Fear and panic have engulfed a section of the Guyanese population in Barbados as the June 1 deadline for them to turn themselves in to immigration or face deportation looms.
A new policy recently announced by Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson requires Caribbean non-nationals living on the island illegally to start turning themselves in to the Immigration Department or be “removed” from December 1 this year.
Undocumented Guyanese and Vincentians will be most affected and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves said last week that such immigration policies could collapse Caricom.
Thompson gave the official notice on May 5, bringing finality to his government’s pledge to address the contentious issue. He told the Barbados parliament that a cabinet subcommittee had agreed that the current levels of illegal immigrants were “unacceptably high, increasingly difficult to control and posed potentially negative socio-economic challenges for the country”.
Therefore, with effect from June 1, 2009 all undocumented Caricom nationals who entered Barbados prior to December 31, 2005 and remained undocumented for a period of eight years or more could “come forward and have their status regularised”. This regularisation will however come only after the immigrants meet a set of requirements which the government has also outlined.
Sam Legay, a Guyanese attorney working in Barbados, related in correspondence with this newspaper that he has been receiving numerous calls from clients and potential ones, since the announcement. A large percentage of his work deals with immigration matters.
“Thus far, the response has been in most cases, panic and fear,” Legay said.
He said this response was justified since in some cases many persons are not sure how to interpret Thompson’s comments. Legay said he has been encouraging non-nationals not to panic but to try to “get their acts together”. One documented Guyanese living and working in Barbados legally and who spoke to this newspaper on the basis of anonymity said many Guyanese are sceptical that any status would be granted under this amnesty.
The source did not believe such an announcement would affect the immigration status of legal immigrants but added, “one never knows how these things can be interpreted”.
According to the source too, some Guyanese have referred to the new policy as a ploy to get all the illegal persons to turn themselves into immigration; luring them with the promise of immigrant status. “People are afraid, some want to go to immigration and some don’t,” the source said.
However, the source said, there have not been many open statements or comments about it.
The source also said that it is sometimes hurtful to hear some of the cruel things which are said about Guyanese in general.
“The few that come and misbehave wipe out the memory and the work and efforts of those of us who are making a significant contribution to the society in all the sectors; not just in agriculture and construction,” the source said.
This newspaper has also learnt that since the announcement, Barbadian call-in shows are inundated with calls about the issue; about 50 per cent agreeing with the decision and some calling for immigration statistics before offering a public comment.
Opposition leader Mia Mottley has since asked if this same policy will be applied to the North American and European nationals who are in Barbados illegally and to date there has been no response from the government.
Reactions
Meanwhile, the original report published on the Stabroek News website on May 6, saw a significant number of posts from Barbadian as well as Guyanese in reaction.
One commentator who uses the name “Practical Bajan” emphasized that Guyanese are not the only ones being targeted. “I think you are missing the point, its all Caricom Nationals. Guyanese are not ill treated in Barbados. You cannot blame an immigration officer who refuses an individual who turns up at the airport with US$150 for a two-week stay or does not know where he is staying. You are probably not aware of the high incidence of Guyanese who are committing passport fraud, credit card fraud and domestic violence. Last year we had 7 murders and 3 were committed by Guyanese and in two cases it was Guyanese killing Guyanese. Some Guyanese have not being the best ambassadors. I have some great Guyanese friends and have encouraged a lot of them to join the Credit Unions and save their money.
Why is it easier to talk negative rather than the positive? A lot of Guyanese go to school in Barbados obviously they pay talk about the education they now get hoping that they may someday return to build Guyana. Partisan politics have divided Guyana for many years where you have elected leaders without a vision and foresight to make unpopular decision to build the country. Stop sensationalizing an immigration policy that is in everyone’s best interest. I hereby repeat the immigration policy is not targeted at Guyanese.”
Another commentator “Ne Ne” said: “Barbados has always been cracking down on illegal immigrants especially Guyanese – Bajans treat Guyanese with disdain and contempt. However, people are resourceful and creative so good luck Thompson!!!!! It used to be the other way around when Bajans were welcomed in Guyana. Perhaps one day we will regain our status among our Caribbean neighbours.”
The Government of Barbados is giving amnesty to all Caricom Nationals who meet specific criteria. What is wrong with that?” another commentator “Jackie” asked. “I am Guyanese. I dislike the way Guyanese are treated in Barbados, but guess what? We are not Barbadians, and maybe if we were as patriotic as Barbadians are we would be in a better socio-economic position. Thank our successive governments for the mess we are in, don’t be upset at Barbados for taking care of themselves.”
“Chemist”, a Barbadian commentator opined: “The heads of Caricom sat time and time again to discuss CSME, the movement of skills and products throughout the Caribbean and for the region to become one community, yet the immigration policies of CSME or Barbados does not allow for the documentation of non-qualified skilled nationals such as tradesmen including construction workers who make up the bulk of immigrants as a result, these persons are deemed as illegals while the economy of Barbados is smiling to the bank with development from cheap labour on the sweat and discomfort of Guyanese. Further to that, there is a large population of Pakistanis that is allowed to fester…. What is their contribution to the region as a whole? Their presence is for their own gains while they bring cheap inferior goods from outside the region to rob us with. Barbados will soon stand to regret the influx of these people and their culture. Note, they are a group that is closely knitted, rapidly growing.”
“Sandhurst First”, a Guyanese, related, “Well its time Guyana start deporting Bajans and other nationals who are here illegally. Let’s give them until May 31st to report or be “removed” by November 31st!!! An eye for an eye. The only reason Guyanese go there to work is because of the money and most if not all of them want a better life which Guyana doesn’t offer to its citizens. Some people say the Bajans are lazy and the Guyanese are taking all their work. I would never go there to be treated like a third-class citizen anyway.”
President of the Guyanese Association in Barbados Keith Arno told Stabroek News in correspondence that there was nothing the association could do in this regard, but to offer advice.
“Some people will be able to regularise their status and unfortunately some would not. There is nothing this association can do but to offer advice. We are a social group trying to encourage new membership,” he said
Guyana’s Honorary Consul to Barbados Norman Faria who refused to address their newspaper’s questions on the matter via telephone, had promised a statement on the matter. One week later none was forthcoming.
Sovereignty
Asked to comment, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon told Stabroek News that government could not castigate Barbados for protecting its sovereignty. “That is their right,” he said. However, he said that if for any reason Barbados’s policies offend its regional obligations to agreements of treaties, that was something different.
Luncheon said too that there exists endless opportunities including when heads meet next, for such issues to de discussed.
According to him, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Faria have always had discussions on this issue. He recollected too that the issue of illegal Guyanese immigrants had been brought up at the highest level of Caricom – the Heads of Government meeting — where the consensus has been that there is work that needs to be done.
Xenophobia
Meanwhile, according to the Nation newspaper, while delivering a ministerial statement in St Vincent’s House of Parliament on Thursday, Gonsalves also charged that Vincentians were discriminated against by neighbouring territories and hinted that his country might also consider withdrawing from the CSME.
It said in his speech, which was punctuated with emotion, that every member state was not abiding by the letter and the spirit of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. He said his office received heart-rending stories of Vincentians who have been subjected to unfair, unconscionable, and discriminatory treatment by some immigration authorities within member states of Caricom.
“It is sad to note that in the 21st century, some responsible persons, including some political leaders are stoking chauvinistic fires which are latent in our Caribbean societies. This has led here and there to an outpouring of a malignant xenophobia particularly against Guyanese, Jamaicans, Vincentians, St Lucians and Grenadians. This must be stopped if not Caricom would shortly be rent asunder,” Gonsalves was quoted as saying.
According to the Nation, in an apparent reference to Barbados, the Vincentian leader said it was historically tempting for him (Thompson) to bash immigrants at times of domestic economic difficulties.
“But to do so against one’s Caricom brothers and sisters is surely unacceptable… My government is being patient with Caricom and we will never lightly abandon the CSME. But the discriminatory antics against our nationals by some immigration authorities must stop,” he said.