GBHRA vice president, Joseph Darville
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Veteran human rights advocate, Joseph Dariville says attorney
should also face Bar Council censure and even disbarment over “sickening” call
for undocumented migrants to be flogged and terrorized
GBHRA: Attorney Wayne Munroe should be
stripped of his Queen’s Council status and even face the possibility of disbarment
over his call for undocumented migrants to be whipped and terrorized in an
effort to deter others from coming to The Bahamas.
Speaking on a popular radio show last
week, Munroe called for adult migrants to be flogged and those under 18 to be
caned for seeking to enter Bahamian territory without permission. He later
appeared on a TV news program to add that women should not be spared his
proposed beatings, asking “why would we treat them differently in this big age
of equality?”
“Wayne Munroe’s comments are as
shocking as they are absolutely sickening. His Q.C. status should be
immediately revoked by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Bahamas Bar
Association should consider disbarring him over this disgraceful behavior,”
Darville said. “He is advocating the return of the whipping post, a legacy of
the darkest days of slavery.”
Darville said QCs are supposedly chosen
for their exceptional ability, competence and understanding of the law, but
Munroe, a recent recipient, has already proven himself totally unworthy of this
honor.
“These brutal, barbaric suggestions
show that he is not only unqualified for this lofty designation; he is also
unsuited to be regarded as an officer of the court in any capacity. I call on
the Bahamas Bar Association to consider his formal removal from the Bar over
these heinous and regressive utterances,” he said.
“Perhaps it is Munroe who should be the
first one to be flogged, in a bid to revive his senses, if he is endowed with
any at all. This man should be rebuked by our head of state, every church
leader, every human rights organization, every community activist and every right
thinking individual citizen. Our collective silence will condone his horrific
and demonic pronouncements.”
According to Darville, Munroe has
emerged as one of the leaders of the “dark forces” unleashed by Minister of
Immigration Fred Mitchell’s harsh new Immigration policy. The policy has led to
mass raids and roundups in the dead of night, ramped up deportation without due
process, violence and sexual abuse at the hands of Immigration officers, and a
host of other human rights violations.
Next month, the government is planning
to place impediments in the way of the children of foreigners seeking to be
registered for school, a clear violation of the Education Act.
Perhaps worst of all, however, the
policy has led to a dramatic increase of casual discrimination and expressions
of xenophobia by members of the Bahamian public at large, who seem to be
following the example of their leaders.
“Never fear though,” Darville said.
“This shadow of darkness will be snuffed out by the light of God’s brilliance,
and we are all called upon to lend our light in this one of the darkest hours
in our nation.”