Submitted by Yardbroom
Senator Maxine McClean in the Barbados Senate as reported in the Nation Newspaper dated 11 December 2008, gave as clear an outline on managed immigration as one would expect a responsible senator to give. The words of senator McClean were not given the attention they deserved and have slid under the radar. I will revisit them, if only to clear away the froth and misrepresentation that are levelled at decent clear thinking Barbadians, by those who have an agenda often buttressed with a touch of self interest.
Senator McClean asserted with reference to immigration – and as a former Minister with responsibility for Immigration Matters she should know – “We have to recognize that if you cannot offer housing, you cannot offer medical care, we are not only doing damage to immigrants we are doing damage to ourselves.”
The common sense and logic behind such a position is so clear sighted and forward looking that no reasonable person with the available information to hand – as she obviously has – could disagree. If there was a flicker of doubt by anyone on the position Senator McClean took; she underscored it further by adding.
…”Immigration has brought with it its own problems of squatting”.
Instead of some nebulous nonsense she brought truth and factual accounts, a contrast to the abstract terms and perfidious accusations made against Barbadians who only seek a properly managed immigration system. With an emphasis on factual accounts she stated.
…”The reality is there are squatter sites and it has been established that those persons for the vast majority are non-Barbadians”…
Where there is much darkness, rather than complain about the darkness, Senator Maxine McClean has very wisely lit a candle, she should be commended. Her efforts to be reasonable, compassionate and fair shone through when she said in response to independent Senator Velma Newton’s charge that some people were being “reprehensible” in whipping up “xenophobia” on the part of Barbadians.
…”We Barbadians are not xenophobic…in all my years I have not seen evidence that Barbadians have been hostile, unfriendly, unaccepting”
The measured tone and careful choice of words substantiated by facts indicated a Senator who is on top of the game and was well in charge of the portfolio she had. I am reassured and comforted by the “wisdom” of the senator, and Barbadians should be delighted to have a minister who is capable of articulating their concerns and being in tune with the “pulse” of our nation.
Should her initiatives be “continued” there is nothing to fear. If they are jettisoned that is another story. I will leave the final words to Senator Maxine McClean because they are worthy of note and nothing added or subtracted can embellish them.
…” Government does not have a difficulty welcoming non-nationals our Caribbean brothers and sisters to this country but the small island has to ensure its “carrying capacity” is not breached or overburdened.”
A Happy Christmas To all
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