Mr. Moss, you are redeeming yourself in my eyes. After the NIB debacle I had written you off, however you are making a lot of sense these days. The mere fact that the PLP may not welcome you in their midst, indicates that you are definitely in the right tract.

There is no doubt that we Bahamians tend to think that we are better than the Haitians who come to our shores, whether legally or illegally. I remember, while growing up, if you certainly wanted to provoke a fight, and all other means had failed, you need only call your opponent a "Haitian". This was sufficient to start the fight. This is ingrained in the Bahamian psyche, and we will never be able to accept the Haitian-Bahamians as our equal brothers and sisters. For some reason, hopefully other than to feel good about ourselves, we need to have a segment of our society who is considered beneath us. The Haitians fit the bill, because they come seeking a better way of life, with a determination that allows them to perform the most menial of tasks in order to provide for their families.

We are also extending the same treatment to the Dominicans, Cubans, and Chinese, despite the fact that these countries are light years ahead of the Bahamas. We must not be fooled by Tourism's slogan that "its better in the Bahamas" and believe that is why they come to our shores. They come here to take economic advantage of a lazy people and corrupt government. If there were no yards to weed, farms to cultivate, domestic services to be performed, they would not come. We will be surprised if it could be revealed how many politicians, and civil servants, employ these illegal immigrants. The Dominicans and Cubans fish in our waters because we are to lazy to fish them. I have seen more Bahamian fish in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata, than in Nassau and Freeport.

I thought the PLP had a panacea for every ill affecting the Bahamas during their campaign. I guess it is so easy to make outlandish promises to gullible voters on the campaign trail, but a little more difficult to deliver on those promises after being elected. It seems that this government, while in opposition, promised anything and everything to get elected. The 10,000 jobs, the solutions to crime, and mortgage relief, are just a few promises that they should apologize for not being able to deliver.

It is so amazing that when their apologists are confronted with the government's failure to deliver, they simply invoke the previous governments inability to succeed in difficult economic times. If the PLP can't deliver, just blame HAI! How sad!

Thanks, Larry for writing a fair and thought-provoking article. I think the following quotation goes to the root of the problem: "

"There is also no doubt that our so-called Haitian problem is largely driven by Bahamians in the first place. We eagerly employ Haitians in every menial, minimum wage job available, and rent them sub-standard housing as slumlords. In fact, this contradiction is at the very root of the so-called Haitian problem."

It seems that some of you are refusing to see the forest because of the trees. Whether or not you like, or disagree, with everything Fred Smith says or does, it does not mean he cannot be right sometime. For anyone to suggest that it is ok to dress up in a KKK costume and display hatred, and threaten harm to another Bahamian during a cultural celebration is imply playing loose with logic and reason. All Bahamians should unite and declare that we will never again allow anyone, under the guise of a parade, to promote hatred, racism, and insensitivity to anyone. This parade is meant to be fun, and a proud cultural display of the best of what our country has to offer.

Wow! So, the government must do for us what we are not prepared to do for ourselves? If the government enforced the laws against the hiring of illegals, then building contractors would face an even playing field. I don't believe the government will succeed in stamping out illegal migration as long as the citizens are prepared to provide financial incentives to the law breakers. Those who are deported on Monday will be returning on the next sloop sailing in a few days. It is worth the risk of the seas, and being recaptured, if there are Bahamians waiting with open arms and waving dollars.

While I agree with most of what the writer of this letter states, I must emphasize that we Bahamians need to accept a little more personal responsibility for the encouraging the illegal migration of the Haitians to our shores. We must accept that the promise of employment, and financial support of their trades and businesses are central to their coming. If we Bahamians do not employ them in caring for our lawns, babysitting, hair-braiding, cleaning our homes, and as cheap source of menial labour, etc., they will soon get the message. If we shun them economically, they will soon realize that they cannot make a living here, and move on to greener pastures. Many small island nations in our region do have an illegal Haitian problem, because they offer little economic prospects. I am surprised, when I visit Nassau, to see the amount of my family and friends who proudly have Haitian maids, and gardeners. It seems to be some sort of status symbol.

@Publius. I must agree with you that the standard of journalism in both of our daily newspapers does leave a lot to be desired. It seems as though little investigative work is done by the younger journalists, and many leading stories are always incomplete. Not only is the headline in this particular story slightly misleading, but the story itself seems to have come about solely from court filings. No attempt is reported to have been made to obtain factual verifications from either parties.

Wow! I finally see the day when I agree with something written by SP. I'll check back again tomorrow.

@Birdie. I'm in Shangai, as I write, perfecting my command of the Mandarin language. I think it will come in handy as the Chinese gain a greater stake in our little economy. I grew up in Northern Cat Island with the Stubbs, Newbolds, Russells, Deans, etc. but also spent time in the Southern heel of the island as an educator. From Orange Creek to Port Howe, I know all of the families there, including a few Strachan families..

To respond to your comments, I believe that we can defend the borders of our country without abusing the human rights of those who break our laws. I am not saying that all sworn officers are bad people. In fact most of them are normally decent human beings, but many are frustrated for various reasons, and allow this frustration to manifest itself in abusive behavior towards those in their charge. Police Officers beat suspects; Defence Force officers, and Immigration officers beat detainees. This is a known fact. So, it is very easy to believe this young woman's story. She has her papers, that allows her to remain in the country legally. The only reason she was carted off to the Detention center was because of a suspicion by the officers. I would be angry, and cuss too if I was being detained against my will simply because of a suspicion that I might be an illegal resident..

The Bahamas should always be seen as nation that respects the rule of law and the human rights of all people, including those who violate our immigration laws. I will always contend that if the Bahamian people stopped providing a stream of revenue to these people, they would sail on by to the U S A. Let us refrain from hiring them to perform the menial tasks that no Bahamian wants to do; stop renting land to them to build the shanty towns; and cease renting to them the slums and substandard housing in which no Bahamian would live. Also we could also begin to prosecute all employers who hire any illegals. The word would quickly spread that the economic opportunity is no longer available..
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