Four community leaders generally support the Christie Administration’s efforts to ease the tension in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation.
There are some fears, however.
Free National Movement Leader Senator Tommy Turnquest expressed concern on Tuesday that the Bahamas government may be putting already scarce resources at risk.
His comments came a day after Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell defended the extent of the government’s involvement in stabilizing the political crisis in Haiti. Minister Mitchell on Tuesday led a CARICOM delegation to Haiti to continue discussions with opposition leaders there.
Mr. Turnquest, in an interview with the Journal, said, “While we have to get involved, we definitely do not have the resources needed to assist with the resolution of the problems in Haiti and they really need assistance from the super power of the United States of America.”
He added, “There are certain things that we don’t agree with and one is setting up a labour office in Haiti, for example.”
The government intends to establish the labour office so that Haitians coming to the Bahamas legally may get work permits before leaving Haiti.
“Another thing we don’t agree with is that there should be any wholesale cart blanche regularization of illegal immigrants in the Bahamas,” Mr. Turnquest said.
He pointed out though that the government must get involved in the crisis at some level because if the situation worsens, the Bahamas would bear the brunt of it – economically and or socially.
“The health care and education systems are heavily taxed as a result of the illegal immigrants who we have now and so something has to be done,” Mr. Turnquest said.
“There’s no question that we have to get involved. It’s just [at what] level. That’s a decision the government has to make on the understanding of our resources.”
Minister Mitchell said on Monday during a media briefing that CARICOM has tried at all times to act in concert with the United States, the Organization of American States, Canada and the European Union, which have significant resources.
Haiti has been rocked by instability for decades, but crises began escalating in 2000 after international observers said that legislative elections were flawed. CARICOM has stepped in to assist in quelling the stalemate in Haiti.
In response to the country’s scarce resources to assist effectively with the situation in Haiti, Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church, Bishop Simeon Hall said, “We’re a small country, but we were a small country when we participated in helping South Africa, so I commend the government for doing something to help the people of Haiti. It is in our interest to do so because if we don’t, then one third of them would come here to the Bahamas.”
Bishop Hall recalled that back in the late 1980’s then Prime Minister the late Sir Lynden Pindling along with other Commonwealth Heads of Government helped the people of South Africa to bring an end to apartheid and to secure the release of Nelson Mandela.
Bishop Hall added that it is Prime Minister Perry Christie’s “good fortune” to be able to participate in the liberation of the Haitian people.
“Obviously there are a lot of problems at home, but if we wait to fix all the problems here before we can be a neighbor, then we’d never do anything,” he said.
Bishop Hall, who traveled to Haiti on four occasions over the past eight years to preach, agreed that the sovereignty of the Bahamas should be protected at all cost. He added. However, that the Haitian people have rights as well.
“Those persons who are here illegally should be sent back home,” he said. “Those persons who have any rights at all, any longevity should be considered. They’re human beings. If they’re colour was a little lighter, I don’t think we would have all this talk.”
Bishop Hall said as a part of the global village, the Bahamas should participate in the liberation of neighboring countries.
“I applaud Prime Minister Christie and his government in their efforts to bring democracy to Haiti…the interest of the Bahamas in assisting Haiti is a good one that should be pursued,” he said.
During the press briefing on Monday, Minister Mitchell pointed out that the issue is a very sensitive one.
“You must have an attitude of ‘Bahamians first,’ but strangers within our gates are human beings,” he said. “You can’t bury your head in the sand like ostriches and hope and pray. You have to do something now to avert catastrophe.”
Minister Mitchell said, “What you’re looking at is a potential problem down the road if we don’t address this and engage in this exercise.”
From an educational standpoint, there have been reports that the local school system is over burdened due in part to the influx of Haitians.
President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, Kingsley Black, said many of his members have for years complained of the challenges in educating so many Haitian children, particularly at the primary school level.
“Many of the teachers had no exposure to Creole except for the children in front of them and they were given no tools to try educate these children who are from a different culture, who speak a different language,” Mr. Black said. “Yet when the system is judged, it’s judged very harshly, despite the fact that many of my members are not properly equipped to educate children who speak a different language.”
Mr. Black, however, commended the government in its attempts to attack the Haitian dilemma in the Bahamas and in Haiti through its bi-lateral relations with the Haitian government.
The union chief pointed out that it is also a drain on the economy.
“The Bahamas is extremely subject to volatile shocks,” he said. “Tourism could evaporate overnight…at some point in time, the entire functioning of the country would be hung in the balance if we are not careful to maintain a policy and a strategy to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and deal with the whole question of how do we integrate those who are among us, as part of our society, trying to avert any negative consequences of us not doing that in the future.”
Psychiatrist Dr. David Allen, meanwhile, feels that the government’s role in the Haitian crisis shows that the Bahamas is becoming more strategic in regional affairs.
“We have to deal with our partners and nations around us,” Dr. Allen said. “It’s really important for us to see whatever we can do, to facilitate things in Haiti, hopefully showing the Americas our goodwill and they will in turn help us. I feel that the government is doing the right thing. After all, without talking we’re left with more violence and uncontrolled migration.”
He added, “I think Minister Mitchell ought to be applauded [for facilitating] his mandate. As Bahamians we have to recognize that we’re in the global village and we have to help solve problems in our region as much as we can and not only as we show our interest are we to get
Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
