by Sidney Sweeting, DDS
Try to imagine for a few minutes
You are the mother of a seven year old child and you are both at home sleeping and at 4:30 am you are awakened by loud banging on your front door with someone shouting "open the door or we will break it down". You start to frantically search for your keys and at the same time you hear a banging on the back door. By the time you get the door open both you and your child are terrified. Seven immigration officers rudely enter your home and start to terrorize you and your child. You offer to show them your Bahamian passport and you are rudely brushed aside. Not one of them states the purpose of their intrusion and they leave as abruptly as they entered.
I wrote about this incident on this website on March 5th but this afternoon I had an opportunity to speak with the young lady, a very pleasant hard working Bahamian woman. On more than one occasion recently I have been ashamed to be a Bahamian. This was certainly one of those times.
I saw the fear in this young woman's eyes. I saw a picture of the mallet that was used to break her gate. I could feel her anger because her home was invaded and she does not know why, nor has anyone apologized, nor has the Minister met with her as promised, nor has she been able to contact him or anyone else at the Immigration department.
It leads us to ask if this is the kind of country that we have become – that unifomed goons can force their way into our homes at night, terrorize us (or worse) and just leave without an explanation. Perhaps they are following the example of the police and the courts – the measure of justice received by a victim depends on their financial status, their address or their political connection.
If this is the way that we are headed, may God help us all.
I am sorry for the lady Doc, but I have no problem in them doing it to the Illegal aliens home, no problem. They are a very big strain on us & it is time to rid the country of them, just my opinion.If we know where they are then Immigration sure should.Why do I need permission to put up anything while they seem to be able to do just as they please, this is bull, knock down the doors. I do not care anymore, sorry.
My issue, DP, is with the brutish and, I would want to believe, illegal behavior, of the immigration officers. Also, even if they are trying to apprehend illegal foreigners, including Haitians, it should be done with some compassion and to show that we are a civilized society.
My main point though, is if they can do it to Violet Hanna a Bahamian, and her child, with impunity, they can do it to you, me, and our family and friends.
Someone in the Immigration department needs to be accountable.
Sidney I beleive the problem is tied into the confusion over “authority” and “power”
This seems to occur at every level of the civil service and in every politician.
It is disgraceful and indicates two things:
An Ignorance of the framework of our constitution
An unwillingness to honour it.
Tis a small mind indeed that is satisfied to lord over another, but this seems to be the extent of it.
I agree with that part of it, but compassion seems to be something this country no longer has anyway, complacency, slackness, let crime rule the country, corruption, no problem,compassion went out the window with the rest of it.Where is the compassion for the murder victims & their family’s , where is the justice. It is NOT HERE !More attention by government seems to be paid to certain groups of people, rather than the things that are very important, like crime.I for one have just simply had enough. The good lord himself would have to change my mind on that one. It is time to forget all political correctness crap & get some things done, if that means maybe knocking down the wrong door once in a while, I am sorry, I am not alone in this.
Is the Bahamas like Barbados for example where you have to be careful about using your real name on blogs like this? Was curious to see your name put on this.
One of two things probably happened here. Either the immigration officers raided the wrong house and were too ignorant and ashamed to admit it or Ms. Hanna has an enemy, someone who made an anonymous false report to immigration in order to shake up and stress Ms. Hanna.
Dear Bajan Visitor:
Thanks for stopping by.
I’m not sure why we tend to do that, but most people that comment do not like to leave their name.
I for one stay away from anonymity as I think it weakens the points being made.
That said, I’ve never faced any untoward reaction from any quarter as a result.
Maybe it’s just a natural timidity on those people that don’t like to leave their names?
I hope that’s all it is and not fear of reprisals.
How’s Barbados Free Press doing down your way?
When I first heard of the story, I was horrified due to the abuse of power or the amount of authority these officers have. I am ashamed that my country has lost such compassion for its fellow people. I understand that the men were doing their jobs, but for certain, it could have been conducted in a more civilized manner. Such trauma seems to have this woman and her daughter troubled mentally and physically.
Not to mention, the lack of concern by official in this case. I haven’t heard any updates on this matter, but hopefully this Bahamian mother has been contacted/ apologized to in some form by authority figures.
Thank you for your comments Jason
The victim had a very brief phone call from Minister McCartney. He said that he would like to meet with her. As of yesterday she had not heard from him or anyone else at Immigration. After I had made several attempts to reach someone at that department a real live voice answered on Monday. I left a message for Mr. Thompson to call. He has not. Like most Goverment departments they probably take the attitude that if it is ignored long enough it will go away.
It will not go away because I shall persist until this young lady has received an apology and has been assured that she can sleep at night without fear.