EDITOR, The Tribune.

Why are we so hateful to the sons and daughters of our Bahamian soil?

Just because they happened to have been born of non-Bahamian citizen parents?

Why are we so hateful to foreigners when The Bahamas is made of a pool of foreign blood?

Why does the administration of immigration laws have to become such an emotional political football providing opportunities for politicians to grandstand for political rhetoric and re-election?

Why make simple issues complicated?

Why allow artificial distinctions to create an “illegal” class?

It’s very simple. Even the Constitution in substance recognises it. People born in the Bahamas are entitled to Bahamian citizenship. Basically those born before 1973 are entitled to it.

Those born after 1973 who apply between 18 and 19 are entitled to it. Those born in the Bahamas but apply after 19 ... they can apply but aren’t entitled to it.

There is a simple fix, and one which cannot be morally, legally or ethically challenged.

Just pass a simple law that says: All persons born in The Bahamas are automatically Bahamian citizens. They should not have to apply. Being born here should be the ticket.

Simple. Easy. No complication. Pass such a law!

They should just be automatically entitled to citizenship, thus avoiding creating all of these artificial distinctions and opportunities for political sophistry and grandstanding. And creating “Them v We” mentality; of promoting discrimination; of creating an outlaw class. Stop promoting discrimination!

People born in The Bahamas should just simply be Bahamian citizens and, by production of their birth certificates, get a passport.

It’s a simple as that !

That is the general law elsewhere in civilised nations and we should stop being uncivilised, inhuman and degrading. We are simply creating problems where none actually exist.

It is inhumane and degrading to keep people born before 1973, or after 1973 and who apply between their 18th and 19th birthdays, waiting for decades to get a certificate of their status and entitlement, to pay for a permit to belong in the meantime.

It is inhumane and degrading for those born after 1973 but who apply after 19 to be to be kept waiting or to be refused.

To be made to apply for citizenship, or belongers permits, or work permits, etc, because they simply didn’t know they had to apply between the age of 18 and 19.

Where has our sense of decency, of humanity, of sensibility gone in The Bahamas when we foster these artificial distinctions?

And worse still, when we couch them in nationalistic fervour, warmongering words, aggressive policies that make people outlaws.

Why do our politicians do this? It is so unnecessary, so counterproductive, so dehumanising, so awful and sends such a terrible message about how we view ourselves.

How we hate our very own sons and daughters of the soil of our Bahamaland. How racist we are. How xenophobic we are. How hateful we are. For God’s sake, how unchristian of us!

And let’s remember – what is The Bahamas made of? How many cabinet ministers are of foreigner heritage? What are we afraid of?

Remember, Bahamians are of Haitian, Iranian, Greek, Trinidadian, Guyanese, Barbadian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian, Indian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Caymanian, Jamaican, Turks and Caicos, Canadian, American, Mexican, Panamanian, Filipino, Venezuelan, Colombian, Ecuadorian, South American, English, Irish, Scottish, French and Chinese ... my God, what a beautiful crucible!

Bahamians are a beautiful mixture. Why not embrace and celebrate our fabulous heritages?

We should celebrate opportunities to create ethnic, racial and international diversity; of a variety of Bahamian blood instead of being so hateful and exclusive.

I beg our governments – please stop the abuse. Let’s really be “One Bahamas”.

FRED SMITH, QC,

Freeport,

August 31, 2015.