As government’s harsh new policy continues to attract criticism, GBHRA submits
alternative 10-point plan for a more humane approach to illegal immigration
A local human rights group has called for an
amnesty period in which undocumented migrants living in The Bahamas without
legal status can voluntarily repatriate before immigration officials proceed
with a "fair and humane" enforcement of immigration law.
Joe Darville, vice president of the Grand
Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA), said this amnesty period could be
facilitated through cooperation between human rights advocates and immigration
authorities. A comprehensive, archipelago-wide public information program would
be critical as a supporting measure, he added.
In a "Ten Point Plan" for
immigration enforcement prepared by the human rights group, which has been
sharply critical of the manner in which the government is engaged in
immigration enforcement in recent weeks, Darville said costs of the voluntary
repatriation of any people who come forward during this time to their countries
of origin could be shared between those individuals themselves, the Department
of Immigration, and businesses which have employed the undocumented workers in
The Bahamas.
"Many of these persons, who have been
here for some time, may have accumulated good sums of money and should be able
to partially fund their return to Haiti," he said.
As a way forward that could mitigate any
rights abuses as the government moves to address immigration violations,Darville charged that
this amnesty period should be two months in length, a period of time which
would allow "all undocumented people to leave voluntarily". Those who
may have status should declare this, in case they have permission to remain in
The Bahamas.
The GBHRA vice president further called for a
full documenting of all people who may not have, or claim status, as a step
towards improving the management of the country's immigrant population.
His comments come as tensions have risen over
the manner in which the government has pursued the enforcement of immigration
rules, announced in mid-September and coming into effect on November 1, with
the government hitting back vehemently against claims that the initiative has
led to human rights abuses by officials of the Department of Immigration
against vulnerable migrants in The Bahamas.
Dozens of people have come forward to provide
testimonials to the GBHRA alleging wrongful detention and mistreatment at the
hands of immigration officials and within the country's main immigration
holding facility in the wake of the government's harsh new immigration
enforcement policy.
Fred Smith Q.C., president of the GBHRA,
noted recently that several who have been held at the detention center compared
it to "Auschwitz or similar horrors from history
’
s darkest moments”.
"Together, these testimonials paint a
picture of a concentration camp where there is inedible food, insufficient
water and shelter, and where verbal, mental and physical abuse are
endemic," said Smith.
Faced with criticisms, the government has
conceded that it is seeking additional space to hold migrant women with
children, amid complaints that besides other deprivations these migrants have
been contained in groups in the center among a general population that includes
men.
Darville suggested the amnesty period should
be coordinated by special committees of human rights advocates, in conjunction
with a plain-clothed senior immigration official.
"After this period of amnesty and
voluntary repatriation, immigration should be free to carry out its usual
checks for undocumented persons, again in a fair and humane manner. However, the life of the special committee, appointed by the
Minister (of Immigration), will continue its' work for an additional period of
one month, for the benefit of those who may still wish to come forward
voluntarily.”
Darville noted that an immigration amnesty
period was undertaken successfully in the 1970s, having been organized by the
GBHRA "under the watchful eye" of immigration officials.
"Hundreds of Haitians voluntarily choose this path rather
than being arrested and put into prison, where they were separated from their
children who were put into juvenile correction facilities," said Darville.
The human rights advocate suggested that the
committee put together to coordinate the amnesty and voluntary repatriation
should be provided with a place to do its work, a paid secretary, and would be
set up on each island "where there are significantly large groups of
undocumented aliens.”
"As soon as the minister and Cabinet
approve this or any other similar plan, we move full force ahead to carry out
this work in a dignified, humane and Christ-like manner, mindful of the sacred
lives and circumstances of all these children of God, irrespective of how they
happen to be present here," he urged.