The Haitian situation in The Bahamas is at a point where Bahamians need to take an honest look at how the entire scenario is being handled and accept that the system is inefficient and corrupt in its present state.

A proposal

It has been proposed before that there should be a grace period for all illegal immigrants and Bahamian-born children of immigrants presently residing in this country, so that they can be properly documented with valid working permits or Bahamian passports, depending on their situation.

This proposal needs to be revisited and/or implemented for several reasons.
The first of these reasons is that more and more "children" who were born to illegal immigrants here in this country are voicing their concerns regarding their inability to function within this nation. This presents a problem as we have adults who are not able to work, open a bank account, get a voters card, or get a drivers license. The frustration that these persons must face is not conducive to maintaining a healthy society.

The next reason is that the flow of illegal immigrants to this nation is not slowing. Combine this fact with the one that work permits have been (and some say still are) being forged and we end up with a situation that will only continue to worsen.

(Note regarding permits: We inevitably have to come up with a NATIONAL ID CARD for everyone in this country - one which follows the exact template of present driver’s licenses with counterfeit proof measures and has working visa/residency/citizenship status information embedded into the card. Having the same color and layout is important as keeping one’s relative anonymity is paramount – you don’t want someone pulling out an ID at the bank and everyone knowing that they are an immigrant)

Another reason for granting a mass visa/passport issuance is that these legally working persons will then be an additional boost in the pockets of NIB and NHI. A person who has not been granted a work permit or passport legitimately has no incentive to contribute to either of those programs.

Now before the cries of “we giving away the country” start (of which I was once a most vocal participant up until I really thought about this crisis), let’s discuss whether or not we should do this, how this can work or not and whether The Bahamas is ready for this. Remember that we must keep in mind that the pool of employees for upcoming anchor projects and developments is coming from a population of only 350,000+

Also, it must be noted that the following needs to occur simultaneously in this grace period: 1. An increased vigil on our most southern borders preventing new immigrants from taking undue advantage of this scenario 2. The removal/demolition of all illegal housing communities 3. The implementation of an enhanced system of processing and applying for visas at satellite immigration offices located throughout the major islands.

There’s a small snapshot of the idea. Discuss…

[QUOTE=YorickBrown]
The Haitian situation in The Bahamas is at a point where Bahamians need to take an honest look at how the entire scenario is being handled and accept that the system is inefficient and corrupt in its present state.
A proposal
It has been proposed before that there should be a grace period for all illegal
(Note regarding permits: We inevitably have to come up with a NATIONAL ID CARD for everyone in this country - one which follows the exact template of present driver’s licenses with counterfeit proof measures and has working visa/residency/citizenship status information embedded into the card. Having the same color and layout is important as keeping one’s relative anonymity is paramount – you don’t want someone pulling out an ID at the bank and everyone knowing that they are an immigrant)
Another reason for granting a mass visa/passport issuance is that these legally working persons will then be an additional boost in the pockets of NIB and NHI.




I agree, but unfortunately those in position to effect the necessary change seem not able to muster the political will and strength to do so.

I agree, but unfortunately those in position to effect the necessary change seem not able to muster the political will and strength to do so.

I would go a little bit further and say it's a lack of testicular fortitude.

The Haitian situation in The Bahamas is at a point where Bahamians need to take an honest look at how the entire scenario is being handled and accept that the system is inefficient and corrupt in its present state.
A proposal
It has been proposed before that there should be a grace period for all illegal immigrants and Bahamian-born children of immigrants presently residing in this country, so that they can be properly documented with valid working permits or Bahamian passports, depending on their situation.
This proposal needs to be revisited and/or implemented for several reasons.
The first of these reasons is that more and more "children" who were born to illegal immigrants here in this country are voicing their concerns regarding their inability to function within this nation. This presents a problem as we have adults who are not able to work, open a bank account, get a voters card, or get a drivers license. The frustration that these persons must face is not conducive to maintaining a healthy society.
The next reason is that the flow of illegal immigrants to this nation is not slowing. Combine this fact with the one that work permits have been (and some say still are) being forged and we end up with a situation that will only continue to worsen.
(Note regarding permits: We inevitably have to come up with a NATIONAL ID CARD for everyone in this country - one which follows the exact template of present driver’s licenses with counterfeit proof measures and has working visa/residency/citizenship status information embedded into the card. Having the same color and layout is important as keeping one’s relative anonymity is paramount – you don’t want someone pulling out an ID at the bank and everyone knowing that they are an immigrant)
Another reason for granting a mass visa/passport issuance is that these legally working persons will then be an additional boost in the pockets of NIB and NHI. A person who has not been granted a work permit or passport legitimately has no incentive to contribute to either of those programs.
Now before the cries of “we giving away the country” start (of which I was once a most vocal participant up until I really thought about this crisis), let’s discuss whether or not we should do this, how this can work or not and whether The Bahamas is ready for this. Remember that we must keep in mind that the pool of employees for upcoming anchor projects and developments is coming from a population of only 350,000+Also, it must be noted that the following needs to occur simultaneously in this grace period: 1. An increased vigil on our most southern borders preventing new immigrants from taking undue advantage of this scenario 2. The removal/demolition of all illegal housing communities 3. The implementation of an enhanced system of processing and applying for visas at satellite immigration offices located throughout the major islands.
There’s a small snapshot of the idea. Discuss…

I am elated to see the maturity of your views concerning this subject. I remember our old heated discussions.

And them jobs were not created for Bahamians...

The Haitian situation in The Bahamas is at a point where Bahamians need to take an honest look at how the entire scenario is being handled and accept that the system is inefficient and corrupt in its present state.
A proposal
It has been proposed before that there should be a grace period for all illegal immigrants and Bahamian-born children of immigrants presently residing in this country, so that they can be properly documented with valid working permits or Bahamian passports, depending on their situation.
This proposal needs to be revisited and/or implemented for several reasons.
The first of these reasons is that more and more "children" who were born to illegal immigrants here in this country are voicing their concerns regarding their inability to function within this nation. This presents a problem as we have adults who are not able to work, open a bank account, get a voters card, or get a drivers license. The frustration that these persons must face is not conducive to maintaining a healthy society.
The next reason is that the flow of illegal immigrants to this nation is not slowing. Combine this fact with the one that work permits have been (and some say still are) being forged and we end up with a situation that will only continue to worsen.
(Note regarding permits: We inevitably have to come up with a NATIONAL ID CARD for everyone in this country - one which follows the exact template of present driver’s licenses with counterfeit proof measures and has working visa/residency/citizenship status information embedded into the card. Having the same color and layout is important as keeping one’s relative anonymity is paramount – you don’t want someone pulling out an ID at the bank and everyone knowing that they are an immigrant)
Another reason for granting a mass visa/passport issuance is that these legally working persons will then be an additional boost in the pockets of NIB and NHI. A person who has not been granted a work permit or passport legitimately has no incentive to contribute to either of those programs.
Now before the cries of “we giving away the country” start (of which I was once a most vocal participant up until I really thought about this crisis), let’s discuss whether or not we should do this, how this can work or not and whether The Bahamas is ready for this. Remember that we must keep in mind that the pool of employees for upcoming anchor projects and developments is coming from a population of only 350,000+
Also, it must be noted that the following needs to occur simultaneously in this grace period: 1. An increased vigil on our most southern borders preventing new immigrants from taking undue advantage of this scenario 2. The removal/demolition of all illegal housing communities 3. The implementation of an enhanced system of processing and applying for visas at satellite immigration offices located throughout the major islands.
There’s a small snapshot of the idea. Discuss…


Beautifully put my brother. I certainly admire your maturity and ability to grow and change your approach as reason began to bear on your passions. I think, I am a little older than you are in age, but I am elated that your wisdom is growing by leaps and bounds. I have learned that people are the most important element of this revolving circularity call earth. And its only redeeming quality is how we treat each other. Passion is good and it is a motivator, but passion alone is consuming. Reason is good but reason without passion is confining and rigid. It is only when we as humans combine both reason and passion in measured amount that we tend to get justice and fair play. Laws are to be enforce but not at the expense of the human soul and dignity; and against the fundamental rights of being a human. We cannot deny any man his right without denying our own. When we debase any human, we debase ourselves. Why? It is rather simple—we are all human beings, nothing more, and nothing less.

If there is anything in immigration that needs revamping, it is the way in which we allow "certain persons" to hand out visas willy nilly.

We have problems in immigration, and giving a fast track to Bahamian born Haitians is not one of them. It is a wish before its time.

So, you can love and hug all the Haitians you want. Fact is, it is a risky political move; with that, certain structural things need to be put into place, before we undertake that.

I understand that some of you, may have Haitian ties, nothing wrong with that. But, before you get overwhelmed in this love fest, let us get back to the issues for one minute. And the issue is, structural reform first. Illegal immigrants round ups more effectively second, and then a systematic intergration of the ones who are here, and to the ones who need to come. Not before.

I think that is clear and fair. The proposal you people are suggesting, is dangerous and it can cost this Bahamas a serious problem for the future. We need to head off any conflict of this issue, in a proper manner. Fact is, you can hug and love and pray with them all you like, but there is a sizeable majority of Bahamians, who just do not like illegal immigration or the heavy influx of immigrants without training and who will burden this system.

It pains me to hear a Bahamian mother, who pays her taxes, who abides by the law, not be able to take her child to the clinic in peace, because she is out-paced and behind the line to an illgeal immigrant. It pains me, to see a Bahamian mother, try to send her child to school, and she can not because illegal immigrants have the schools cluttered. The ones who are in the system we can account for, and we can make provisions for them...even though it is allready a burden...but to sit by, and allow immigrants who have found a way to bypass our tax and legal system, free pass to free ride on this economy, and the tax money from it, without putting back into it, while Bahamians sit by and not be allowed the service they deserve in their own country, is treasonous and the problem with illegal immigrants have reached a critical point where they are in a serious position to take our system to task.

No way is this thing the "love fest" you guys DREAM about. Not racist, but factual and honest.

Take that as you wish.

More money coming legitimately into the public treasury, along with the admittance that The Bahamas has handled the immigration situation all wrong is what the proposal is all about.

It is essentially pushing the reset button in the entire immigration department, encouraging those who live on the fringes of our society to be an active part in making this society better and effectively eliminating the internal exploitation of our present visa system.

Would anyone be inclined to help build and maintain a country where they felt that they were not welcome?

Revamping the system and collectively getting rid of the illegal status of all immigrants is a grand gesture of good faith. Plus, once the process is completed, there would be a centralized, counterfeit-proof system which is fair, efficient and quick in its allocation of the status of future immigrants to this nation.