer be second-class citizens while doubling down on his long held position that the issue of undocumented migrants could no longer continue.
He suggested the issue had created a strain on the country’s social services and health resources.
The prime minister has repeated similar comments in the past but in these newest comments yesterday at Parliament, he said there would be focus on ensuring people applying for work permits follow the rules of procedure.
He also said that foreigners granted work permits would be replaced where it was found Bahamian understudies had not been trained to take over those roles. Dr Minnis said immigration officials would also ensure non-Bahamians did not capitalise on jobs locals were equipped to do.
“…We must strengthen and enforce our immigration policies. We must pursue illegal immigrants aggressively. This is the Bahamas and Bahamians are first and Bahamians will and must remain first,” Dr Minnis said while wrapping up debate on the 2019/2020 mid-year budget debate. The budget was passed in Parliament yesterday.
“I have given the minister with responsibility for immigration (Elsworth Johnson) the task of establishing a strike force whose mandate will be to aggressively pursue illegals both throughout New Providence and the Family Islands and through our streets and various job sites. Bahamians who employ illegals will and must be prosecuted. We cannot continue being a lawless society if we are to protect our citizens.
“Jobs are first and foremost for Bahamians. I find it very difficult and I could not understand and still don’t understand the day when investors, bankers etcetera bring individuals to our shores on contracts for three, four years with the commitment that they will train Bahamians to take over such jobs.
“In six years they are still here, eight years they are still here, nine years they are planning for residency, displacing Bahamians. I find it difficult that my nationals cannot obtain the knowledge to take over the job and since I know that my nationals can and do have the knowledge to take over the job, the fault must be with the trainer.
“We ought to aggressively ensure that successive planning is first and foremost and in the absence of individuals not being trained, that trainer had failed and must be replaced by a new trainer so that they do not establish foundation within our country and take further jobs away from Bahamians.”
Dr Minnis said he had difficulty understanding how foreign contractors had taken advantage of large construction jobs, competing with locals in the market.
“I also find it very difficult to accept individuals come to our shores as employees on jobs. When I look five years later these individuals establish their construction company and compete against Bahamians for our jobs. I am embarrassed sometimes as I walk about and see the amount of individuals that speaks a different language than I do, but yet have big contracts within our country. That must stop.
“Bahamians first. Bahamian citizens are likewise responsible. We have a responsibility to inform the government as to such activities and we have a responsibility of not hiring individuals unless there is document of them being here or allowed to be here.”
The prime minister said it was important the situation be handled to prevent the Bahamas from following in the steps of Turks and Caicos, which is now “swamped” with undocumented migrants. He said the situation had deteriorated to a point where locals had taken matters into their own hands, arresting migrants and apprehending them for authorities.
“I would not like to see us reach that point and therefore I urge Bahamians, you must not hire illegals and you must report such illegal activities.
“And for those who bring individuals on work permits you must ensure that they have proper accommodations. We will not continue to allow shantytowns for individuals to break the laws in our country yet we do nothing and if a Bahamian adds anything on to his or her home without the relevant permit we break it down.
“I ask a question who is this country for, are we second class citizens in our own country? We will no longer be second-class citizens in our country. And we asks the courts to work with us, fix our problems because today it’s me tomorrow is you. Soon they will build a court right next to the Supreme Court.
“…We must take our country back.
“Work permits cannot and should not and will not be obtained within our country unless they have been renewed.”
He said to ensure the rules are followed, officials plan to do regular audits on work permits to ensure they are issued while individuals are out of the country. Dr Minnis said if officials discover there is a violation of the policy they will be dealt with accordingly.
“Our social services can take no more. Our health system can take no more.”
He continued: “I remembered while working as a physician at the Princess Margaret Hospital in charge of senior personnel obstetrics and gynaecology it was not unusual (and) it was very frustrating to the staff and demoralising for out of 10 deliveries within our wards, nine were the illegals and one was the Bahamians.
“It was not unusual, Mr Speaker, that our wards, our beds were filled with illegals while Bahamians stood aside (or) sit on the benches waiting.”
Comments
Chucky 4 years, 10 months ago
If a work permit will not be issued when a Bahamian can do the job, the we better have a whole bunch of people start gardening and house cleaning and child care etc. All those permits can be revoked today.
As for construction, it’s just like any other profession, those coming from fully developed country’s will always be needed. Some inevitably end up with their own businesses here, usually with a Bahamian partner, but notice not one prolific construction company is run and managed by Bahamians. Not Mosko, not ISD, not BHM, Not Woslee, Not SMG, none of the good companies rely on Bahamians for leading roles. Now ask yourself, which came first, the success of those companies, or the foreign staff.
I’d rather we move ahead as a nation with plenty foreigners, than we limit ourselves to what Bahamians can do. We don’t exactly have any shining stars !
Chucky 4 years, 10 months ago
What a complete moron. The key to a nations success is to draw the best and brightest from other nations.
We should openly give citizenship to any professional who out shines a Bahamian.
All our successful companies are run by foreign or are monopolies
joeblow 4 years, 10 months ago
If Minnis really wanted to do something about illegal immigration he would do more and talk less. He talks one way when talking to Haitians and another when talking to Bahamians. Why don't they start by confiscating passports in Bahamian names from people who cannot even speak English much less pronounce the name in 'their' passport!
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 10 months ago
Minnis must think the Bahamian people are stupid. As minister of immigration it has been Elsworth Johnson's duty since May 2017 to aggressively round up and expeditiously deport illegal Haitian aliens. But Elsworth Johnson is a well known Haitian sympathizer, as is our creole speaking minister of immigration, Frankie Campbell, and our minister of foreign affairs, Darren Henfield.
Minnis very deliberatedly appointed these three Haitian sympathizers (Johnson, Campbell and Henfield) to their respective cabinet posts knowing full well that their ministerial portfolios involve many issues associated with illegal Haitian aliens, including ongoing close contact with representatives of their huge invasive force in The Bahamas. So who does Minnis think he's fooling by instructing Elsworth Johnson to form a special strike force to deal with a most serious problem that he should have all along been aggressively addressing as minister of immigration? Once again Minnis is just proving himself to be nothing but a bag of most insincere hot air. The illegal Haitian aliens now know for sure that Minnis has their backs because a well known Haitian sympathizer like Johnson is not going to do diddledee squat about our many illegal Haitian alien problems.
Dawes 4 years, 10 months ago
Minnis is using 1 of the 3 items all Governments use when things are going bad for them. This time it is the foreigner, other times it is whitey and others the gays. This is just trying to drum up support for him. Remember it wasn't long ago he told all illegals to leave by the end of December ( i think 2017 or 18). What happened in January? Nothing. I expect nothing will happen again here.
realitycheck242 4 years, 10 months ago
An Immigration Strike Force is long overdue. Bahamians are frustrated to the point where there is no shortage of people who would volunteer for such a force. The Bahamas must not be allowed to become the eleventh department (state) of Haiti.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 10 months ago
Read the article. Do you really think a strike force formed by our minister of immigration (Elsworth Johnson), who is a well known illegal Haitian alien sympathizer, will aggressively round up and expeditiously deport the huge force of invaders squeezing the life out of us? Come on man, give us 'true' Bahamians a break before it's much too late!
TalRussell 4 years, 10 months ago
The recently elevated into role immigration minister is the ideal latest chosen Imperialists red cabinet member volunteer to jump to participate in PM's pre election campaign's theatrics. Stay tuned for the PMO's photographer's staged photo ops - featuring the PM and his puppet crown minister - riding shotgun, all over, up and down streets colony's out islands- along with uniformed immigration officers - accompanied by contingent heavily war dressed and armed at the ready do battle with targeted Haitian males, females, the young and old-aged - committing no greater an offense other than going about their daily tasks likes shopping, working, church, Sunday school, medical and other important appointments, banking and grocery shopping.. All aimed at satisfying the pre election over-sized ego of but one priorities mixed-up comrade man's. Can't write this. Just, can't.
jus2cents 4 years, 10 months ago
We shouldn't need a special task force if the existing entities were all doing their jobs properly in the first place. (Another waste of our money!)
It is a fact that Bahamians don't seem to want to do the jobs that Haitians are happy to do-. live in maids, labourers and gardeners etc. Be careful what you wish for...When the price of domestic workers increases it will cause everything to cost more. Even though they are disenfranchised and treated terribly by Bahamians, the Haitian diaspora have helped build the Bahamas, they are very hard workers, they turn up on time, they respect the law, they go to church, they bolster the economy, they pay NHI and Taxes, they would probably not overstay visas if the immigration process was faster and more efficient. They would probably want to retire in Haiti if travel / documentation process was less risky for them. I wouldn't want to live in Haiti right now, I don't blame them for wanting to get out. We should be kinder. They are from the same descendants as Bahamians lest we forget! There for the grace of god... One day our Bahamian children may be begging to live in Haiti when the sea level rises. We already have thousands of Bahamian Climate Refugees in the USA right now. It's only a matter of time.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 10 months ago
One thing is for sure assuming you're a 'true' Bahamian: As a sympathizer of illegal Haitian aliens you're going to get everything you deserve in life, including a squalid existence as a second class citizen in your own country.
stillwaters 4 years, 10 months ago
Trust me.....nobody's going to Haiti when the sea levels rise.....nobody.
jus2cents 4 years, 10 months ago
His rhetoric is somewhat Trump'y
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 10 months ago
You mean his arrogance and outright nastiness. Minnis has all of Trump's weaknesses (and then some!) and not one of Trump's strengths.
stillwaters 4 years, 10 months ago
This government has thousands of illegals in one place right after the hurricane. They allowed them to slip away into Bahamian communities and into existing shanty towns..now they want to go hunt down those people......Jesus, take the wheel.....please!!!!!!!
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