Jessemo 10 years, 7 months ago on Bahamians given asylum in Canada
Bahamians given asylum in Canada
It's so disheartening to witness that ignorance, intolerance and misinformation reigns majestically in our beloved Bahamas.
We lie to ourselves - perhaps to make ourselves feel better - when we say that discrimination and violence against LGBT people does not exist in The Bahamas. We indulge in name calling, the cruel and crude jokes, within the earshot of all, not thinking of who we hurt. Our churches and religious bodies spew hatred on a weekly basis and our governments refuse to table laws to protect the vulnerable in our society....Yeah, discrimination is rampant and we are all complicit.
A quick search of Canada Immigration and Refugee regulations will impart a beavy of knowledge to the seeker. The process for claiming asylum for refugee status is quire difficult and limited to a few scenarios. Human rights matters are at the top of their list as Canada believes in freedom and the rights of the individual to live freely.
Be it for political, sexual orientation, gender issues or religious persecution, all claims for refugee status must undergo a series of interviews, where proof of stated discrimination must be presented and finally court hearings for determination. It takes anywhere from 2 - 10 years for a claimant to get a determination from the board.
So yeah, we Bahamians should feel a collective shame that our fellow citizens have to resort to pleading for protection from another country.
We will be dragged - kicking and screaming Old Testament damnations - all the way into the first world. Some of us will faint and some may perish...but be sure of this, the Bahamas will get there. Sooner than some of us think and in ways that most of us are not comfortable with.
rachelg 10 years, 7 months ago on Bahamians given asylum in Canada
Bahamians given asylum in Canada
I implore you to come out your ivory towers, just because you don't hear about it, doesn't mean it doesn't exists. Most asylum matters from the are LGBT. The Bahamas had a transsexual who was granted asylum in the last few years as well. She was a really nice lady and was threatened daily because of her lifestyle. So, before we comment on things we have no knowledge about and discard of, ask yourself if it were you, would you want someone to be commenting on yourself when they have no prior knowledge of your life or circumstance.