By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday assured the United Nations that The Bahamas was working to best employ international screening guidelines that seek to identify, protect and assist potential refugees and asylum seekers transiting to or through The Bahamas.

In a speech to the UN’s High Level Meeting to address the large movement of refugees and migrants on Monday, Mr Christie said the phenomenon of large movements of refugees and migrants has reached an unprecedented level of complexity and challenge.

The Centreville MP added that the global consensus on how to deal with the issue has become a matter of “the most urgent priority”.

While applauding the “heightened” sense of priority that has inspired the current response to the global issue, Mr Christie noted that The Bahamas stands in support of all efforts geared toward developing a “common understanding” on how best to address the matter.

To that end, Mr Christie said the Bahamas remains in line with regulations put forth by the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with a view to adequately screen migrants to determine whether they are at risk of persecution in their country of origin.

Mr Christie also indicated that local immigration officials are receiving ongoing training in this regard.

As it relates to the specific protection of and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in the Bahamas, all interdicted migrants seeking asylum, it is claimed that they are interviewed by immigration officers trained by the UNHCR.

Moreover, he indicated that the government of the Bahamas and the UNHCR have engaged in regular dialogue, enabling any national asylum assessments to be shared with the UNHCR and, where necessary, advisory opinions are requested.

Similarly, he said, the Bahamas cooperates with the International Organisation of Migrants with whom it has a memorandum of understanding.

Mr Christie encouraged those in attendance to be mindful of positive contributions that can sometimes flow out of aspects of migration.

Mr Christie said the islands of the Bahamas have grown more aware of the good that can derive from migration.

He said: “Indeed regular migration yields considerable benefits to both sending and receiving countries. Such benefits include: economic development, cultural cross-fertilisation, and the promotion of state-to-state cooperation in the management of matters of common concern.

“At the same time, however, it is imperative that we move in earnest towards the development of a comprehensive approach to irregular migration, especially focusing on the underlying causes that motivate so many persons to resort to desperate and dangerous measures in search of better opportunities in other countries,” Mr Christie said.

Mr Christie said the Bahamas, as both a transit and receiving country, continues to represent an unusual model for migratory movement and its impact.

“As a porous, archipelagic nation situated in close proximity to both source and destination countries, the Bahamas continues to experience large mixed migration from within, and outside, of the region,” he said.

“While our history clearly demonstrates, as I have already indicated, the value that can accrue from the many and varied contributions of documented migrants, we are still challenged by the disproportionately large and continual influx of undocumented migrants, the majority of whom arrive from regional source countries,” added Mr Christie.

“In this regard, our immigration policies are designed to best protect the national security interests and social welfare of The Bahamas, while respecting the human rights and dignity of migrants and refugees. The Bahamas is fully committed to the implementation and promotion of migrant-related mandates of international and regional agreement, to which it is a state party.”

Mr Christie said successive governments in the Bahamas have enacted legislative and policy measures aimed at providing protection and support to regular and irregular migrants alike, including refugees, entering the country.

He noted that the country has historically provided free public healthcare and education to all persons within the country, irrespective of status; in addition to the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Bahamas’ Constitution that are extended to all “persons”, not just citizens and regularised migrants.

“We also have regulations to facilitate the orderly and expeditious processing of detained migrants and to ensure their protection while in detention. The Bahamas also continues its practice of non-custodial arrangements for eligible irregular migrants, including minors and those persons protected under relevant legislation and regulatory guidelines.

“While The Bahamas does receive a disproportionately high number of undocumented, non-asylum seeking migrants, our interdiction and immigration forces are cognisant that vulnerable persons may sometimes be included in migratory inflows.”

Governments of 193 countries on Monday adopted key commitments to enhance protection for refugees forcibly displaced. The ongoing summit convened earlier this year at the opening session of the UN General Assembly. The summit’s declaration urges countries to work closely together to aid and connect those displaced by unrest and uncertainty.