The Barbados government has delivered on its promise to establish a committee to investigate complaints stemming from its recent implementation of an immigration policy that has stirred region-wide debate.
The enforcement of the policy has led to complaints of maltreatment and early morning raids on the homes of undocumented Guyanese, some of whom have been sent back home with hardly any opportunity to put departure arrangements in place.
On July 28 last, Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, in addressing the issue of clearing a backlog of Caricom immigrants seeking immigrant status on the island, pointed out that prominent lawyer Keith Simmons would chair the special investigative committee for “any complaints that might be made.” “But having said all of this, I just want to make it clear that the position that I previously outlined regarding our immigration policy remains the same,” the Barbados Nation reported.
Thompson, during the nationally-televised press conference from his official residence, told the Barbados media that over 5,000 Caribbean nationals were seeking immigrant status there. According to the report, Thompson blamed the backlog on the previous Owen Arthur administration, which had failed to take decisive measures to address the issue. “Most of these applications are old . . . and no action was taken,” the report quoted him as saying.
Thompson, according to the report, reiterated that while his government remained committed to the free movement of Caricom nationals, Barbados had “to redesign” the commitments previously given. He also restated that Barbados had no choice but to regulate its immigration policy since the social services simply could not cope with a flood of immigrants.
During a press conference in Guyana, Thompson had called for evidence of the alleged acts and promised that he would spearhead the setting up of a committee to investigate any such complaints. The local Foreign Affairs Ministry set up a complaints desk at the ministry and at its honorary consulate in Barbados, where victims of the alleged harassment lodged complaints. Those complaints were then sent to the relevant authorities by Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
