Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a statement by Fred Smith, QC, President of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association:
Minister Fred Mitchell’s ongoing display of pettiness and immaturity
over the immigration controversy generated by his own rash actions, has reached
the point where it threatens to damage the country’s international
reputation.
A meeting was
organized and confirmed for this afternoon between high level Immigration
officials, members of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA),
including myself; and the visiting Haitian American Grassroots Coalition
(HAGC), an organization that is very well known and respected in the United
States, and with which President Barack Obama has consulted over immigration
issues.
Suddenly, the night
before the meeting confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was set to take
place, the GBHRA received a message to the effect that there would be no
meeting unless I first withdrew unspecified “untrue statements” concerning the
activities of the Department of Immigration (see attached document). The
pronouncement was, predictably, according to “the directive of the
Ministry”.
The accusation of
falsity on my part is itself too puerile to grace with a response. I stand by
everything I said and will withdraw nothing. If Mitchell would like to test the
veracity of my claims, he need only “man-up” and accept my challenge for a
public debate on immigration issues.
As for the silly
ultimatum itself, I cannot see what the minister can hope to achieve, aside
from embarrassing The Bahamas in front of high profile international guests. It
is my contention that the current immigration policy, launched on November 1
2014, is an outgrowth of Mitchell’s own irrational, ill-conceived views on
migration. In behaving like an irrational child, he only proves my point.
I would remind the
minister that his personal feelings about me and what I have said about his
immigration policy are not what this is all about. This is not an arena for
small-minded games. The fundamental rights of individuals who reside in this
country, the rule of law and our international reputation are all at stake.
Is this the image
of us as a country we want to portray to international entities and
organizations –of a spoiled baby that can’t get its way, throwing toys
out of the crib?
Surely the time has
come where Prime Minister Christie must step in and inject some maturity and
gravitas into the situation, before his minster causes us any further
embarrassment.
Fred Smith, QC
President, Grand Bahama Human Rights Association
*Immigration letter attached below