Dear Editor,
With your kind leave, I wish to add my voice to the current national debate on immigration. At the
Monday (9th February) sitting of the House, Immigration
Minister Fred Mitchell used the House rule “Statements from Ministers” to set
the record straight on media reports that he claimed were “replete with errors
and untruths.” The media reports were related to the government’s latest
administrative measures designed to strengthen its immigration policy.
Some people continue to call these new administrative measures “new laws” but
they are not – they are simply measures the immigration law empowers the
Minister (meaning the cabinet of The Bahamas) to take to strengthen the
existing immigration laws in the national interest. The only new immigration
law on permits to reside in this whole reform effort by the government now
being contemplated and announced, is an amendment bill to provide for a
“Belonger’s Permit” for persons born in The Bahamas to non Bahamian
parents.This will allow those persons to obtain a status at a fraction of
the cost that is now charged - going from 1000 dollars now to 25 dollars plus a
processing fee of 100 dollars.The status can also be given to anyone who
is actually stateless and is born here to non-Bahamian parents.
The Member for Marco City raised the issue of the 2nd generation and beyond of
Haitians whose parents were born in The Bahamas.He claimed that they do
not have a claim on the citizenship of their ancestors.He described them
as “undocumented Bahamians”. The Minister said that there is no such
creature, either you are Bahamian or not. If someone is actually stateless, The
Bahamas will honour its obligation in law to provide a status for that
individual.Mr. Moss claimed that those who apply for registration as
citizens of The Bahamas pursuant to Article 7 of the constitution (at their 18th
birthday and before their 19th birthday) are automatically
Bahamians.The Minister indicated that this is not true.When
applications are filed for citizenships between their 18th and 19th birthdays,
approval is subject to the terms and conditions of the Bahamas Nationality Act
and registration can be refused.
Yours etc.;
Elcott Coleby
