The Fear Of The Growing Ethnic Factor, Real or Imagined?

Submitted by Yakubu

While we must be a tolerant society, Bajans must understand that Hindu immigrants, with their high fertility rates, and their dislike of miscegenation with the Negro, have already destroyed the social cohesion of two Caribbean territories–Guyana and Trinidad. Now they are invading Barbados.

We will have no-one but ourselves to blame if we are unable to defend our island from the upheavals that have occurred elsewhere–and not just in the Caribbean. In Fiji, society has been fractured by Indian immigration. In East Africa, there have been decades of turmoil, although Uganda chose to bite the bullet and deport much of its Indian population when they rejected the government’s efforts to integrate them into African society.

A single labour market for the Caribbean will, over a historical period, lead to the political, social and cultural subordination of the Negro in the entire eastern Caribbean. Our politicians, businessmen and academics must be persuaded to abandon this ruinous project.

Is There More To Unchecked Migration Than Meets The Eye?

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

Sorry, but once again I shall defer dealing with the now contentious issue of immigration and more importantly migration, as it relates to the enunciated policies of this Democratic Labour Party administration.

I suspect that when the dust has settled and all the facts have come to light, the person who will be credited for having broached the critical point worthy of focus in this entire debate, will be businessman, Ralph “Bizzy” Williams. He apparently saw through the shenanigans and alluded to the real issue about which Barbadians should be fearful.

I seem to believe that sooner, rather than later, the real sinister plot of those who contrived and facilitated mass, unchecked migration in Barbados will be uncovered. Timing is critical to everything and I somehow believe that there will be ample evidence, when the time comes, to prove the absence of naivety and the existence of a plot to “teach Bajan voters a lesson”.

I will say no more at this stage. What I will do, however, is share two recent experiences, in sister Caribbean states, upon which Barbadian voters should ponder.

Recently in the Cayman Islands, there was a change of government. An administration elected four years ago, with more than 65 per cent of the popular vote, went under to the party it defeated back then; losing critical support in its key voting district. Political scientists will attribute that loss to the impact of the current economic decline, disconnect of elected Members from their constituents, misplaced policy and project priorities and such like.

Rickford Burke President Of the Caribbean Guyana Institute For Democracy Clears The Air

Submitted by Rickford Burke, The Guyanese-American President of the New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

I shall be happy if my letter can receive due prominence on your blog. I have read some of the comments on your blog, in response to statements attributed to me in a press release issued yesterday by CGID’s Director of Communications, Jevon Suralie. First let me remind all that I respect and will advocate for the sovereignty of Barbados as well as its right to conceptualize and enact any domestic policy its elected government chooses.

I agree that the immigration and other laws of Barbados MUST be respected and that violators of the law should be brought to justice. However, I also believe that domestic laws, such as immigration regulations, in any Caricom country, must be congruent with the spirit and intent of Caricom, and must be enforced equitably and fairly, and that people’s human and other rights must be respected and NOT abridged. Individuals must be treated humanly and with human dignity, in keeping with internationally accepted norms and values.

As I said in the CGID statement, “We agree that everyone must abide by the law and that anyone who commits crimes must be brought to justice. However, this must be within the framework of the rule of law and international norms of civil rights and fundamental fairness. We also agree that immigration policy throughout the region needs to be rationalized. In this context, unilateral, singular and uncoordinated action by one government is counterproductive to a harmonized regional policy approach that would be compatible with deeper integration, which we all seek.”