The Bahamas is facing a “catastrophe” and is sitting on a timebomb which will explode unless the country deals realistically with the issue of illegal immigration, Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller told the House of Assembly yesterday.
He said if Bahamians didn’t deal with the situation “it will deal with us”.
The minister’s fiery words began the second reading of the Rent Control Bill. He said affordable units are being further removed from the grasp of Bahamians becasue of the high number of illegal immigrants in the country.
“If Iwas to take you to Garvin-Tynes Primary in Sunset Park Number One there are more Haitians, Haitian-Bahamians, you can call them whatever you will, in that school as students than Bahamians like you and me who were born here,” said Mr. Miller.
The minister claimed there is a situation developing where illegal immigrants are also using healthcare facilities to the detriment of Bahamians requiring the same service.
“This problem did not happen overnight. I am told that in Abaco you have more foreigners than Bahamians. I don’t care who these people are and how some people plead for their cause, I sday to them ‘please man, do me a favour, go back home, we love you but we can’t afford for you to impede the progress of naturalised Bahamians,” he said.
Source: Rupert Missick, The Tribune
