Branville McCartney is “pandering” to xenophobic fears over illegal immigration in an effort to gain the support of the country’s voter base, said former Cabinet Minister George Smith.
His comments came after Mr McCartney said that he will fight to change the country’s constitution so that children born here to illegal immigrants will not be eligible for Bahamian citizenship.
Mr McCartney, leader of newly formed third party the Democratic National Alliance, said he will advance a referendum on the issue if he is elected as the country’s next prime minister, according to a local daily.
Under the current constitution, persons who are born in the Bahamas to illegal immigrants have the right to apply for citizenship between their 18th and 19th birthday.
