12502: Amnesty International Criticized Bahamas on Treatment of Haitian & Cuban Refugees (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Merrie Archer <MArcher@nchr.org>

National News
Amnesty International scrutinizes The Bahamas

Released Friday, June 28, 2002 at 11:02 am EST by Vanessa Rolle
Amnesty International scrutinizes The Bahamas

BY VANESSA C ROLLE

GUARDIAN STAFF REPORTER

Police brutality, inhumane prison conditions and unfair processing for
Haitian and Cuban Immigrants topped human rights organisation Amnesty
International's 2002 Report regarding The Bahamas.

The report which covers international events from January to December 2001,
gives a brief synopsis of the more poignant events occurring within those
sectors that are in need of a more conscious resolve

AI highlighted that there were still at least 22 persons on death row by the

end of 2001, including one woman and that remanded prisoners continued to be

held on death row with convicted prisoners.

The report also shed light on the incident involving death row inmate
Eddison Thurston who died in March at the Prison; and noted that at the end
of the coroner's inquest into his death, the jury found that he had
committed suicide in his cell, and returned a verdict of gross negligence on

the part of the Prison Department.

AI further reported that conditions within the prison were "cruel, inhuman
and degrading", as there is "severe" overcrowding with some inmates being
locked in their cells for nearly 24 hours a day.

The Ministry of Health also confirmed that 10 prisoners contracted
tuberculosis according to the AI report, which added, "Although the Ministry

of Health announced in July that all inmates would be tested for
tuberculosis, a doctor at Fox Hill Prison complained in August that he had
been refused permission by the prison authorities to carry out the tests."

AI further highlighted that juveniles continued to be detained with adults,
which put them at risk of being sexually and physically abused.

An incident involving a reported rape of a 17-year-old inmate at Fox Hill
Prison in August gave cause for concern the report continued.

AI also delved into issues regarding Cuban and Haitian immigrants, adding
that asylum seekers continued to be forcibly returned without prior access
to full and fair procedure, which breach international laws.

In July 2001, AI tried to encourage the Government to ensure that Haitian
nationals would be granted access to fair immigration procedures.

The report said, "The government replied that it believed that the majority
of undocumented Haitian nationals attempting to enter The Bahamas were
"economic migrants" and not genuine political refugees.

The report also said that Government used a systematic procedure approved by

the regional officer for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"AI's request for further information about these procedures had not
received a response by the end of the year."

AI further reported that there were several reports alleging ill treatment
of detainees by police officers.

It states, "In April (2001), two children and two men were allegedly
ill-treated by police following their detention without charge by
unidentified officers. All four suffered serious bruising resulting from
beatings at the time of arrest and during their three-day detention by
officers of the Criminal Investigations Department. Police allegedly placed
plastic bags over their heads to try to obtain confessions."

The AI report documents abuses in 1,152 countries and territories around the

world, and describes the repression and violence which blighted the lives of

millions of people throughout 2001.

It also documents extrajudicial executions in 47 countries; judicial
executions in 31 countries; disappearances in 35 countries; cases of torture

and ill treatment in 111 countries and prisoners of conscience in at least
56 countries.

Copyright (c) 2001 by Nassau Guardian

Merrie Archer
Senior Policy Associate
(954) 462 8231