The following is a statement by Fred Smith QC, President, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association:

I was disappointed to learn that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell is currently out of the country and therefore will not be available to take part in the upcoming COB debate on his controversial new immigration enforcement policy (today at 6pm, Harry C. Moore Library). I was looking forward to a lively and constructive discussion with the minister on the legality of the policy and its consequences for human rights in The Bahamas.

I maintain that the new policy, launched on November 1, 2014, involves several fundamental violations of the Constitution of The Bahamas, and is therefore unlawful. It is also my contention that harsh though it is, the policy is nothing more than a superficial, attention-seeking exercise designed to distract from the many failures of the PLP administration over the past two and a half years. As such, it will have little to no lasting impact on the problem of illegal immigration to The Bahamas.

I have made my case several times in the public domain and continue to await a detailed response from the minister. That no such response has been forthcoming can only lead objective observers to conclude that Mitchell and his colleagues are simply unable to provide satisfactory answers. I had hoped to press him on this point during the panel discussion.

In any case, I am told a senior immigration officer will take the minister’s place, along with representatives of both the FNM and DNA. I look forward to a lively and productive discussion, and urge the public to attend and participate. This issue goes to the heart of who we are as a people, and threatens to have dire consequences for our country both domestically and in the eyes of the world if we do not change course.

I remain hopeful that upon his return, Mitchell will agree to discuss the matter with me in some other public forum. It would be unfortunate for the minister to come across as shying away from a debate because he is afraid he cannot win based on Constitutional law and human rights principles.

My reasoned, valuable and legally and morally correct contribution to this public debate will not be avoided by his constant resort to meaningless name-calling.”

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