Rick Lowe
There has always been a love hate relationship between Bahamians and Haitians. We love them when they do the physical labour we don't want to do, but hate them when they start to aspire to do more for themselves.
When we consider the reactions to the government documenting and releasing 119 Haitians from the detention centre here as a result of the earthquake devastation to Port au Prince, Haiti one wonders how we can call ourselves a "Christian" nation.
Some Bahamians, led by the Opposition political party (PLP), are seemingly irate that the government would release 119 people as a humanitarian gesture, implying that the "Haitians are taking over". All the while they ignore the fact that hundreds of Haitians are entering illegally almost on a daily basis.
Shucks more than 119 illegal Haitians could be picked up on a daily basis, but there are practical and humanitarian considerations in these circumstances.
The illegal entry not withstanding, a friend indicated that he searched the Internet and can find no other country in the region or the world for that matter that is reacting the way some sectors of our community are.
There are many public policies I disagree with successive governments on, but in the circumstances, this is not one of them.
The reaction of certain segments of the society are shameful. Thank goodness, so many Bahamians are doing their part to send assistance to our Haitian neighbours in their time of need.
When all the negativity subsides I think we will be proud of the contribution right thinking Bahamians have made.
…well said Rick !
Whereas many of the comments were heartless and misguided I don’t think the issue of letting the detainees out had anything to do with compassion. To the PM’s credit, it would have probably been the logical conclusion followed by any serious discussion forthe simple fact that it may be illegal to keep them for an extende periods of time without any legal conviction. What I think angered the PLP and others was that there was no discussion. That would have been enough possibly if the PM did not then say “I am the PM” as if no one can question him. He then went on to say that there was no point in trying to help the victims in haiti when people for allover the worls were doing that very thing every day. Rick the PM created this hurrah, maybe with good reason.
Thanks for dropping by Ken and more importantly commenting.
Let’s agree that you are right and the compassion angle is an unintended consequence, the impossibility of repatriating them not withstanding.
I’m convinced the PLP would have done no differently. Now it’s a political football.
Mind you, maybe that’s all the PLP have to offer hope to their supporters these days, but if I were in their shoes, I would offer alternative policies.
Bradley Roberts is a blowhard, and no policy recommendations are coming from the PLP to inspire confidence.
Bahamians do think, and regretfully the PLP have forgotten that since the election campaign of 2002 it seems.
Personally, I don’t believe one word out of either party.I have had enough.Do any of them really have our country at heart ? When will either of them stand up & stop all of this petty crap.