Dear Editor,
Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Common-wealth Secretary General and Professor Compton Bourne, President of the Caribbean Development Bank have joined the many commentators who have criticised the rounding up and deportation by Barbadian Immi-gration officials of undocumented Caricom nationals in early morning raids.
The Barbados Government though entitled to enforce its laws must do so in the spirit of humanity and decency, and Prime Minister Thompson has now strongly stated that his government will not condone the “degradation or denial of human rights…not permit the abuse or violation of rights and privileges of persons resident in our shores, under whatever circumstances.” He revealed statistics from the Immigration Department in relation to Caricom nationals from June 1 at a press conference yesterday.
The Guyana Foreign Ministry has recently set up a desk and is using the media to encourage those affected to officially report their accounts to that office. A number of newspapers carried stories from anonymous Guyanese recounting their experiences. Some are back home yet still are unwilling to reveal their names and one hopes that their stories were properly verified.
It is unimaginable that President Jagdeo may have put the cart before the horse as he has been very public and harsh in his criticism of the ‘offending’ Caricom heads of state. One has to tread carefully, and hope that the other Caricom heads don’t similarly engage in petty politicking and lambaste the Guyana Government for its poor and ineffective governance which has led to increased migration to these other much smaller Caricom states. Interestingly, a large number of Indo-Guyanese are migrating now and may include a significant percentage of undocumented Guyanese in Barbados. The propagandists must be hard at work to come up with a spin on this as Forbes Burnham died more than two decades ago.
Maybe if Guyanese within these shores are treated with respect and are afforded equal opportunities, regardless of race or political persuasion, then the tide of migration may be stemmed. Charity begins at home, President Jagdeo.
Yours faithfully,
Dawn A. Holder
