Minister of Haitians Living Abroad Condemns Discriminatory Acts by Bahamians to Immigrant Haitians

Me Olicier Pieriche, the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) strongly condemns the discriminatory acts committed against Haitian nationals living in the Bahamas. “According to information we have received, Haitian migrants including pregnant women and children are arrested and crammed into inhumane conditions in Carmichael, an incarceration center of migrant, in Bahamas.”

Recall that according to the new migration measures of the Archipelago implemented since November 2014, all foreigners living in the territory without residency documents will be repatriated to their country of origin. Moreover, according to these measures, children born from illegal parents will also be deported with their parents.

Since the implementation of these measures, Haitians in an irregular situation are living in fear of being arrested and deported. Recall that about 70,000 immigrants (18% of the population of the Bahamas) live on this territory, most in an irregular situation, including 20,000 to 50,000 Haitians (Source International Organization for Migration – IOM).

If we found unjust and racist the immigration policy in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas apply much more severely the immigration law, since it is not even a question of regularization of migration status of Haitians in an irregular situation. It must be said that the frequent arrival of boat people from Haiti, only exacerbates an already difficult economic situation in the Bahamas.

The Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad, called Bahamian authorities to respect the rights of the person and invites them to take all necessary measures to protect the life and integrity of Haitian migrants.

Haiti Libre