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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Darville: Mitchell’s claims are ‘the height of hypocrisy’
By Joseph Darville Vice President, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association
Aug 26, 2015 - 11:29:19 AM
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 (Statement) I suppose it should come as no surprise at this point that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell would stoop to the level he has to silence those he believes are a threat to his political ambitions.
There was a time when I had extremely high hopes about Mitchell’s ability to make a positive and lasting contribution to the democracy of this beloved nation. Sadly, I can no longer say I hold that view.
Mitchell’s latest claim is that the GBHRA is exaggerating when we say he is trying to stifle free speech. This, to put it bluntly, is the height of hypocrisy.
It is Mitchell and not us who has exaggerated in the most reckless manner with his silly claim that an informational meeting held with the Haitian-Bahamian community “bordered on incitement” and must be investigated by the police.
I was there at the meeting, I made a presentation at the meeting, and I can categorically state that there was no incitement, no attempts at “insurrection” or any of the other wildly irresponsible words Mitchell has been throwing around.
How dare Mitchell seek to accuse us of exaggerating, just because we stand up for people’s individual freedoms and their right to speak? He should be ashamed of himself I have been defending people’s human rights in this country for longer than he has been in the legal profession.
Three decades ago, when as a high school principal, I was accused of exaggerating when I said the residents of the Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard and Hawksbill communities in Grand Bahama were being made ill by pollution from nearby industrial plants.
I led demonstrations against the companies responsible, but for the better part of a decade, the powers that be – both the central government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority – ignored or attacked our efforts.
After more than a decade of fighting, I was proven right. Unfortunately it was too late for many. In a single graduating class from my school, 13 of my former students have now died from cancer.
Since the GBHRA began to speak out against the harsh and illegal immigration policy launched by the government last year, my colleagues and I have been branded traitors, insurgents or enemies of The Bahamas – everything but a child of God by PLP supporters and cronies. All in an effort to shoot the messenger instead of address the message.
I will have them know that I love this country with all my heart, that I have shed blood sweat and tears for this great country and would never engage in any behavior or activity that would threaten to compromise it. How dare they.
As for Mitchell, this is but another example of his recent attempts to frighten those who he would like to silence, by setting the police on them. It is repressive and intimidating tactic and the prime minister should step in and put a stop to it now.
At the end of the day, it is nothing more than a callous bid to further his political ambitions. Mitchell thinks that by being “strong” on immigration he can ingratiate himself to the Bahamian people and deflect attention from all the failures of his government over the past three years. He must know that we, and the country at large, see right through him.
I will end with a short message to Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade, for whom I have the utmost respect and whom I know well from his days in Grand Bahama.
Commissioner, I know that you investigate all complaints that are made to you without fear of favor. I would only point out that months ago, my colleagues and I reported to the police a series of viscous attacks on us carried out by groups of aggressive, masked men donning Ku Klux Klan outfits. We have repeatedly sought a meeting with you, but have been granted one and have heard nothing about the progress of the investigation.
I know that a man of the commissioner’s integrity will treat this most hateful and frightening of outrages against us with the urgency it requires.
I am sure he threat the silly witch hunt on which Minister Mitchell has asked him to waste manpower, with precisely the level of attention it deserves as well.
Joseph Darville
Vice President, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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