– since amnesty announced, foreign minister says
Fifty-three Guyanese were deported from Barbados since the announcement of that country’s immigration policy, according to local immigration records, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has disclosed.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, at the weekend, had blasted reports on the various criticisms being levelled against his government’s new policy. And for the first time, he gave statistics to support his side. However the figure he gave – four Guyanese deported — contrasts sharply with immigration figures here.
Rodrigues-Birkett in a brief interview with Stabroek News yesterday said she had received figures from the immigration department which showed that for the month of May, 29 persons were deported from Barba-dos. Thompson announced his policy on May 5.
And for June, so far, the foreign minister said, 24 Guyanese have been deported from the island.
Rodrigues-Birkett told Stabroek News that those were the figures made available to her. Asked what would be the next move in this regard, she said Guyana was certain that the matter would have to be discussed in the wider context of regional integration.
Thompson had acknowledged early morning raids, but said only four Guyanese had been deported. Thompson also revealed that from June 1 to 26, visits were made to 15 residences on June 9, 11 and 13 between 3 am and 6 am.
He attacked what he called “reckless and grossly unfair” generalisations and slurs levelled against his island’s public officers on the issue of unchecked migration.
Since the introduction of the immigration policy which targets undocumented Caricom nationals only, there has been a raging debate between Guyanese and Barbadians as well as nationals of other affected Caricom member states. Meanwhile, Barbados’s Health Minister has now entered the fray, stating that the illegal immigrant phenomenon is starting to adversely affect the island’s social services.
Donville Innis
Donville Innis disclosed to the Barbados Nation that public health facilities were under mounting pressure as a result of having to deal with the high number of undocumented immigrants.
However, he said, the government would not change its policy of not seeking to know people’s immigrant status before providing them with health care.
“But the reality is that it is a necessary expectation that any large increase with respect to inward migration would place pressure on our hospital, our polyclinics and all our health care facilities,” he was quoted as saying.
Inniss said Barbados’ small size and limited resources militated against having open borders to everybody.
He added that the granting of an amnesty was something government was not under an obligation to do, and people had to comply with the law.
Inniss dismissed complaints that authorities were “rounding up” illegal immigrants.
“If you are living in a country illegally and it is the determination of the immigration office that you are to be deported, what are we to do?”he questioned rhetorically, “Give you a phone call and tell you that we are coming for you next Thursday at 2 am? You do not make an appointment with an individual to deport them.“
Arguing in favour of the policy, he also said he did not hear anyone complaining when Barbadians were deported from the United States, Britain or Canada after being there illegally or committing other crimes. He added that in many of those cases Barbadians were given their belongings in a plastic bag and sent on their way.
“Our approach has been far more humane. There is not an ounce of inhumanity in what we are doing, and Barbadians who share these views need to get up and speak up about it. It is a vocal minority criticising this policy and it is their right to criticise,” he told the Nation newspaper.
Further, the health minister charged, “What other Carib-bean leaders should do is mind their own business in respect of this matter. They should do like Barbados and fix their economies and get them to the point where their citizens do not feel the need to run away.“
The immigration policy and its implementation is something Caricom Heads of Government will deal with when they meet in Guyana later this week.
Thompson boy what you have to say now? I guess there is an explanation, right? the others were not deported, they left voluntarily – right?
I hope Jagdeo hear the low talks he subjecting Guyanese to. he should deal with the real issues facing the people, instead of sending text messages to our phones begging us to support is carbon credit farce.
HE IS A POLITICIAN — POLITICIANS (EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM) LIE YEAR AFTER YEAR. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF 18 PEOPLE WHO ARE BACK IN GUYANA WITHOUT A JOB AND EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION SINCE MOST OF THEM NO LONGER HAVE FAMILY THERE. THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE, AND WHO SUFFERS FOR IT? THOSE WHO LEFT TO GET A JOB AND BE INDEPENDENT SO THAT THEY CAN HELP THEMSELVES. I GUESS THE CRIME RATE WILL CONTINUE TO EXCALETE IN GUYANA. LET US BE REALISTIC, THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE SOMEHOW AND THE FEW DOLLARS THEY WENT HOME WITH ARE NOT GOING TO LAST MUCH LONGER AND THE RENT HAS TO BE PAID. MAY GOD PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS AS HE PROVIDES FOR YOURS AND MINE.
My advice is for all Guyanese to avoid Barbados. When someone does not like you and they state it openly, then the wise thing to do is to work around those individuals. I am cognisant of the fact that people need money and the economic situation in Guyana is tough; why not try another island. If Barbados thinks they can survive without Guyanese, let us see how it turns out. I call for a complete boycut of Barbados by Guyanese and other caribbean nationals.
Is it any different in T&T or Antigua plus other islands?
Peter, you want a boycott becuase Barbados is enforicng their laws? Why don’t we come together and call for a boycott on the Jagdeo government until they obey the laws and treat people with respect and dignity. You think if that was happening people would have to go to other countries and break the law. This is what happening living in Barbados illegally
Thing is Peter you and i both know that ( the majority of )Guyanese make a valuable contribution to any society the find themselves part of
I do not hear no one talking about Trinidad and Antigua. They are deporting people too. Why all is caught up with Barbados that much?
no cricket for barbados.
and no bajans to play in guyana either.
you don’t like me to hell with you.
let the bajan pm say how many us/uk/canadians he sent off the island.
@navyseal
could it be the manner in which they enforce there policy?
could it be the bad mouthing of guyana and there ppl by bajans?
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth would leave the whole world blind and toothless” These were the words of a very famous man, and while this may be true, Guyanese MUST be treated with dignity and respect ,it is true that a few rotten mangoes spoil a whole basket , but the same is true for all the nations of the world,but they were rotten mangoes even in heaven , weren’t they?
Before Guyanese can be treated with dignity and respect, they must carry themselves that way. You teach people how to treat you. Many guyanese have not carried themselves with dignity, thus allow people to treat them that way. We need to repect ourselves and obey the laws of the country we are in.
Donville Innis is obviously a regular blogger on other sites.
And he must know that to seek medical attention one must have identification to determine ones status!
Brownin Barbados Thomspon deported Guyanese for forging document.
Are you in Barbados Tammy? This is what Thompson said..when the 4 Guyanese were deported..as it turns out it was a major lie. The number is what? 53?
TAMMY, IT IS YOUR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WHO ARE TAKING THE STAMPS OUT OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND TAKING MONEY FROM NON-NATIONALS, TO GIVE THEM EXRENDED STAY. SO IF THEIR IS ANYONE THAT YOU WANT TO BLAME, START WITH THE PEOPLE THEIR.
Well, well, well! Now that we have numbers, will the Bajan prime minister hold on to his four Guyanese deported?
Regardless of the state of a country’s economy, there are many people who just like to move and they will do so. I beleive that I have a right to live in any Caricum country I feel to live in and that there should be no immigration policy to keep me from doing so. There are also people who will never leave their country of birth.
You’re so wrong
Ex GDF Officer whoa! your comment is surprising. If you are indeed a ex-soldier you were taught about nationhood, soveriegnity and the place of laws and conventions that make statehood possible and the need to respect it.
Tammy…this is the Caribbean..bounded by CARICOM laws. This is a right for all CARICOM nationals to move freely among its members..
TAMMY, THE EX GDF OFFICER HAS A CONSCIENCE, UNLIKE YOU.
Ex GDF Office… my friend, its “C A R I C O M”…..
Ex GDF soldier. You have just proved Donville Innis’s point and, the good Minister is pointing his finger right at Brickdam. Let us see the response from the Guyanese.
TAMMY, I am not about disrespect for nationhood and ones soverinity. I see us here in the Caribbean as coming from the same place, on the same ship. Some being dropped off here and some there. The Caribbean is soverin to us all. I see us as one family who should be able to move freely among our people without being criminalised through immigration laws. At the same time I do agree and insist that those among us who are bent on crime should be dealt with sevarely.
By the way, nothing in my statement suggest that I would breech the soverinity of any nation. I am simply saying that we should remove that as an issue. Legally.
AYE, you state for me which CARICOM Law say you can travel througout the Caribbean without have to obey the immigrtion laws of the host country? If this is acceptable behaviour in Guyana, it does not apply in any other country, even B’dos that you call home. This is the lawlessness that will destroy CARICOM. A lawlessness SN and the government is encouraging for their selfish benefits
Ex GDF officer, you need to work on your spelling.
the person that were picked were ask who had money to pay for their ticket most had so they wer sent Back to Guyana un the frist flight the ones that did not have money to pay for their ticket were made to work around the air port untill earn the money for their ticket then they were deported.
X-GDF-Officer that is my tune too – I said it earlier when this started. I also see it as a failure of the so-called ‘Caricom’.
GT WOMAN – I am with you 100% – I said that before also – because how in a very small island so many illegals are allowed to stay and work??
It seems even supposedly intelligent Barbadians are missing the point. Guyanese are not against the application of Barbadian laws; we are against the inhumane way it’s being applied. Now we have a Prime Minister of Barbados who does not know how to count. A sad state of affairs.
The government of Barbados does not have the right to treat Guyanese with indignity. You can enforce all your laws but do it in a humane way. Now my two questions:
How many non-Caricom nationals have been subjected to the fascist tactics of early morning raids?
How many non-Caricom nationals have been subjected to removal from buses and the streets of Barbados?
I look forward to an answer.
Borapork ! Maybe the Guyanese authorities do not know what deportation means.
This can be a good thing…..you now have 53 more voicws to add to the Government protest line, now get to work on that.
Can this issue be put to rest now. Barbados made their decision and Guyana should respect it. Guyana should stop huffing and puffing & take back their citizens. As the Health Minister rightly said, fix the country and people would not have need to run away. Guyana need to pay heed to that advise. Only when they do things, will it be better for the Guyanese. The root causes of Guyanese leaving Guyana to come here & to other parts in drove needs to be investigated, highlighted and rectified. MR. PRESIDENT STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH THE GUYANESE PEOPLE.
they come there fo u dalla. because u need able bodied men to work in construction and barbados don’t have those.Now the construction is easing u want them to go back. they never come there to live off social services like wha nuff bajan a do in canada. them come de fo wuk because bajans r lazy.
Agreed, NavySeal.
then answer me this navyseal, why do bajans run from barbados to come to canada as field workers and farm hands, and when their time or contract is up disappears into canadian society, it is a normal human action to migrate.
I AGREE WITH YOU TIGER. NOW NAVYSEAL, PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION?
I agree with u there tiger… It’s a natural human response to “ALWASE” wont more… so not matter where u r… u will always curious to know how “Green is the grass” on the other side of the fence… it happens all over… unless your mind is little and consumed only in B’dose…
tiger you know most of the bajan who go to canada came back that why they dont need a visa like guyanese they can just on a plane and go
TO: JAMES, TIGER, G/T WOMAN & KEN
I am of the view that laws should be uphled. If those bajans break the Canadian law, when they are caught, they should be dealt with. THEY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW. Now alot of these Guyanese come to Barbados lie to the immigration & overstay their time. Check alot of their passports, IT CLEARLY STATES THE TIME THEY ARE ALLOWED TO STAY & THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK. Right there the laws of Barbados is broken. The Humane thing to do is to, after coming to Barbados & if u so chose to work and get a job, do the right thing and get a work permit and work or get the CSME status.
Rightfully any country have to watch who is coming in to stay & regularise the flow of immigrants. Barbados put their laws in place. Respect it please.
I am of the view that the authorites in guyana do not know what is meant by the term DEPORTED. When someone is DEPORTED from Barbados they cannot come back here at all. Check their passports and see if that is the case. Those deported are the ones who have committed some illegal act. The rest were merely sent home. hence that huge disparity between the Guyanese authorities count & the Bajans count. Once the Government bought the ticket for the person they were deported, if not they are sent home. Also alot of them do not pay taxes after work, they are tax evaders and that is a serious offence. Instead of jailing them here, back to Guyana & wherever they come from. They should tahnk the Government for that.
NAVYSEAL, Please stop sounding like the politicians in barbados. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE BUY THEIR TICKETS, THEY ARE GIVEN THE RED STAMP IN THEIR PASSPORTS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONLY OVERSTAYED.Get it?
IS THAT STILL REMOVAL OR DEPORTATION?
agree with you JAMES.
TO: NAVYSEAL
When it comes to the issue of taxes, ASK THE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS (BAJANS TO BE EXACT), HOW MUCH MONEY THEY TOOK FROM GUYANESE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, AS TAXES, AND NEVER PAID A CENT TO THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT?
IF THE PRIME MINISTER WANTS TO DEAL WITH LAW-BREAKERS, THEN HE NEEDS TO START WITH HIS OWN PEOPLE FIRST.
IT IS TIME THAT YOU BAJANS REALISE THAT EVERYTIME YOU POINT ONE FINGER AT US, GUYANESE, FOUR POINTING BACK AT YOU.
I agree with that advise ,however lots of bajans in the USA ,Canada and elsewhere too,including Guyana.
Why they leave if Barbados is a bed of roses?
with such heated discussion in hear, webster dictionary should replace the origin of the word migration cuz only guyanese does migrate or at least that is the impressions being made. i am sure that some of these bloggers with non carcom flags waving next to there names are non nationals of those same countries.
hmmmm…intresting. very!
So very interesting.
We did – we didn’t! One boss says 4 another boss say 29 deported. Like most things all Caricom countries’ governments are alike when it comes to giving information to the public. They all deserve each other – from our own ‘buse out’ Jagdeo to this new bajan (‘deporter’) who seems to have but one clue on how to run his country (deport the Guyanese)
My opinion (based on personal experiences) has always been that regardless of the fact that the average bajan immigration/customs official is biased against Guyanese they do have a right to exclude persons and/or groups of persons as they deem necessary. After all ‘Is dem country!!’
Guyanese need to demand that their elected gov’t do what’s needed to be done for Guyana or elect another group. Once the polytrickians understand that they only get one opportunity to do it right I am confident there can be changes for the better.
They last part of your comment could not be said better.
NAVYSEAL, WHY HAVEN’T YOU ANSWER TIGER’S QUESTION? R U AFRAID? Remember, as a christian, u need to speak the truth.
Good to think that way (your last sentence) but non has done that during the 45 yrs in governance – it’s the reverse.