MINISTER ADDRESSES PASTORS – Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration the Hon. Frederick Mitchell, addressed pastors during a Pastors Forum on Friday at Freeport Bible Chapel. Among those in attendance were pastors of the Haitian community, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, and Pastor Wilbur Outten. (BIS Photo: Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT, Bahamas – Immigration
Minister, the Hon. Frederick Mitchell, addressed religious leaders in Grand
Bahama at a Pastors’ Forum, to which he understood pastors of the Haitian
community had been invited, on Friday at Freeport Bible Church.
Minister Mitchell made a statement in
the presence of the media. Discussions followed in private.
During the Minister’s statement, he mentioned
there were many questions about the immigration policies, and he circulated the
Public Service Announcement released on October 31.
The rules, said the Minister, apply
nationwide, and checks will be made daily. These checks are being referring to
as “roundups,” Minister Mitchell said, and he reaffirmed “roundups are for
cattle, not people.” The media would be advised as to the number of individuals
interdicted on suspected Immigration violations.
Minister Mitchell appealed to all that
they have their documentation in order and asked patience of the public while
these checks are being made which may arise from time to time on the streets.
“The protocol in place is that if you do
not have the documentation and the immigration officer continues to suspect
that you are not documented to be in The Bahamas, releases are to take place in
the case of Nassau at the Detention Centre. In the other islands at the
Immigration Offices, not on the streets. This is to avoid any allegations of
corruption or improper conduct being made against officers and for the general
well being of the public.”
He said that if there is property
missing or abuse, it should be reported immediately to the officer in charge or
the Director of Immigration.
Minister Mitchell then read a statement
issued that morning. That statement was as follows: “The Ministry of foreign Affairs and
Immigration has taken note of complaints to the Ministry from Bahamian citizens
about the comments made in the press by a purported citizen of The Bahamas who
now lives in the United States and the adverse comments about The Bahamas from
a state legislator in Florida. The Ministry is investigating the complaints to
determine what are the appropriate administrative measures if any that are
necessary to protect the sovereign integrity of The Bahamas.
“The Ministry reminds the public that
the constitution requires all citizens to act in manner which does not
prejudice the sovereignty of the state or jeopardizes their citizenship. Any
visitor to our country must comport themselves in accordance with the law.
“The Constitution speaks in Article 11
of the circumstances that can lead to the Governor General depriving a Bahamian
of citizenship.
“11. (1) If the Governor-General is
satisfied that any citizen of The Bahamas has at any time after 9th
July 1973 acquired by registration, naturalization or other voluntary and
formal act (other than marriage) the citizenship of any other country any
rights available to him under the law of that country, being rights accorded
exclusively to its citizens, the Governor-General may be order deprive that
person of his citizenship.
“(2) If the Governor-General is
satisfied that any citizen of The Bahamas has at any time after 9th
July 1973 voluntarily claimed and exercised in any other country any rights
available to him under the law of that country, being rights accorded
exclusively to its citizens, the Governor-General may by order deprive that
person of his citizenship.
“These are very limited circumstances in
which the Governor General can act.
“The Bahamas Nationality Act says in
Section 11 (2)(a)(iii) that the Minister for Nationality may by order deprive
someone who is a naturalized citizen of his or her citizenship if that person
has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards The
Bahamas.
“The point here is that citizenship of
The Bahamas is precious and important and worthy. It is not to be enterprised
or treated lightly.
“I urge all citizens therefore to be
mindful that we have in all things to be sure of our conduct. The world marks
the manner of our bearing.”
Minister Mitchell
closed his remarks by saying, “the policies are not complicated. They are not
targeted at any particular national group.
I am hoping that we have a good discussion
this morning. Thank you.”
Also in attendance was Minister for
Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville.