Guyana Government Is The Biggest Violator Of Guyanese Human Rights, Not Barbados

Submitted by Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

President of Guyana Bharat Jagdeo

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: Guyana’s President, Bharrat Jagdeo, in his address to the 30th Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government, which began in Guyana yesterday, appealed for the rights of Guyanese to respected by Barbadian Immigration authorities. But Jagdeo himself is not getting a pass from the New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID). The Institute is demanding that Jagdeo heeds his own words.

CGID President, Rickford Burke, said Friday that although he agrees in principle with the Guyanese leader, Jagdeo has no honor on the subject of human rights and must be heed his own counsel. Burke added that “Barbados is not the chief abuser of the human rights of Guyanese – the Jagdeo government is. The lack of respect the Guyana government demonstrates for its own citizens and its mediocre, despotic governance, invite the mistreatment of Guyanese in the region,” Burke observed.”

On May 5, 2009 Barbados Prime Minister, David Thompson, implemented a controversial new immigration policy of deporting undocumented Caricom nationals who entered Barbados after December 2005. Since then, immigration officials have conducted early morning raids on the homes of suspected undocumented Caricom nationals, and have “deported” or “removed” them from Barbados. Guyanese constitute the largest immigrant block in Barbados. Over eighty percent of the Barbados deportees have been Guyanese.

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.”

Pursuing The Immigration Matter

Submitted by Lindsay Holder

Lindsay Holder

The following articles were submitted to the local press for publication. To date, three of these articles have been published.  There are status statements at the end of those articles that have been published.

1. Professor Thomas and the Migrant Workers’ Convention
2. David Comissiong, Was That You?
3. Immigration Blues In CARICOM
4. Immigration Blues – Cherry Picking
5. Of Arrogance, Politics, and Use of Intemperate Language
6. Peter Wickham – Nonsense and More Nonsense

Responsibility, Fairness And The Media In Reporting The Guyanese Illegal Immigrants Issue In Barbados

Submitted by Yardbroom

Roxanne Gibbs - Executive Editor Nation Newspaper

Dr Aubrey Armstrong

Recent lurid details of a female illegal Guyanese immigrant being apprehended, was disseminated by a major Barbados news outlet.  The allegations if true are worthy of investigation by the relevant authorities.  However, the article was so lacking in person details, it was impossible to identify anyone because of the anonymity given.

It is necessary that anonymity is afforded in certain cases, to protect sources from retribution even ridicule, but the level of fairness we are justifiably eager to give illegal immigrants, must also be given to the relevant immigration authorities, the Barbados Government and the citizens of Barbados on whom such allegations can have a negative impact.

If the personnel involved in the allegation cannot be identified, how can appropriate action be taken by the relevant authorities?  Unless there is some dissemination of information the alleged unfairness cannot be properly challenged and rectified.

How Can It Help Barbados If Its Interests And Prosperity Are DEGRADED To Benefit Other CARICOM Countries?

Submitted by Yardbroom

I am not against CARICOM if it is possible to achieve its main purpose which I understand to be: …”promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to promote foreign policy”… I find it difficult to accept that with regard to illegal immigration, any benefits of integration are equitably shared.  There are no benefits in this area – certainly not for Barbados – but the burden is being shouldered by little Barbados, and for its efforts to cope with a difficult situation it is being vilified by a cohort, some not Barbadian but who reside in Barbados.

Many of personal choice have made Barbados their home, now they seek to criticise all things Barbadian…we are indeed a tolerant people.  I sometimes wonder if they hate the fact that they have had – regardless of the circumstances – to come to this little rock to reside in peace and relative tranquility, surely that is not the fault of Barbadians.

A vibrant few who earn a living by the pen and other media forms; buoyed up by kindred academics seem reluctant to proffer any advice to Prime Minister Barat Jagdeo of Guyana despite being natives of that country.  They are always “mute” in their diligent examination of Guyanese politics, but wax loquacious on Barbados talk programmes and the pen is always at hand to criticise our Government.

Response To Lindsay Holder’s Immigration Exposition

Submitted by George Brathwaite, PhD Candidate (International Politics)/On The Map

I do not intend to be lengthy in this critique to Mr. Lindsay Holder’s contribution in the Advocate newspaper of 14-15 June 2009 . I am well aware that each of us brings our biases to any project. I also believe that one ought to be sufficiently reflexive and admit to pertinent antecedents that may have an impact on the ways in which arguments are framed, analysed, and disseminated. My position is that of a Caribbean researcher who has been widely influenced by the shapers of postcolonial discourses and by the architects of Caribbean regional integration. Moreover, I have been exposed to a way of life and a thinking that suggests I should love my neighbour as I love myself.

A meandering diatribe that was published in the Sunday Advocate of 14 June 2009, and continued in the Monday edition of the Advocate and which is authored by Lindsay Holder served little in clearing away misunderstandings on ‘immigration policies and the status of immigrants’, if to do so was his primary intent. In this lengthy polemic, Mr. Holder appears more to be attempting to resolve his personal sentiments and advance his patriotic stance in favour of Barbados, than examine the “current issues that provoke discussion,” or provide a basis for managed migration. With all of the many complexities that surround the issue of immigration and more particularly, Barbados’ response to ‘unacceptably high’ numbers of undocumented CARICOM immigrants, Mr. Holder proceeded to exhibit a forlorn dismissal of facts and empirical data.

Surely any well-reasoned analysis would at least make an attempt to provide relevant statistical data that can substantiate arguments being advanced. Mr. Holder prefers to follow the position of the Government of Barbados by relying on “casual observation” on which to determine that “the level of undocumented immigration is unacceptably high.” The sentiments in that statement alone appear to be sullied by bigotry: even if one could make a distinction based on race or ethnicity, how does one come to the conclusion that persons observed at any one point in time and place are undocumented CARICOM immigrants? Isn’t there an ‘Indo-population’ in Barbados originating from Trinidad and Tobago and also from the Asian continent?

Is Barbados Being Sold Down The River By The Media and Opposition Party On The Immigration Issue?

Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party Mia Mottley

Harold Hoyte Editor Emeritus of The Nation Publishing Company

Lindsay Holder is a former Chairman of the Barbados Agricultural Management Company Limited

Over the last couple years BU has articulated, we hope dispassionately, on the issue of the open immigration policy which was practiced by the previous government. At no time have we supported xenophobic behaviour or bigotry in the ensuing discourse. We have simply held a position that while Barbados should be committed to its obligations under the Treaty of Chaguaramus, it does not mean that our borders should be assaulted by all and sundry seeking the proverbial streets lined with gold at the expense of the vision which Barbadians have held-up for itself through the years. BU readers can do a search using the keyword ‘immigration’ to access the many blogs posted on this subject.

The conspiracy which has emerged across the region to spin a false position in response to Prime Minister David Thompson’s Ministerial Statement after he announced an amnesty for CARICOM nationals, has been blatant and symptomatic of a political and social immaturity.

Any interested observer of regional affairs would conclude that the issue of immigration is a topical one. Since the announcement by Thompson of the amnesty the issue has become accentuated. In the Advocate Newspaper of 14 June 2009 a Mr. Lindsay Holder was as clear as anyone can be in elucidating on the immigration issue which Barbados and the region is currently battling, he did so without the use of jargon, fuzzy logic, ideological or jingoistic biases. We highly commend the Advocate Newspaper for giving voice to this important issue which is being manipulated by politicians, academics, Fourth Estate and prominent and other influential persons in Barbados and across the region.

The Immigration Issue Exposes The Divide Between The Academics And The PEOPLE

Norman Girvan, Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine

Prime Minister David Thompson’s new immigration policy which addresses the vexing issue of undocumented CARICOM workers living in Barbados takes effect from today albeit a national holiday. The policy comes not too soon for many Barbadians who with their eyes see the problem for what it is, an open door immigration policy practiced by the previous government which was not sustainable. The woefully inadequate management information system at the Immigration Department to track people traffic across our borders has since been acknowledged by the Auditor General in his report  for period 2008-2009. Those who oppose the Thompson policy point to the the issues of historical linkages between Barbados, Guyana and the other Caribbean islands, betraying the spirit of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the tone of the Thompson government as a leader in the CSME movement and among other issues.

Interestingly enough the issue of respective Caribbean island governments having cause to focus on more tightly regulating immigration laws has been a hot topic in recent weeks if anyone is to peruse the regional newspapers. Guyana is battling with illegal immigrants from Brazil and China, Jamaica, Dominica Republic and the Bahamas continue to deal with the influx of Haitians, Antigua and Trinidad like Barbados has been at the end of a large inflow of Guyanese and so it continues across the Caribbean. It makes us wonder why Barbados continues to attract the bulk of the dissenting commentary since announcing a new policy to deal with the problem.

A corollary to the immigration debate has been the perspectives of many of those in academia with a secondary observation, the position of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).

Logic And Reason Required

Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

There is considerable merit in the observation by Prime Minister David Thompson that many of the visitors Barbados is depending upon to visit its shores are themselves victims of the current global economic downturn. Politicians often times speak in the abstract about real situations that affect national outcomes. I do not wish to be partisan, but I smile when persons speak of a decline in tourism activity without referencing the convulsions taking place in some of our primary source markets.

For example, while the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mia Mottley, during her reply to the budget, was apportioning blame to the new DLP administration for a fall in tourism numbers, streaming across the bottom of the television screen, which at the time was tuned to CNN, were news alerts of three corporate giants in the United States laying off in excess of 17 000 workers, all in a single day. Last week I counted 83 000 similar victims, and that is only from the clips that I viewed while sitting before my television.

Curiously, I Googled ‘job losses in the United States’ and it was heart rending to discover that last month, April, 2009 to be exact, a whopping 611 000 persons lost their jobs in the United States. This has nothing to do with the more than 270 000 that were placed on the breadline by companies in the United Kingdom. Last Thursday alone, 15, 000 were sent home from British Telecom. In the United States, since the recession began in December, 2007, a mere 17 months ago, 5.7 million jobs have been lost.

Bajans Say Yes!

Submitted by Bajans ain’t foolish

People like Anojam think that the average Bajan is not too bright to see through their subterfuge.They start by telling you – oh we are in agreement that you can’t allow everyone in, but what about the declining population,or what about those xenophobic comments we hear on the airwaves and see in the newspapers.

Well to those persons I respond this way:

Were it not for this Barbados Underground blog,the issue of the negative impact of the deluge of Guyanese, Vincentians, Jamaicans, English,whoever would have been silenced because of the policies of said Roxanne Gibbs – Guyanese born editor of the Nation newspaper and one Vic Fernandes Guyanese born CEO of Starcom Network.

Of course they were aided and abetted by their usual stooges in the likes of Peter Wickham, Mia Mottley, Owen Arthur, Dale Marshall, Rawle Eastmond and the other BLP politicians, Mike Browne -the producer of the call in shows at Starcom, Olutuye Walrond formerly of CBC to name a few.

History has taught us that all during our years of oppression and struggle – during the slavery years and afterwards – there has always been members of the community of descendants of African people who have always acted as stooges and pimps and sold out their brothers and sisters,while the other races understood the need to unite as one – during times of crisis and national significance.

Time To Rally Around Prime Minister David Thompson

Rickey Singh

Prime Minister David Thompson promised when he assumed office that he would established a Cabinet sub-committee to investigate the Immigration problem which was visibly evident in Barbados.  In keeping with his promise he issued a Ministerial Statement last week which focused on a new policy to tackle the problem. The issue of immigration is one being battled all over the world, Barbados no exception. Since issuing the statement all hell has broken lose with the most pointed yet covert attack coming from Prime Minister of St. Vincent Ralph Gonzales who elected to issue his own Ministerial Statement in response.

Prime Minister David Thompson although a rookie Prime Minister is a seasoned politician, and we are confident that he will make the right moves to protect the borders of Barbados and by extension the well being of the society which Barbadians have laboured to build in a post independence era.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning had earlier requested a CARICOM Heads of Summit to discuss the global financial crisis but we

Roxanne Gibbs

suspect that a lot of the time will be spent addressing the decision by the Barbados government to document immigrants. Already Prime Minister David Thompson can expect that Prime Minister Gonzalves et al will be frothing  at the mouth come Sunday in Trinidad to attack the government of Barbados’ decision to arrest the large number of undocumented workers in Barbados. It was yesterday we read Secretary General Edwin Carrington of CARICOM suggesting that the matter will be discussed. He was at pains to point out that member countries in CARICOM had a right to make decisions with respect to sovereignty but he was concerned with how they do it. This we consider to be a most inappropriate comment even before this matter has been discussed given the obvious inference to Barbados.

Report Concerns About Immigration Abuse In Barbados

Mr.Editor,

In the absence of the Gov’t listing those work permits issued, maybe a title in the blog could be Work Permits Issued, with contributors, anyone, entering places and positions where they know a work permit has been issued?

This would ensure a publicly available database, albeit by bajans at large, who see positions being filled, especially those where bajans can do the work.

Suggestion submitted by BU family member Sir Bentwood Dick – 10 May 2009

Government Of Barbados Addresses The Illegal Immigrant Issue

Prime Minister of Barbados Hon David Thompson

Prime Minister David Thompson issued a ministerial statement in parliament today regarding the immigration issue. For some time now it has been apparent to sensible Barbadians that the national security of Barbados had become breached given the large undocumented number of immigrants living in Barbados. It was an election campaign issue and on assuming office Prime Minister David Thompson appointed a sub-committee of Cabinet of which he was Chairman to investigate and make recommendations to government to relieve the problem.

Barbados will deport illegal immigrants who do not seek to regularize their status under a new policy – see CANA Report.

BU agrees with the measured and humane manner which the Thompson led government has approached this issue. While it is easy to lobby to deport all illegal immigrants, there is an understanding that many of the illegal immigrants have been living in Barbados for so long that it would be inhuman to uproot those people summarily.

But here are a few BU concerns:

Guyanese Welcome In Barbados Says Union Head Sir Leroy Trotman

Submitted by Guyana Consul Norman Faria

Sir Roy Trotman - General Secretary of BWU

The Consulate is deeply honoured and pleased to be once again assisting Guyanese workers to show friendship and solidarity with the Barbadian people and government in this most significant celebration of the struggles of working peoples around the world.

This year’s participation of Guyanese one again comes against the backdrop of  democratic minded peoples, their organisations  and their governments, facing challenges following recent  financial and other economic downturns starting in  the US economy. The repercussions from this meltdown are already being felt, as reported, here in Barbados and other regional countries and worldwide.

As is natural and historically worldwide,  the organisations of working peoples and their allies will support the just actions, including those of their governments and the private sector, to safeguard their interests and the hard fought for achievements  as a whole.

Guyanese contract workers, those on work permits, are participating in the  annual May Day activity in Barbados once again. This is being done to symbolically show friendship and solidarity with the Bajan people and their government in these challenging times  .  By working together, we can achieve a  just and lasting solution to the reported difficulties. We can continue on the good road of progress and democracy traditionally found in Barbadian  society.

When Peter Wickham Weaves A Web

Submitted by Yardbroom

Peter Wickham

I can’t speak for Norman Faria, but I am inclined to believe that there is evidence of racial discrimination against Afros there [Guyana] at present, in the same way there was evidence of racial discrimination against Indos there during the Burnham – PNC era – Peter W Wickham April 12, 2009 at 6.25pm

The BU family can succinctly address your core argument.  You agree that there is evidence of discrimination “now” in Guyana against Afro Guyanese, which is exactly what Dr. Kean Gibson said, that there might have been discrimination against Indos during the Burnham-PNC era does not negate this “present truth”.

Permit me to quote you again: My thesis is not that there is no discrimination, but that discrimination is not caused by the mere presence of large numbers of Indos and moreover that Indos are not genetically or culturally inclined to discriminate because of their Hindu beliefs.

There are two core elements to your thesis:

Barbadians Continue To Wait On The Shake-up Promised At The Immigration Department

There is an interesting parallel to what is happening in Barbados regarding illegal immigrant labour which is currently unravelling in the USA. There is a report just released that tens of thousands of jobs to be created by Obama’s stimulus package will go to illegal aliens.

“Studies by two conservative think tanks estimate immigrants in the United States illegally could take 300,000 construction jobs, or 15% of the 2 million jobs that new taxpayer-financed projects are predicted to create – read full report“

It is interesting to note that this ridiculous state of  affairs is being blamed on “failing to require that employers certify legal immigration status of workers before hiring by using a Department of Homeland Security program called E-Verify. The program allows employers to check the validity of Social Security numbers provided by new hires. It is available to employers on a voluntary basis.”

The Illegal Immigration Problem In Barbados: A Time-Bomb Waiting To Explode

Prime Minister David Thompson has communicated to Barbadians that there will be a shake-up at the Immigration Department. For too long this agency which is mandated under our laws to protect our borders has been falling short. Barbadians have also been told that there is a sub-committee of cabinet briefed to submit a proposal on how to make our immigration policy more relevant. In our opinion the findings of this committee has become way overdue, more so in an environment currently characterized by a contracting economy with rising unemployment.

Against the foregoing, we are puzzled by the word making the rounds that ex-soldier and former BLP candidate Jeffery Bostic has been identified as the person to head-up an improved Immigration Unit. If Bostic is indeed the man we would have to question his qualifications for the job.

Despite our best effort we have been unable to confirm the accuracy of a Bostic appointment.

Financial Meltdown, Scapegoating And Guyanese Immigrant Options

Submitted by Guyana Consul Norman Faria

There is much talk these days of the “Diaspora” and how they relate to their birthplace. These are Guyana and other CARICOM born people residing mainly in US, Canada and the UK…

There is some balance. Their diplomatic and consular missions highlight the  contributions of a sterling few to their newly adopted homelands and mention of integration.  Heads of government and Ministers regularly visit . But the message is always sent: ” Don’t forget to keep sending home the money. It helps the economy”.

There is a need  to go beyond the symbolic awards. How many of our people overseas really get involve in social work, community affairs and local and national politics  ? How “socially active”, or “civic minded” to use a more mainstream phrase, are we when we settle in the three main countries (and by extension other places like Barbados) ?

Guyana Consul: Personnel Departments Have To SHAPE UP !

Submitted by Guyana Honorary Consulate

Do your job and assist your Guyanese employees !

That’s the message the Guyana Honorary Consul in Barbados, Norman Faria, is sending to certain  employers here following reports to his office of Guyanese expressing worries about processing of their work permits.

Faria, in a letter written last week to Harry Husbands, the Executive Director  of the umbrella group Barbados Employers Confederation, also urged sections of Barbadian small business sector to pay more attention to their personnel departments. He argued  that this, and better bookkeeping, would enhance the efficiency and profitability of their firms.

“There are of course firms that deal most professionally with all their employees and we must commend the generally progressive and vibrant nature of the Barbados private sector,  but  the Consulate is nevertheless concerned about the high number of reports to their Consul by workers questioning difficulties they are experiencing at the Immigration Department, in particular when renewing their work permits.  In most cases, when I ask them what is their employer doing to assist , the Guyanese tell me they have to do everything . This is causing considerable stress and worry for my people, since they always  try to follow the rules and do not wish to be undocumented,” wrote Faria in his letter last week …

Immigration In Barbados, An Informed Government Response

Submitted by Yardbroom

Senator Arni Walters - Minister of State responsible for Immigration

Many months ago David – at Barbados Underground – and a few concerned bloggers brought to public notice the issue of immigration in Barbados; as they felt the majority Barbadian view was not being adequately represented.  David suffered the chagrin of many news outlets and some pseudo intellectuals for daring to raise such a delicate subject.  Despite this vilification David persisted.  At times immigration topics on BU became heated as some commenters allowed their frustration to be vented in colourful language and in a “few” instances, unnecessary disrespect to specific groups.  As a result individual comments were taken as the agenda of Barbados Underground.  It must be understood I cannot speak for BU, as I have no remit to do so, my comments are simply general observations.

It is with some satisfaction that in his briefing to reporters at Ilaro Court on Wednesday 14 January Prime Minister Mr. David Thompson remarked:

…there was a revocation of some of the discretion that was allowed the department, so we could look and see how the system was operating…

…there will be a shakeup…

…I believe that there are going to be major administrative changes coming in the new year in the Immigration Department

The question which immediately seems appropriate, was the system or discretion being abused in the Immigration Department?

David and BU have been vindicated, the patriots you are have withstood  the hubris masking itself as intellectualism and paraded before the populace as representing the majority Barbadian view, although they had no regard for the citizens whom they deign to disregard.

Immigration The “Wisdom” Of Senator Maxine McClean: Lighting A Candle In The “Darkness”

Submitted by Yardbroom

Senator Maxine McClean

Senator Maxine McClean in the Barbados Senate as reported in the Nation Newspaper dated 11 December 2008, gave as clear an outline on managed immigration as one would expect a responsible senator to give.  The words of senator McClean were not given the attention they deserved and have slid under the radar.  I will revisit them, if only to clear away the froth and misrepresentation that are levelled at decent clear thinking Barbadians, by those who have an agenda often buttressed with a touch of self interest.

Senator McClean asserted with reference to immigration – and as a former Minister with responsibility for Immigration Matters she should know – “We have to recognize that if you cannot offer housing, you cannot offer medical care, we are not only doing damage to immigrants we are doing damage to ourselves.”

The common sense and logic behind such a position is so clear sighted and forward looking that no reasonable person with the available information to hand – as she obviously has – could disagree.  If there was a flicker of doubt by anyone on the position Senator McClean took; she underscored it further by adding.

…”Immigration has brought with it its own problems of squatting”.

Mr. Ricky Singh, Ever So Welcome Wait For A Call!

We have read the pleading from journalist Ricky Singh directed at the government of Barbados in recent weeks with some concern. Our first thought after reading his scribbling was that as a nation we have come a long way. If the late Prime Minister Tom Adams were alive we are confident he would have surmised that Mr. Singh’s was meddling in the affairs of a sovereign country. No doubt Mr. Singh has long become a naturalized citizen and to declare him persona non grata AGAIN would go against the constitution of Barbados. Who gives Mr. Ricky Singh the right to question the government of Barbados about its immigration policy? Should he not put his syndicated column to better use by highlighting the horrors which are being perpetrated on Guyanese at home?

By his own admission the visitors to Barbados who request a visa extension do so at the discretion of the Barbados Immigration Department. The Nation newspaper has the gall to print his feeble attempt to create pressure on our government. The irony is that Barbadians when they tried to publicize their views on the issue of our open door immigration on VOB 92.9 and letters to the editor at the Nation newspaper, they were branded xenophobees.

What Changes Would You Like To See To Our Immigration Framework?

Submitted as a comment by Banana-Cou-Cou

You David and some of us the bloggers have been speaking out against the large influx of non nationals flooding in our tiny island. We have spoken about the smallest of our size,the finite supply of our resources and the negative impact on our society and our traditions.

Some have worried about the ease with which some of these non nationals,in particular the Guyanese have been able to gain free medical care,free education,take away bajan jobs and in the case of European and north American non nationals the speed with which they were buying up our land.

Well having looked at one of our neighbour in the Caribbean;Bermuda,it is instructive to see how tight that country has been running their ship. Bermuda although still a British dependency has a number of similarities to Barbados. It is my very BOLD suggestion that perhaps Barbados needs to take a page out of Bermuda’s book.

This is what I mean:

The Problem That Will Not Go Away

Talk Show Host Tony Marshall

It is no secret that BU has been strident on the issue of the haphazard approach Barbados has approached the management of our immigration policy. It became a big concern under the last administration. The new government has informed Barbadians that a Cabinet sub-committee is currently drafting policy guidelines that will see rolling-out a ‘managed immigration policy’.

This week we listened with interest to Member of Parliament James Paul who expressed concern that the social fabric of our society is under threat. He gave the example that he is aware that Barbadian families are ‘taking in’ illegal and legal immigrants who were recruited to ‘work the land’. He defined the threat as the social fallout that is likely to occur to the traditional Bajan family.

Here is an interesting perspective from fellow blogger who runs Pull Push blog. Amit is  a Barbadian of Indian heritage and is peculiarly positioned to give a unique perspective.

Where There Is No Planning There Is Bound To Be Confusion

There is no one in Sixmens who saw an environmental impact study [EIA] this project seem to be going ahead without the knowledge of nearby residents and this is why we need to act now and i am accusing town and country planing dept of not insisting on the rules if they have already giving permission to build this marina.

Sixmens – BU family member

Barbados Underground has written ad nauseam about the social fallout which is likely to occur if the unchecked immigration policy practiced by the former government is not curbed. Although we are encouraged by the public positions offered by Prime Minister David Thompson and members of his government, we are not convinced that this matter is being treated with the urgency that it deserves. We listened with interest to Minister Chris Sinckler on Friday who was reported in the media to have confirmed that a sub-committee of cabinet has been directed to address the issue of a managed immigration policy, he suggested that this policy will take a few months to roll out. We wish to suggest to the government of Barbados that the country does not need any new policy to invite illegal immigrants to leave Barbados.

Our police and immigration officials need to enforce the EXISTING laws!

Is Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur Misrepresenting Barbadians?

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur has been in the news a lot lately. Late week he spoke out on the economy while addressing a St. Peter branch meeting, and yesterday he is being reported in the Nation under the headline Arthur knocks ‘foreigner bashing’. Arthur stepped down from the leadership of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) when his party was defeated in the general election held in January 2008. The respect which the Barbados media have for the former Prime Minister that he has so easily leaped back into the public sphere is evident, former Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford was not so lucky.

Where is the evidence that Barbadians are bashing foreigners Prime Minister Arthur? From where we sit what we see are Barbadians bashing illegal-foreigners and our open door immigration policy. Public officials of the standing of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur must stop confusing the public, all it does is to muddy the waters on the vexing issue of immigration. Immigration is a contentious issue around the world in the developed countries and even in our region. Yes Mr. Arthur, even in our region, don’t make Barbadians out to be xenophobic when our CSME countries are equally concerned about the influx of illegals into their countries. Did we hear correctly in the news yesterday that Antigua rounded up 100 illegal immigrants and they are in the process of doing the paper work to boot them out of the country?

Antigua like Barbados depends on tourism, they have acted because of concerns of an increase in crime linked to an underground population. The horrible incident which occurred in Antigua recently with the death of a honeymooning couple is still vivid in our minds.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves Should Stop Braying:Home Drums Beat First

Prime Minister of Barbados David Thompson

The BU family should know by now that we have been a staunch advocate of Barbados pursuing an immigration policy which is structured and organized. Simply put our obligation to conform to the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, Articles 45 and 46 must fit snugly into our national policies. The fact that our position on this issue conflicts with the so-called regionalists and liberals like former Junior Minister in the former government Kerrie Symmonds, and Peter Wickham who of late has been bleating on all issues facing Barbados is healthy to generate good debate.

At his first CARICOM Summit in April 2008, the newly crowned Prime Minister of Barbados sounded a warning to his colleagues that Barbados because of its limited resources, but managing a relatively vibrant economy which is an attraction to immigrants, Barbados WILL move to institute safeguards in the interest of sustaining our current standard of living. Over the weekend Prime Minister David Thompson in his strongest address to the issue of imported labour reported in the Nation Newspaper he warned, “the private sector against employing non-nationals in preference to Barbadians in the face of “an unsatisfactorily high level of unemployment in Barbados”.

The statement provoked a response from Prime Minister of St. Vincent Ralph Gonsales as follows:

Guyana Consul Norman Faria Forced To Do Damage Control

Letters to the Editor
KAIETEUR NEWS Newspaper
Georgetown, Guyana

FIVE ERRORS IN KAIETEUR NEWS EDITORIAL ON GUYANESE AND BAJANS

To whom this may be presented - editor@guyanatimesgy.com, news@guyanatimesgy.com, kevin@caribbeannetnews.com, ngmirror@guyana.net.gy – inserted by Barbados Underground

I refer to your recent editorial entitled Bajans distain for Guyanese (KN,30 July 2008) . The paper must be commended for expressing concern for Guyanese nationals abroad. The Editorial made some good points. But the sometimes confusing opinion piece had a number of errors which if gone unchecked could make things worse for the sensitive subject matter..

FIRST ERROR: Relatives of a dead Guyanese man and wounded Guyanese woman in recent robbery at a bar in Barbados claim it is hate crime against Guyanese. It must therefore be true and in fact can be generalised to the whole situation in the island.

REALITY: We sympathise with the relatives. We understand their anguish.We respect their feeling that Guyanese were specially targeted. Consul Faria’s description of the original report in Kaiteur News as ’speculative nonsense’ was not directed at the grieving relatives but at the paper’s overall sensationalist and poorly researched thrust which tried to paint the horrific incident as a hate crime against Guyanese. Evidence and facts, including from Barbados police and other intelligence (information) sources reaching the Guyana Consulate, do not support a hate crime scenario.The entertainment establishment is in an area where several other businesses, the majority owned and operated by Bajans, have been hit over the years by armed robbers.

SECOND ERROR: “It is a fact that anti-Guyanese sentiments are on the rise in Barbados…They are rampant ”