The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PRIME Minister Philip Brave Davis is the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party government and will undoubtedly make decisions which he believes are in the best interests of The Bahamas. One of those decisions, apparently, was the appointment of Haitian-Bahamian activist Louby Georges in the Ministry of Immigration.

Admittedly, Georges’ role as consultant in this PLP administration came as a complete surprise to many Bahamians, when it was cavalierly mentioned on the Our News Bahamas broadcast, posted on its Facebook page on March 5. Unfortunately, many Bahamians went on Facebook to post uncharitable, xenophobic comments regarding Mr Georges and his appointment. Judging from the comments, it would appear that they were in the dark regarding the Georges gig. At this point I am beginning to question the financial feasibility of all these consultancy jobs, especially when you already have a large Cabinet to go along with well-paid Permanent Secretaries and other government technocrats.

The gist of the Our News Bahamas story was Georges’ concerns about the abrupt cancellation of Bahamasair flights from Haiti, which is currently in a state of rebellion, with a government that is on the verge of collapsing. Just this past Friday gang members attacked the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince. Days prior to the attack gang members freed four thousand inmates from various prisons in the country. Haitian Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry, as far as I’m aware, remains in Puerto Rico after the Dominican Republic closed its airspace to Haitian flights. Meanwhile, Martine Moïse, widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, along with former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and former chief of the National Police, Léon Charles, were all indicted by a judge for their alleged involvement in the murder of Moïse in July 2021. In light of these disturbing developments in Haiti, it is understandable why Bahamasair canceled its flights from the politically unstable Caribbean island.

This raises the question as to why Georges felt the pressing need to go to the press to voice his concerns, when even he admitted that the situation in Haiti remains volatile. The entire ordeal, which looks like another opportunity for Georges to grace the cameras, was unnecessary in my opinion. Also worth questioning is when was Georges appointed to his position? What consultation is he offering and how much Bahamian tax dollars, if any, is he being paid? Moreover, if given a choice between Haiti and The Bahamas, will Louby Georges choose the former or the latter? Bahamians need to know that a Haitian activist who has gone out on a limb for Haiti would be willing to do the same for their country. The Bahamas, notwithstanding its flaws, has provided for Georges and other Haitian migrants, be they illegal or otherwise, a safe, stable homeland where they can earn an honest living -- something that Haiti has not been able to offer.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama

March 10, 2024.