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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Fred Smith, QC, President Grand Bahama Human Rights Association
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A letter by GBHRA president Fred Smith, QC:
Why are we so hateful to the sons and daughters of our Bahamian soil?
Just because they happened to have been born of non- Bahamian citizen parents?
Why are we so hateful to foreigners when the Bahamas is made of a pool of foreign blood?
Why does the administration of immigration laws have to become such an
emotional political football providing, opportunities for ministers to
grandstand for political rhetoric and reelection?
Why make simple issues complicated ?
Why allow artificial distinctions to create an "illegal" class?
It's very simple. Even the Constitution in substance recognizes it.
People born in The Bahamas are entitled to Bahamian citizenship.
Basically, those born before 1973 are entitled to it. Those born after
1973 who apply between 18 and 19 are entitled to it. Those born in
Bahamas but who apply after 19 are allowed to apply but aren't entitled
to it.
There is an easy fix, and one which cannot be morally, legally or ethically challenged!!
The simple solution is the following:
Just pass a simple law that says; All persons born in Bahamas are
automatically Bahamian citizens. They should not have to apply. Being
born here should be the ticket.
Simple, easy! No complications!
Pass such a law!
People should just be automatically entitled to citizenship, thus
avoiding the creation all of these artificial distinctions and
opportunities for political sophistry and grandstanding.
And creating a "Them" vs. "We" mentality, promoting discrimination and the creation of an outlaw class.
We must stop promoting discrimination.
People born in The Bahamas should just simply be Bahamian citizens and
by production of their birth certificates, get a passport. It's as
simple as that.
That is the general law elsewhere in civilized nations and we should stop being uncivilized, inhuman and degrading
We are simply creating problems where none actually exist.
It is inhuman and degrading to keep people born before 1973 or after
1973 and who apply between their 18th and 19th birthdays waiting for
decades to get a certificate of their status and entitlement; to pay
for a permit to belong.
It is inhuman and degrading for those
born after 1973 but who apply after 19 but have never been to Haiti to
be to be kept waiting, or to be refused!
To be made to apply
for citizenship, or belongers permits, or work permits etc. because
they simply didn't know they had to apply between the age of 18 and 19.
Where has our sense of decency, of humanity, of sensibility gone in The Bahamas when we foster these artificial distinctions?
And worse still when we couch them in nationalistic fervor; warmongering words; aggressive policies that make people outlaws!
Why do our politicians do this?
It is so unnecessary, so counterproductive, so dehumanizing, so awful
and sends such a terrible message about how we view ourselves. How we
hate our very own sons and daughters of the soil of our Bahamaland.
How racist we are. How xenophobic we are. How hateful we are. For god sake, how unchristian of us!
And let's remember: what is The Bahamas made of? How many cabinet ministers are of foreign heritage? What are we afraid of?
Bahamians are of Haitian, Iranian, Greek, Trinidadian, Guyanese,
Barbadian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian, Indian, Puerto
Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Caymanian, Jamaican, Turks and Caicos,
Canadian, American, Mexican, Panamanian, Filipino, Venezuelan,
Colombian, Ecuadorian, South American, Guyanese... heritage. My God,
what a beautiful crucible!
Bahamians are beautiful mixture. Why not embrace and celebrate our fabulous heritages?
We should celebrate opportunities to create ethnic, racial and
international diversity; celebrate the variety of Bahamian blood instead
of being hateful and exclusive.
I beg our governments, please stop the abuse!
Let's really be "One Bahamas."
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