I think the reponse of the public to the BLP’s lack of patriotism seems to be hitting home to them.

As you listen to Mia’s response and even liz thompson last night they now keep repeating that they will be part of team barbados,and that comments of trying to be supportive.

Hopefully the people’s memories are long.

Why are you seeking to get the opposition on board with the Government ?
Are you saying that the government is faced with an insurmountable task ?
Are you seeking a partner for the “BLAME GAME”.
The government has the mandate to manage the economy and the country. I
remember the P.M in the No Confidence Motion that stating that the BLP had their turn. Is it not now the government’s turn?

Foolbert is saying that on a matter of such great importance as national security and protecting its borders and its resources,that the BLP opposition should not get on board with the Government.

What a sad state of affair.

A fool is expected to ask foolish questions , can’t see the perception of failure as others see, maybe too blind to see . Thanks for words of wisdom now apply them to other situations. How conveniently we change tune.

@quite right; you are an ass. You are one of those persons who take a reasonable stance and exaggerate it to make it seem ludicrous. Nobody is talking about racial profiling. I sit down with Indo-Guyanese, have had a beer with them, have been to their houses here in Barbados for food drinks and parties ; things which they have told me they wouldnt do back in guyana with blacks mind you. The point is if they are here illegally then they have to go. Some will be granted leniency but most will have to go. That is not racist or xenophobic, not in the least.

I heard it and I was appalled! After all, if nothing else, she is his leader for the time being. It was awfully embarrasing for Ms. Mottley.

Why can’t they settle down?

We maybe wrong in our read of a statement which PM Thompson made last night but we had the impression that Thompson is becoming a little irritable with some elements in Barbados who obviously have agendas. In this regard we are warning Faria to relax and have a reread of his diplomatic protocols.

We will be revisiting this matter soon.

I want to know when the G’ovt. is going to do something about faria?

Wow!

Fact finding mission?

Immigration issues in Barbados will not be advanced by public scrutiny alone, says Guyana official.

Published on Friday, May 22, 2009 Email To Friend Print Version

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) in Guyana, Dr Roger Luncheon, said that the resolution of the issues facing Guyanese and other CARICOM nationals in Barbados, is not going to be advanced solely on the basis of ‘public scrutiny’.

Guyana’s Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon

He made this statement about the growing uneasiness among Guyanese in Barbados during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday at the Office of the President.

Guyanese immigrants in Barbados are concerned about their immigration status as of June 1 next, following Prime Minister David Thompson’s recent announcement of a new immigration policy, and have banded together to discuss ways in which to deal with the situation.

The new immigration policy in Barbados may throw not only the lives of the undocumented in disarray, but even the lives of some on the island legally.

According to the Prime Minister, undocumented immigrants have from June 1 to November 31, to present themselves to the Immigration authorities and have their status regularised, or face being forcibly removed from the island. The amnesty would only apply to persons who had been in the island eight years or more prior to 2005, and all others ‘would be removed.’

The ruling would not only affect Guyanese nationals, but nationals of several other CARICOM member states, including, Jamaicans and Vincentians.

The Cabinet Secretary said that that matter has to put into context and two aspects cannot be ignored.

“One the trials and tribulations of CARICOM nationals who for various reasons are residents and not residents in their state of origin, has been a matter that probably is as long in gestation and handling as the Revised Treaty (Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas) itself,” he said.

He added, “Maybe even older than the Revised Treaty.”

“Although you might not feel that we have to be so comprehensive in our analysis of the issue as to recognise other CARICOM nationals are similarly affected – it does indeed occur that way that the Heads have sought through the mechanism of freedom of travel to provide some measure of control on the movement of nationals within the CARICOM community and consequently their treatment.”

Pointing out that this is a perspective that should be given particular attention, he put forward, “I think what our colleagues in government in Barbados focused on was and I admire the term they used, the ‘undocumented’.”

“Presumably not going as far as some go to say ‘illegal immigrants’ and such like – you are undocumented,” Luncheon said.

He said the other aspect of the matter is the Revised Treaty adding, “Of course of equal concern to us is what the Revised Treaty provides for explicitly and what it is that we could infer that the Revised Treaty allows.”

“It is a ‘grey area’ but one that not only CARICOM has had to address,” the HPS said.

“Many nations where the phenomenon is also taking place have had to deal with what the law explicitly provides for and how you deal with the actual situation of ‘undocumented’ within their boundaries,” he observed.

“The records would show from time immemorial that the government of Guyana has taken a principled position on this matter and indeed many of the CARICOM Heads have also taken a principled position,” he said.

However, the Cabinet Secretary offered, “I do not believe that the issue – its resolution is going to be advanced solely on the basis of public scrutiny, public commentary.”

“The specifics of the situation would have to be gotten into and this is where we rely on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and its consular offices in the CARICOM countries to articulate the government of Guyana’s position and to defend the interest of Guyanese who are affected,” he stated.

“If the focus remains on the ‘undocumented’, then the onus on all those who are contributing in a very productive way for solution, is to address the issue of the ‘undocumented’,” he reiterated.

“A second feature is to see how far, maybe you might say the lack of clarity, the custom and practice, the way in which law can be interpreted to facilitate and lesser public reaction and lesser impact on Guyanese or for that matter any other national who would seem to be affected by a more stringent and narrow interpretation and application of the law,” he suggested.

“So we are going to be operating on a number of different trends. Certainly at the Heads and the appropriate institutions within CARICOM to continue to belabour the Guyanese cause,” he assured.

“I want to believe in concert with the Heads of other CARICOM Governments whose nationals are similarly exposed and similarly affected,” he said.

Also, he said, occasions such as the Heads of Government and other gatherings of the institution of CARICOM should be used to perhaps reduce the lack of clarity by introducing additional norms and practices that over time would build a more healthy and realistic approach to the problem of the ‘undocumented’.

“I might say steps have been taken, contingent rights is on the table. I have freedom of travel but what about my immediate family, what about my wife,’ he put forward.

“A decision has not been made. One can indeed recognise some difficulties with going this additional step but the freedom of travel approach did not occur overnight,” he stressed.

“It took quite a bit of negotiations…,” Luncheon reminded.

“As we sit here today, many see the lack of clarity in many aspects contributing to the situation that Guyanese and other nationals face at the hands of authorities in CARICOM countries,” he noted.

He assured, “So we are going to go out there and we are going to continue as we have been doing, fighting and articulating and this is a reactionary approach to the efforts being made by authorities in these countries that offend us…”

“And at the same time, to go ahead with drafting new arrangements, putting in place the understanding that more correspond to the reality of nationals moving and their families moving and others moving and yes may very well be identified as ‘undocumented’,” he said.

But the main opposition party here, The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said government needs to do more to defend Guyanese living in Barbados that would end in many of them having to leave that island.

The party in a statement said over the years as Guyanese complained of harassment and discrimination, but the administration merely adopted band aid measures, when what was needed was a firm and well thought out policy.

“The only thing that Guyanese were told was that the matter was being raised at different levels or might have engaged Heads of Government but nothing about a proposed solution.”

The party added that the Thompson Administration has taken official action that is most likely to have unpleasant implications for Guyanese who have lived in Barbados for a long time and also for the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

“The People’s National Congress Reform believes that it is not too late for the Jagdeo Administration and the Caribbean Community to put together a team of experienced past and serving Guyanese and Caribbean diplomats who could immediately embark on a fact finding mission to Barbados and report to the Secretary General of CARICOM in the shortest possible time on the current situation affecting all Caribbean nationals, including our citizens. Such a team could make recommendations to the Jagdeo Administration and these in turn serve as the foundation for a sensible long term policy, which could protect the interest of the Guyanese in Barbados and also enhance the possibility of the smooth implementation of the CSME. We are clear that such a team is needed as we are convinced that the representation afforded by our consulate in that country has been far from adequate,” the release said .

What is clear is that there is a perception across the region that Bajans are passive. We give amnesty and there is a commotion. The other countries kick the illegals out and not a murmur.

The Prime Minister is dead on in relation to this issue. I support him 100%.

@mash up & buy back

We read the article. What is interesting are the comments. Most of them are very critical of Jagdeo for overseeing polices which continue to drive his people out of Guyana. This article is Jagdeo succumbing to pressure and forced to issue a political statement (political pandering). It is the problem with Caribbean politicians, a lack of leadership.

Just saw an amazing interview done by CMC’s Kaymar Jordan and ralph gonsalves of St Vincent.

It seems as though ralphie got a good telling off in Trinidad on Sunday,because he now is backing off from his claim that it was Barbados he was speaking about with regard to the deportation of the 5 year old child and and the 17 year old school boy who the vincentian woman married to a bajan wanted (them) to go to school free in barbados.

Although kaymar kept pressing him,he refused to now mention’s Barbados’ name.

Let’s hope CBC shows this interview.

Thompson boy,you real good fuh true.

What mirror image our regional politicians have of themselves? Don’t people like Gonsalves and Jagdeo ever look at themselves in the mirror and is proud of who they see? The double standards set by these and other individuals are sending a bad smell in the atmosphere that is causing global warming. Each country has laws and laws are meant to be obayed, therefore if some-one comes into the country and ask for or is given a specific length of stay in that country, then when you refuse to depart you are breaking the laws of the particular country. I’m sure each of us fill out an immigration card to be presented at the port of entry. When you state the length of stay knowing that you don’t plan on departing on that given date, you are defrauding the country of entry, thus you are illegal and there is a punishment for so doing. Having explain this, pray tell me how anyone with a law-abiding mind can fault our P.M for putting can end to this illegal practice? If I am to believe that once an illegal act is done on a regular basis that it should be ignored, then give the PSV’s a free range, so too those reckless drivers on the streets especially on weel-ends, the drug people, in fact just let the people set their our laws to please each individual. Those people who are critical of P.M Thompson should look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves, ‘ am I saying this for the good of my country or for personal benefits?” Remember young people are watching us adults ans seeing the double standards we are setting and then trying to dictate how they should live. This country needs to get back to the basics of good living. It is not that we bajans don’t want anyone else here, we welcome everyone especially our neighbours but please don’t try to come in overwhelming numbers and then challenge our very right of living.