NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC –The government on Monday night used its majority in the Parliament to defeat an opposition-inspired motion that sought to have a select committee on immigration, with Prime Minister Phillip Davis indicating that he will not at this time or ever support such a move.
Describing the opposition movement as unnecessary, Prime Minister Davis, who was not present when the vote was taken, had also questioned the motivation for the committee itself.
“I would like to think it was a genuine view of the opposition that a select committee would be an answer to resolving the issues that face us on irregular migration,” Davis said.
“They are entitled to have that view, but we think that, on our side, we are sufficiently satisfied that the appointment of a select committee to look into these matters again continues to kick the can down the road and would not bring the results that we think we can do by what we have been doing as we have demonstrated.”
The motion was brought by Opposition Leader Michael Pintard, who had earlier during the debate said the country is reaching a “tipping point” on immigration and that politicians must not “sit idly by” and hope the situation resolves itself.
Pintard said growing unrest in Haiti, which is fuelling increased illegal travel to the Bahamas and elsewhere, cannot be allowed to destabilize the country.
“We believe that the current situation in Haiti and the mood now saturating our country on this long-standing and dynamic concern deserves no less and is, in fact, vital at this stage of our nation’s development.
“Hopefully, with the help of Almighty God, through this method, we will have an opportunity to distill a holistic policy position agreed upon by both sides toward ameliorating this troubling issue. A national consensus involving all stakeholders would be beneficial. But let there be no doubt that we are a country of laws, and those violating them should know that there are consequences.”
Pintard said it is incumbent for policymakers to do all they can, with the help of regional partners, to minimize the crippling impact that unchecked migration from Haiti and elsewhere will bring to The Bahamas.
“Madam Speaker, unregulated migration from Haiti or anywhere else poses challenges to our sovereign integrity, security, healthcare system, educational system, social services, economy, and more,” Pintard said.
“Reluctantly, as the temperature on the streets and at dinner tables from Mathew Town, Inagua to Grand Cay, Abaco, we are near the tipping point and must not sit idly by hoping and praying that this problem resolves itself,” he said, adding that for too long, successive governments have been doing the same thing which he said has not yielded the results Bahamians had hoped for.
“How many illegal migrants are in The Bahamas today? How many shanty towns are there, and what is the composition of the shanty towns? How many Bahamians? What percentage of those persons in the shanty towns are Bahamians? How many of them have status, and how many of them don’t have status?”
But Prime Minister Davis said that the select committee is “an unnecessary tool to engage in at this time,” adding, “it will only distract members of my team from the parliamentary business they are engaged in.
“We are taking decisive and comprehensive action to address the issue of irregular migrants and shantytowns. The Bahamian people will see that we are working to protect our communities and our country.
“Everyone prepared to stand together to protect the sovereignty and security of our great nation is invited to do so. Let us have a minimum of theatrics and maximum cooperation,” Prime Minister Davis added.
Earlier this month, Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson ruled that the government’s shantytowns eradication policy and its actions in seeking to execute it were legal. The ruling came after a group of shantytown residents took the Hubert Minnis administration to court against its move aimed at getting rid of the communities in 2018.
The judge lifted an injunction she had put in place in August 2018 until she could hear the evidence and make her ruling. Prime Minister Davis said the ruling lifting the request on February 10 paves the way for the government to act.
During the debate, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the select committee would force national security agencies to devote valuable time to answering questions.
As he wrapped up the debate on Monday night, Pintard said he was disappointed at the government’s position.
“Members opposite, we allowed them to hit the reset button, to work in tandem with members of the opposition to tackle problems that we believe are bigger than any one administration.
What they said to us today is, ‘We got this. We don’t need you all.’ When they tell you all, they really mean that they don’t need the people of The Bahamas, many of whom are much more intelligent than all of us.”
When the vote was taken, 22 government legislators voted against it, and five opposition legislators voted in the affirmative. At the same time, 10 MPs were absent, including Prime Minister Philip Davis and former prime minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.
and then 