Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President Dr Compton Bourne says the issue of undocumented immigrants in Barbados should be handled with much more sensitivity than it has been so far, adding that there are too many stories of people being rounded-up during raids and deported.
Compton Bourne
Bourne, who is currently in Guyana, as guest speaker at the 27th Annual Caribbean Conference of Chartered Accountants said in an exclusive interview with this newspaper that he felt due process should be observed in the way the authorities implement the new immigration policy which targets Caricom nationals only.
The new policy, which was announced on May 5, by Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, applies to all undocumented Caricom nationals who entered the island prior to December 31, 2005 and remained undocumented for a period of eight years or more.
Acknowledging that the policy has spurred much debate in the light of reports of ill-treatment by immigration officials particularly to Guyanese, Bourne said “that is not the proper way to do it”.
Bourne, a Guyanese who resides in Barbados and heads the St Michael-headquartered CDB, said he felt the issue was one that has been very short of facts.
“I have never seen any statistics that tells one authoritatively how many Guyanese and Caricom immigrants are in Barbados illegally. That has never been disclosed in all the public communication I have seen,” he said.
As regards the way some are being rounded-up and deported, Bourne said he felt the entire issue of undocumented immigrants was one that required much sensitivity.
“I think that it should be handled with much more sensitivity than it seems to have been handled with so far in Barbados. There are way too many stories in the media about the rounding-up of people and I think that is not the proper way to do it,” he reasoned.
He said due process should be applied if it is found that people are illegal and it is determined that they should leave. “There should be a proper way to handle it. Rounding up people like prisoners in the dead of night is not the way to do it.”
Bourne said Barbados, by these actions, could hurt its relationship with the rest of the Caribbean and its image in the international community.
‘Dragged our feet’
Meanwhile, Bourne also said he felt the region has far too long delayed decision-making with regard to the issue of the rights of Caricom skilled workers who seek employment outside their home countries.
“I also think that we in the region have dragged our feet on the question of contingent rights for workers,” he lamented. He added that even those who are legal migrants have encountered difficulties with the status of dependents in the countries that accept them.
“And this is because we have not committed at the Caricom level, even though it is always on the agenda, to the equivalence of treatment of people and their dependents in all countries,” he said.
He insisted too that “contingent rights” for workers has to be confronted fully and in a fairly dispassionate manner. “I don’t feel that is being done right now.”
Bourne also said that countries cannot separate the movement of labour from the question of capital movement and trade in a single market and economy and if the region is committed to the single market and economy it must observe all the pillars of that process.
Raids continuing
Even as Prime Minister Thompson has denied any knowledge of raids and pledged to investigate any such allegations brought to his attention, a report in the Weekend Nation captured the concern of a Barbadian landlord whose premises was raided in search of Guyanese.
The article also features an undocumented Guyanese national living in Barbados who escaped capture and deportation by immigration authorities.
The man was not at home on the night the authorities raided his south coast apartment. Fifteen other Guyanese were taken out of their rented homes.
“When I got to my room, the door was off, all my clothes thrown on the floor, my suitcase ravaged and all my documents and money gone. I could not believe it. I had recently bought a Dreambox, a DVD player, and I had Bds$1,300 saved and it’s all gone,” the man was quoted in the Weekend Nation as saying.
The landlord also spoke to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity and said he was concerned about the treatment his tenants had received.
“They broke in all of my rooms and terrified persons who were not even illegal. One lady was dragged off the toilet and all the urine and stool fell on the floor.
“It was humiliating for her, only for them to find out after that she was a legal Guyanese here. People are human beings and I have to foot the bill for all these repairs.
“The next problem I’m faced with is, all the belongings of these persons deported have been left behind. I’m giving them a month to get a friend or family member here to collect the items. If not, I’ll be renting these rooms with the appliances left behind,” the landlord said, revealing that he rented several rooms to Guyanese, Barbadians and recently Colombian women, who were also deported after the raid.
Meanwhile, according to the Nation report, the Guyanese man has insisted that he will remain in Barbados, hiding and working until December, so he could save enough money to return home and live comfortably.
“I plan to evade them until December because had I been caught the other morning, all the appliances I bought would have been left behind and I’ve been here for four years, spent a lot of money here. I made my contribution and no one will give me the time of day to get my status sorted out, so I’ll make the most of it until then and just leave,” he told the Nation.
This thing is getting out of hand, and becoming pretty ugly.
Guyanese people have to Boycott all the imports from Barbados.
Remember Bajan called that little island “Little England.” People around the world should be boycotting visiting this island. I am my cousin who lives there was encouraging me to spend my Golden Years there but I will not any longer. I AM A TRUE GUYANESE and LOVE and RESPECT my PEOPLE. This issue my be put on the agenda for discussion at the upcoming Caricom meeting.
Your’re so right. How about us looking for the WHY´s to this matter and address solutions. Ascertaining the root is quite crucial to having a meaningful solution thus Guyanese can develop a working prevention plan.
Sorry Mackiedog, you Guyanese are out of gas. Bajan newspapers are reporting today that my wonderful Prime Minister, David Thompson, said the following at a news conference: “The government’s position in this matter is resolute and it will not change.” and “The Government that I have the honor to lead will do right by Barbados, even if at times it has to go it alone.” I have always been proud of Bajans, but the sight of that Bajan man, David Thompson, standing his ground and standing up for Bajans has made me more proud. Don’t you Guyanese wish you had a leader who looked out for your best interest?
I am with you on that mackie, I wouldn’t spend a cent on Barbados or any Bajan product. End of story.
I am organizing a few chaps to take out some ads in the Wall Street Journal and several other ads to advise visitors not to visit barbados.
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 , should Bajans surrender Barbados to the Guyanese ? How come we are doing all of these inhumane things to Guyanese yet they do not want to leave Barbados and return to Guyana ?? Here is an illegal immigrant saying that he is going to hide and work until December , in order to get enough money before returning to Guyana . What type of work will he be doing ,trafficking illegal drugs , stealing people’s property , must we now live in fear of this desperate Guyanese man ???? The landlord is angry because he was charging very high rental rates to the illegal immigrants and he knows that they will pay because of their circumstances . We allow these people into our homeland and this is how they are repaying us but I want Compton Bourne to know that the vast majority of Bajans are supporting the government of Barbados , led by Prime Minister , David Thompson . Is this type of anti-barbados behaviour a conspiracy to get Owen Arthur and the BLP back in power ? If it is it will not succeed because that the decision is for the people of Barbados to make and not those who envy us . Bharrat Jagdeo has failed the Guyanese people , he is an inept political leader and Compton Bourne should tell him so . If I was in another country and I was being treated badly ; I would leave – but it looks like Guyanese want to take over Barbados . Guyana is 83,000 sq. miles and Barbados is just 166 sq. miles and rather than Compton Bourne give advice to the PPP government and show them how to develop his homeland , he is talking about guyanese being rounded up in Barbados . What about the crime which is destroying Guyana , the domestic violence , the illegal drugs traffickers , the murders which are taking place , daily – Mr. Bourne , address those issues and them you will see why Guyanese are fleeing their homeland .
LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE OF BARBADOS ; LONG LIVE THE GOVERNMENT OF BARBADOS !!!!
This treatment of Guyanese is totally inhumane. So why are wait to be caught and mishandled by ignorant immigration officers? Pack up and go home people, it is not worth the it!!!!
Wiggins i agree that The Jagdeo ADMINISTRATION FAILED GUYANESE but The Thomson administration is failing caricom and he may be the leader that will be heading the disbandment of caricom.How can you treat your fellow caricoms national with such indignity by raiding their house in the wee hours of the morning and then sit with fellow caricom leaders ad talk about single market economy and integration-it baffles me.
This is awful and sad to read. I would never expect this form a CARICOM country.
NO GOVERNMENT CAN SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS ONLY TECHNOLOGY CAN. Governments are there to fool you and make decisions for those who cannot think for themselves.
Picture Canadian/American and Brits authorities doing same to illegal Bajans::::I bet there are undocumented Canadians / Americans and Brits in Bajan country but wont’t dare touch them…hmmmmm wonder why?
Wondering if Mr Bourne knows about the wee hour raids in Guyana and deportation into the Brickdam Gulag of Guyanese citizens.
You don’t even know about Mr Bourne other than today so shut up, he is one of the most qualified economist in the Caribbean…
Maybe that, but he is not speaking about economy.
Dont know if all of that story is true. But be careful how you use what a Barbadian landlord say’s to lend credence to an opinion.
Remember that he is a land lord renting rooms to guyanese and columbians who by his own admission are illegal. (don’t believe him that he rents to Bajans too. bajans don’t rent rooms’. Is not a barbadian thing. he might have barbadians “living” there because they are “visiting” the ladies and and gentle men who live there).
He can be charged for harbouring, but renting to illegals is lucrative, so he will take the chance. Notice how sure he is that his rooms will be rented in the next month? Columbia is not in caricom. Their nationals hardly speak English. Why do you think they are in Barbados? Who do you think brings them? Law abiding citizens/residents? I think not.
Many Barbadians are not in favour of sending home undocumented persons. Some because they are bleeding hearts. Some because of some because of their own greed and opportunities for exploitation and others because they are too ignorant to see the bigger picture.
Me, I disagree with the taking of people off buses and taking them to the airport. I say take them home and let them pack and then take them to the airport. I wish I could honestly say ‘give them a week or two to gather some stuff to take home’. I would like nothing more than to be able to do that. But I know that you would not see them when that week is done.
As to raiding their homes early in the morning, I don’t think there is a lot of choice. Remember they were asked to come in and they did not. That says clearly they have no intention of regularising or leaving voluntarily.
are u nuts u dont know if it is true. I have lived in bim and i must say that they are reporting the facts here. the landlord can be charged for harbouring .who are you.
what they are doing is inhumane and cruel and they will meet their end for this foolish behaviour.
i really dont think that you and the other fools disagree with anything as a matter of fact you like this nonsense.
I cannot believe this is where my grand parents came from .
THIS IS EMBARASSING AND DISTASTEFUL.
Now you see why everyday people like Anthony and his associate bloggers are causing Guyanese in Barbados, through no fault of their own ,to gradually loose the support of the Barbados Public.The majority of Barbadians,as Timultaneous has pointed out are bleeding hearts,and detest any ill treatment to others.But this is gradually changing, because of badmouthers like Anthony,who seem to set out to muddy the waters for those Guyanese here.Sometime the best advice ,is keeping ya bleeding mout shut.
Illegal aliens who don’t want to be treated “inhumanely” should leave the country voluntarily. Guyanese are attempting to bully Bajans into letting them stay by using scare tactics like threatening boycotts and badmouthing Bajans abroad. We Bajans are tough and those threats don’t faze us. Illegal Guyanese are leaving Barbados. They can go out the way they want to go out or they will go out the way we choose to send them out. It is up to them. Case closed. End of story.
There is nothing in this news article that asks Bourne to comment on the circumstances that led to Guyanese fleeing their homeland in search of a better quality of life throughout the Caribbean, even though Guyana has the potential to do better socioeconomically than a whole lot of Caricom countries.
And just how does Bourne propose that the Bajans deal with this matter with greater sensitivity? Does he expect Guyanese illegally there to willingly turn themselves in? I have not read where he has come up with w one, two or three point suggestion, so he is blowing a lot of hot air.
There is need for Caricom regimes and peoples to put pressure on the Guyana Government to stop political posturing and get help to fix the economy; it has been seventeen years since the PPP returned to power and the only thing it has going for it is a hope that it gets US$580M a year towards avoiding defroestation. Meanwhile, Suriname, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua are flourishing and attracting Guyanese in droves.
Andy ,I do not agree with you on most of your points,what pressure can the caricom regieme put on Guyana. Even the rich and wealthy countries its citizens are migrating to other countries.The fact is that if some one is illegal then deportation may be the answer.However what I cannot comprehend at this point and time,why is only caricom nationals face deportation,what happen to the Americans,Canadians, Europeans .
I think this is a signal for a divided caricom.May god help us all
I agree with you Andy. No one wants to discuss the socio-economic problems facing Guyana that forces them to head to Barbados and other regional and international shores. The people of Guyana need to pay attention to the report issued by the Prime Minister of Barbados at a press conference on 2009/6/27 detailing statistics of persons who have reapplied for work permits, those who have been deported and those who are taking opportunity to regularise their status. The number of Guyanese who received extended work permits are in excess of 100. The number of persons deported were far less!! In addition Guyanese were not the only persons who were undocumented and were returned home. And whilst we may argue over how the deportation procedure may occur, the fact is if you do not have the appropriate status to remain in a country you are in breach of the law; whether you are a Guyanese in Barbados or a Barbadian in Guyana, Canada or the UK! We pay lip-service to CARICOM and invoke it when it is convenient. None of our regional arrangements ever called for the free movement of persons. The CSME DOES NOT allow free movement they are very specific criteria of persons who are allowed to move through the region under this arrangement. Where were all these voices when Bird in Antigua ousted journalists from Barbados who are accorded freedom of movement under CSME! There was no such hue and cry. The government of Guyana would do better to mobilise it resources to reduce the exodus of persons. I have little respect or confidence in leadership that feels indifferent to its populace leaving the island en masse, spends years contributing to the development of neighbouring islands, and simultaneously does little to engender improved quality of life for all.
What is transpiring in Barbados is grossly devastating. It clearly shows total inequity against the Guyanese people in Barbados. Where is now the International Labour Organisation? Where are the Human Rights Organisations? More so, where are the mouths of Guyanese living in Guyana. It only left for the Guyanese in Barbados to take matters in the own hand & fight before something can be done for their fellow country man especially those legal ones.
Alanzo,
well said. By the way, Vc esta no Brasil? se for que parte. pois estou em sampa. até +
All those organisations should be ther e for the inhumane treatment of Guyanese at home not just abroad.
alanzo, the only thing that is devastating to me is that my
once quiet, peaceful, law abiding country, Barbados, is not
that way currently, because my foolish former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, allowed thousands of lawless people, known as Guyanese, into the country and they are now creating chaos, which we Bajans are not accustomed to. Guyanese need to stop racial voting, elect a competent and caring government, stop fleeing Guyana, and work together to rebuild the country that they worked together to destroy.
ah hope ,, dat a massive picketin is on the cards to mek dem bajan know dat dem live pon a volcanic rock in de ATLANTIC OCEAN ! de whole ah de bajan contingent ,, to be in GUYANA fuh waheva dem comin to GUYANA fah must be made to know dat dem uncivilised ,,