12516: Nassau Guardian Commentary on Haitian Immigration (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Schweissing <dan_schweissing@hotmail.com>

Commentary
Illegal immigration

Released Tuesday, July 9, 2002 by Llonella Gilbert

Difficult situation

Prime Minister Perry Christie said that during the CARICOM Heads of
Government meeting he spoke with Haitian president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
to secure the president of Haiti's support in protecting The Bahamas'
borders from further illegal immigration. However, it is going to take more
than just ensuring the support of President Aristide to stop the flow of
illegal immigrants into the the country.

But Prime Minister Christie, CARICOM and the Organisation of American States
do seem to realise that the Haitian government cannot prevent its citizens
from leaving the country as long as the people face economic and social
hardships. For just last month, almost everyday boatloads of Haitians were
caught trying to escape their country for a better place, and it does not
matter that they were risking their lives or the lives of young children.
And this past weekend a total of 181 illegal Haitian immigrants were
apprehended in the Exuma Cays by Bahamian officials as they attempted to
land in the country on Sunday morning.

According to the Prime Minister, both CARICOM and the OAS have been engaged
in initiatives on their own and collectively to resolve the situation in
Haiti.

He noted that efforts are being made to get the opposition in Haiti to join
President Aristide's government in signing a peace accord, which could lead
to the release of a "significant amount" of money which has been withheld by
the international donor community, and which could have a beneficial impact
upon the hemisphere's poorest country.

"CARICOM has continued to call for the release of aid promised to Haiti,
which have been frozen by the international community because of the
continuing crisis in that country," he said.

Looking realistically at the way things have been going in Haiti, there has
been no change in the opposition's attitude to the government in Haiti, and
there is no telling how much longer the opposition will stand against the
government. But the United States has said that until the opposition and the
government of Haiti work together, the country will not be seeing its aid
money. To persons looking on from the outside, this seems to be a no win
situation. So ponder what the people in Haiti must think. They want to be
able to live peacefully and have economic stability.

Therefore, something has to be done quickly. Bahamians feel sorry for their
Haitian brothers and sisters, but the country has already spent millions
catching and repatriating illegal Haitians. Yes, Prime Minister Christie
might have gotten President Aristide to agree to aid in stopping the flow of
Haitians entering The Bahamas, but realistically, it will take Haiti getting
its aid money as well as social help from other countries and organisations
before its problems come to an end.

Copyright (c) 2001 by Nassau Guardian


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