|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Louby Georges and I am a Bahamian of Haitian descent currently residing in New Providence, The Bahamas. I am the founder of a group called The Connection which is a voluntary group comprised of young Bahamians of Haitian descent who seek to make a positive contribution and impact in the Bahamas through education and voluntary projects.
I am a talk show host at ZSR Station 103.5 hosting a bilingual show with my cohost Mr. Leyvon Miller on topical issues in and around the Bahamas and seek to bridge the gap between the Bahamian and Haitian community. I am also a human rights activist advocating for the enforcement and protection of basic human rights in The Bahamas especially, those of Haitian migrants.
I was a part of the Bahamian delegation that travelled to Washington in March 20-22, 2015 to highlight human rights violations we felt were being committed in The Bahamas as a result of the implementation of an immigration policy enforced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration in the Bahamas.
At the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR), we met with one of the Commissioners regarding the safety and security of human rights activists in The Bahamas during the course of various meetings. We were assigned a special monitor to oversee the treatment of all human rights defenders in the country and report back to the IACHR. I myself have been targeted on several occasions and this was discussed at that time. Some examples are as follows:
• My name was called in the House of Assembly by a sitting parliamentarian over discussions that took place on my radio station regarding the new immigration policy implemented in the Bahamas.
• My talk show at Guardian Radio was pulled off air March 2015 after being reported to URCA by that same parliamentarian, in what I considered to be an act of suppression of free speech.
• My group hosted an informational town hall meeting on August 8, 2015 regarding health topics and other information that was deemed important for disbursement to the Haitian community. Once again, the same minister has asked for a police probe the meeting – a police probe that is actually presently being carried out – as he alleged that some things were said at the meeting that bordered on incitement, and more so because non-nationals had held this meeting and that was concerning for him and warranted an investigation.
This was announced via the media without any prior investigation having been conducted and no proof brought forward. What is most concerning is that the average citizen who supports these leaders may take such comments seriously and this may itself pose a risk of incitement – possibly leading to abuse or attacks by citizens on innocent people and human rights defenders.
Clearly, we feel unfairly targeted, persecuted and have now brought this matter to the attention of our OAS monitor and the rest of the international community.
The town hall meeting in question was publicly broadcast on social media as well as on my radio station (ZSR 103.5) and letters of invitation were delivered by hand to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (the same department headed by the said minister) as well as the Ministry of Education but both declined to be in attendance and no representatives were sent.
Representatives of the U.S. Embassy as well as the Haitian Embassy were also invited and accepted the invitation to be in attendance, as did other community members to whom invitations were extended. Please find the attached the program for the town hall meeting, covering the speakers and topics discussed.
Again, I would like to emphasize the great extent to which I feel targeted and subject to victimization. My only intent for holding the town hall meeting was the distribution of information to the Haitian community on relevant and important topics, a feat undertaken for the first time in the Haitian community in The Bahamas and which was deemed a huge success as we had an attendance amounting to over 500.
We have made the IACHR aware of what is presently occurring with this situation and urged them to take whatever actions or interventions that may be deemed appropriate, as at present, I am in fear for my safety due to the escalating tensions created by this completely unfounded and sinister police probe.
Sincerely,
Louby Georges
6th September 2015
Disclaimer:
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his/her
private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of
TheBahamasWeekly.com
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
