From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Fred Smith: Mitchell must explain image of people caged like animals
By Grand Bahamas Human Rights Association
Dec 27, 2014 - 11:23:14 PM
The following is a statement by Fred Smith, QC, President, Grand Bahamas Human Rights Association:
Since the launch of the government’s
illegal and draconian immigration crackdown on November 1, Immigration Minister
Fred Mitchell has repeatedly insisted that his officers do not treat people
like “cattle”.
In
light of the recently-surfaced image showing suspected illegal immigrants
penned in a mobile enclosure more suited to the transportation of livestock
than human beings, the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA) demands
that he give a satisfactory explanation of the behavior of public servants
under his charge.
Responding
to the many cases of physical battery, wrongful detention and unlawful tactics
which have arisen over the last two months, not to mention the recent rape
allegation against a senior Immigration official, Mitchell’s stance has been
that the Bahamas government does not condone the abuse of detainees.
This
is a calculated and cynical dodge. The fact is, as minister he is responsible
for the Department of Immigration, its employees and their actions. In all such
cases, the buck stops with Mitchell. His excuses are simply not good enough.
The
photo itself stands as a powerful example of the kind of unconstitutional,
inhumane and degrading treatment of individuals – who
are innocent until proven guilty under the law – which
has stained the soul of The Bahamas for decades. Mitchell’s harsh new policy has only
exacerbated this shameful trend.
Its
emergence coincides with reports since November 1 of increased discrimination
against Bahamian citizens with ‘foreign sounding’ surnames,
not only at the hands of Immigration officers, but by public servants in
general.
The GBHRA is in the
process of collecting testimonials of Bahamians of Haitian descent in
particular, who tell of unusual and unwarranted scrutiny by National Insurance
Board (NIB) officials, illegal fees levied for the treatment of children in the
public healthcare system, and denial of access to a public school, to name just
a few cases.
It
seems Mitchell’s policy is being
interpreted as tacit approval for the free expression of a kind of bigotry and
xenophobia that has simmered below the surface of this society for many years.
Try
though he may to obscure the facts and deflect the blame, Mitchell’s
government is ultimately responsible for all consequences which flow from its
ill-conceived and dangerous new stance on immigration enforcement; a stance that
is also causing irreparable damage to the reputation of The Bahamas around the
world.
If
Mitchell will not answer for what is happening, the GBHRA calls on Prime
Minister Christie to relieve him of the immigration portfolio, and bestow it
upon someone with the foresight and clarity of thought to see where this
disastrous policy threatens to take us.
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
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