PM’S COUNT
PRIME MINISTER David Thomspon speaking on the immigration matter involving Guyanese at yesterday’s press conference at Grantley Adams International Airport. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Security Gilbert Greaves.
Published on: 6/28/2009.
by MARIA BRADSHAW
EIGHT PEOPLE have been deported from Barbados since June 1, when the new immigration policy for non-nationals came into effect - and only four of these were Guyanese.
Prime Minister David Thompson disclosed this yesterday saying he was bewildered and disgusted at the “reckless and grossly unfair” generalisations and slurs levelled against public officers in particular, and Barbadians in general, on the issue of unchecked migration into Barbados.
The Prime Minister said since the new policy was introduced, immigration officers, with the support of the police, had continued their efforts in trying to locate and remove people, of whatever nationality, found to be residing in Barbados illegally.
Thompson, who returned to the island yesterday morning, was speaking at a specially convened Press conference in the VIP Lounge at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
He said that according to data compiled by the police and Immigration Department, from June 1 to 26, visits were made to 15 residences on June 9, 11 and 13, between 3:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
“These visits led to the detention and removal of 47 non-nationals 34 of whom were Guyanese nationals, who were in the country illegally”, he stated.
Of these, the Prime Minister said, eight people were deported, four of whom were Guyanese.
These people, he said, were deported for reasons such as “theft, overstaying and possession of a false work permit stamp, destitute and deception”.
The Prime Minister also disclosed that 177 people
had had their stay extended, 71 of whom were Guyanese.
He said there were also 380 applications for renewal of short-term work permits - 294 of those on behalf of Guyanese nationals.
“I have no reason to believe that the majority of these applications will not be approved”, said Thompson, adding that in his opinion, the level of activity by Immigration and police during this period “does not in any way represent any hardening of attitude or abrasive action towards Guyanese nationals.”
Of the many negative reports from deported Guyanese about bad treatment at the hands of immigration officials, Thompson said:
“Some of the so-called personal accounts I have heard are sickening” and he charged that “unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated under my watch”.
“I wish to state here and now that the Government of Barbados has never, does not and will never sanction, condone or even turn a blind eye to the issue of degradation or denial of human rights to anyone visiting or resident on these shores. . . just as we will not permit illegal and unchecked migration to continue, so too will we not permit the abuse or violation of rights and privileges of persons resident on our shores, under whatever circumstances,” the Prime Minister stressed.
He invited all aggrieved persons to supply evidence of any negative treatment, but said that most of the bizarre stories were “untrue and without foundation”.
“Tell us who, what and where!