bahamiangoddess
09-21-06, - 01:59 PM
Bahamian citizen kidnapped and abused by Immigration Department Sues Shane Gibson, Minister of Immigration, Immigration Department and Attorney General for abuse of Constitutional rights
September 20, 2006
On the 23rd June 2006, Mr. Lewis Alman and his girlfriend were leaving the “Feel the Rush” parade in downtown Freeport when a van pulled up to them and a swarm of Immigration officers dressed in battle fatigues surrounded Mr. Alman and his girlfriend and began firing questions at Mr. Alman.
Mr. Alman and his girlfriend were terrorized by these tactics. Repeatedly questioned about his status, Mr. Alman and his girlfriend tried to explain that although he was white and had an English accent his mother was Bahamian and he had applied for and was entitled to be registered as a Bahamian citizen under the Constitution. He told them that he worked at Kelly’s Department store and waiting for his Certificate of Registration as a citizen.
Despite their explanations, the Immigration officers continued their unlawful terrorist tactics, handcuffed Mr. Alman and left his girlfriend alone to fend for herself in the early hours of the morning in downtown Freeport.
Mr. Alman is 20 years old. His mother and her family for generations have been Bahamian citizens. She married an Englishman and Mr. Alman was born in England but has always spent much time in the Bahamas.
Mr. Alman was assaulted and battered by the officers by placing him in handcuffs and spiriting him away in the dead of the night to the terror and fright of himself and his girlfriend.
Mr. Alman says that for many hours the Immigration van traveled all over Freeport randomly stopping people, seizing them, detaining them, taking some into custody and releasing others.
Mr. Alman was kept by the Immigration Department overnight. He and many others who were arrested were kept in handcuffs and some people double-handcuffed with each other in cramped and uncomfortable positions overnight.
Members of the Human Rights Association were contacted next morning.
Efforts were made by Mr. Joe Thompson and Joe Darville to get Mr. Alman released.
Mrs. Alman’s aunt and family were shocked and completely confounded.
Upon the intervention of Mr. Thompson and Mr. Darville the next day, Mr. Alman was released. Mr. James Rolle, Deputy Director of Immigration was professional and apologized. He was told that despite production of documents the Immigration officers refused to read them or look at them.
Joe and Andrea Thompson, uncle and aunt to Mr. Alman, said,
"Mr. Rolle treated us with respect. He tried to deal with the matter and phoned to get Lewis released. Officers McPhee and Pratt would not look at the documentation. Mr. Bain was in charge of SWAT operations. We complained about the disrespect. They circled him with guns, handcuffed him and put him in a cell for 10 hours! His mother was frightened and terrified about her child. She could not go to work on Friday. They did not know where he was that night. He was like a “disappeared person”. They drove all around the Island in the middle of the night looking for their nephew. It seems once individuals are put in a uniform and carry a weapon they think they can just intimidate. Officer Bain has no appreciation for democracy. This has created an alarming situation. What is a Bahamian? Is it eye colour, skin colour, accent? Just because he does not sound Bahamian does not mean he is not Bahamian. Is the Bahamas now run by Hitler and Nazis? What are the rights of Bahamians? Officers of the law should treat our children with respect!"
Mr. Smith, President of the Human Rights Association said,
"This is just the tip of the iceberg! Mr. Alman was criminally kidnapped by the Immigration Officers. In 1986 I won a case against the Police in the Supreme Court to the effect that the Police could not randomly stop, search, seize, question or detain any property or any person in the Bahamas. Immigration officers are no different. Police, Immigration and Customs and all other officers of the law can only act upon reasonable cause to suspect that an offence has been committed. We do not live in a police state. All persons, whether they are black, white, mixed, or any other combination or whether they are Bahamians or foreigners, have rights in the Bahamas. This abuse must stop. Shane Gibson needs to get his cowboy Immigration officers under control. Our Association calls upon all Bahamians to decry this behaviour.
Yesterday, it was the poor black Haitians, today with Mr. Alman it is white Bahamians, tomorrow it will be white, foreign investors, and the day after that the Government, either through the police or Immigration or Customs will start cannabilising black Bahamians. Abuse, discrimination and violence to anybody’s rights is violence to everybody’s rights!"
Mr. Alman has issued proceedings in the Supreme Court against the Minister, the Director of Immigration and the Attorney General. He claims damages for assault, battery, false imprisonment and breaches of his constitutional rights. He is also seeking aggravated damages, punitive damages and vindicatory damages for discrimination, unlawful detention, and inhuman and degrading treatment.
The author of this article is responsible for the content of the article. Reprinted by permission
This presentation Copyright © 2006 Grand Bahama Info | All rights reserved | Unauthorised reproduction prohibited
Grand Bahama Info | P.O. Box F-41779 | Freeport, Grand Bahama | Brought to you by: Barefoot Marketing & Keen i Media | Bahamas
September 20, 2006
On the 23rd June 2006, Mr. Lewis Alman and his girlfriend were leaving the “Feel the Rush” parade in downtown Freeport when a van pulled up to them and a swarm of Immigration officers dressed in battle fatigues surrounded Mr. Alman and his girlfriend and began firing questions at Mr. Alman.
Mr. Alman and his girlfriend were terrorized by these tactics. Repeatedly questioned about his status, Mr. Alman and his girlfriend tried to explain that although he was white and had an English accent his mother was Bahamian and he had applied for and was entitled to be registered as a Bahamian citizen under the Constitution. He told them that he worked at Kelly’s Department store and waiting for his Certificate of Registration as a citizen.
Despite their explanations, the Immigration officers continued their unlawful terrorist tactics, handcuffed Mr. Alman and left his girlfriend alone to fend for herself in the early hours of the morning in downtown Freeport.
Mr. Alman is 20 years old. His mother and her family for generations have been Bahamian citizens. She married an Englishman and Mr. Alman was born in England but has always spent much time in the Bahamas.
Mr. Alman was assaulted and battered by the officers by placing him in handcuffs and spiriting him away in the dead of the night to the terror and fright of himself and his girlfriend.
Mr. Alman says that for many hours the Immigration van traveled all over Freeport randomly stopping people, seizing them, detaining them, taking some into custody and releasing others.
Mr. Alman was kept by the Immigration Department overnight. He and many others who were arrested were kept in handcuffs and some people double-handcuffed with each other in cramped and uncomfortable positions overnight.
Members of the Human Rights Association were contacted next morning.
Efforts were made by Mr. Joe Thompson and Joe Darville to get Mr. Alman released.
Mrs. Alman’s aunt and family were shocked and completely confounded.
Upon the intervention of Mr. Thompson and Mr. Darville the next day, Mr. Alman was released. Mr. James Rolle, Deputy Director of Immigration was professional and apologized. He was told that despite production of documents the Immigration officers refused to read them or look at them.
Joe and Andrea Thompson, uncle and aunt to Mr. Alman, said,
"Mr. Rolle treated us with respect. He tried to deal with the matter and phoned to get Lewis released. Officers McPhee and Pratt would not look at the documentation. Mr. Bain was in charge of SWAT operations. We complained about the disrespect. They circled him with guns, handcuffed him and put him in a cell for 10 hours! His mother was frightened and terrified about her child. She could not go to work on Friday. They did not know where he was that night. He was like a “disappeared person”. They drove all around the Island in the middle of the night looking for their nephew. It seems once individuals are put in a uniform and carry a weapon they think they can just intimidate. Officer Bain has no appreciation for democracy. This has created an alarming situation. What is a Bahamian? Is it eye colour, skin colour, accent? Just because he does not sound Bahamian does not mean he is not Bahamian. Is the Bahamas now run by Hitler and Nazis? What are the rights of Bahamians? Officers of the law should treat our children with respect!"
Mr. Smith, President of the Human Rights Association said,
"This is just the tip of the iceberg! Mr. Alman was criminally kidnapped by the Immigration Officers. In 1986 I won a case against the Police in the Supreme Court to the effect that the Police could not randomly stop, search, seize, question or detain any property or any person in the Bahamas. Immigration officers are no different. Police, Immigration and Customs and all other officers of the law can only act upon reasonable cause to suspect that an offence has been committed. We do not live in a police state. All persons, whether they are black, white, mixed, or any other combination or whether they are Bahamians or foreigners, have rights in the Bahamas. This abuse must stop. Shane Gibson needs to get his cowboy Immigration officers under control. Our Association calls upon all Bahamians to decry this behaviour.
Yesterday, it was the poor black Haitians, today with Mr. Alman it is white Bahamians, tomorrow it will be white, foreign investors, and the day after that the Government, either through the police or Immigration or Customs will start cannabilising black Bahamians. Abuse, discrimination and violence to anybody’s rights is violence to everybody’s rights!"
Mr. Alman has issued proceedings in the Supreme Court against the Minister, the Director of Immigration and the Attorney General. He claims damages for assault, battery, false imprisonment and breaches of his constitutional rights. He is also seeking aggravated damages, punitive damages and vindicatory damages for discrimination, unlawful detention, and inhuman and degrading treatment.
The author of this article is responsible for the content of the article. Reprinted by permission
This presentation Copyright © 2006 Grand Bahama Info | All rights reserved | Unauthorised reproduction prohibited
Grand Bahama Info | P.O. Box F-41779 | Freeport, Grand Bahama | Brought to you by: Barefoot Marketing & Keen i Media | Bahamas