Birdie, Mr. Mitchell is a very intelligent man who knows exactly the ramifications of his comments. It is a deliberate and calculated move to create hostility against these human rights activists and to intimidate them for what seems purely political gain and that is shameful. I do not fear the retribution from the govt against these persons, I do believe we are beyond that but I do fear for the safety of these persons while in their own country. If anything happens to these persons it will be in no small part because of this antagonistic, flamboyant rhetoric and those persons making such comments and attempting to demonize those who oppose them will bear a great deal of culpability for any violence that may happen.

Good point, Mr. miller is the most forceful advocate for why his job should be made redundant. If he is so powerless why are we paying him $100,000? Please fire him and reduce my bill if only by $1 per year.

Does Mr. Mitchell ever learn?, when wil he stop playing politics with this sensitive national issue? perhaps he should review the last five minutes of the hearing when the govt was warned by the commission to refrain from in any way from intimidating or seeking retribution against these human rights activists. He is shamefully creating an atmosphere of needless hostility against these people. If only we could have Mr. Gomez as our point person on immigration, his tone was measured, reasonable and fair, I for one was proud of his discourse and his pledge not to harass or intimidate these human rights activist, in short he was and is everything Mr. Mitchell is not. It is past time for Mr. Mitchell to stop personalizing this issue, stick to the facts, let us debate them and compromise in a genuine way and we will all be the better off for it.

Fred Mitchell has been pandering to the Bahamian voters. He has taken a very hard line verbally against illegal immigrants, but his actions especially in creating Belongers status is the best news ever for them. I follow the actions and I am very pleased with them. These anti- immigrants and die hard plp's do not realize the rug has been pulled out from under them by Fred Mitchell and they have been sold down the river.

Birdie where to begin? I am not sure when the improvements to the detention center took place, apparently they have been since November 1 st. Let us be glad that they have been done and thank the govt. Fred Smith in his presentation did not say ALL immigration officers were abusive toward illegal immigrants those are your words. Do not misrepresent what he said. To believe that there have been no abuses in thousands of interactions is simply naive and untrue. Do we have an adequate number of interpreters? I can not say perhaps we do not. It makes no difference as to the nationality of the members of the IACHCR why you feel this is an issue is beyond me. Finally, do you realize the ramifications of the creation of belonger permits, soon to be law by your PLP govt, they have changed the law and I am sure you will not like it. It will lead to Tens of thousands of persons born in this country of Haitian descent to be regularized with all rights save the right to vote. You have lost the battle and have the PLP to thank, they have capitulated on virtually every issue and I am glad and applaud them for it.

Birdie, I am sure this meeting was arranged quite sometime ago. In fact I knew of it over a month ago. View the hearing more as an oral history of what has happened, on that account everything Fred Smith said was true, there was none of his inflammatory rhetoric. Please document these lies you are referring to, I watched the entire hearing and heard none. He simply put his best case forward. The government could not refute in detail anything he said because it was true. So Minister Gomez put his best case forward with the improvements that have taken place without addressing for the most part specific complaints. He did the best he could with a difficult hand. It is important to continue to hold the govt accountable as this has led to a more humane and just process, even you I think would admit that, and for that Mr Smith deserves our gratitude.

You are so right. Our immigration department has been acting outside the law for a long time. Massive roadblocks have been deemed by our Supreme Court as illegal. There is no basis in law, in fact it is illegal to stop persons indiscriminately and question them. We accept so much nonsense from our authorities that infringe constantly on our rights.

As I I said before both sides of this issue are not as far as their rhetoric would seem. The human rights groups are not for opening our borders, but rather that the issue will be dealt with humanely. Initially, as advocated by Smith, our government failed on this count. Now after intense pressure they are trying to do better, and I applaud our govt even if they have been brought around kicking and screaming. Truth is his one inflammatory comment comparing our govt to nazi Germany's aside, Fred Smith has been right and has won every single substantive issue. I have documented some, there are more, and we as bahamians and the country are all the better for his holding the govt accountable to upholding basic human rights and operating in a more humane way. That is the truth. Now let us work together to implement this new legislation and finally try to address this chronic problem in a humane and substantive way. For that the govt. and Mr. Mitchell deserve a lot of credit.

I wonder if these bloggers watched the same hearing I did or have a grasp of what was said. Everything has been a resounding win for Fred Smith and for the rights of illegal immigrants. The government initially housed children in the detention centre, after criticism from Mr. smith they are no longer keep there but in a safe house leased from the Catholic Church - a win. The conditions of the detention centre was roundly criticized by Mr. Smith, now the govt has spent 1 million on upgrades - a win. It was criticised as being overcrowded now less than 200 persons detained there. Smith said Minister Mitchell was operating outside of the law, which he was, now He has been forced to bring legislation to fix this - a win. Most importantly this legislation creates a new class of pseudo citizens with all of the rights of a Bahamian except the right to vote. Those with belonger permits can be educated, have access to healthcare, enter and leave the as they wish, and work without a work permit. This is a huge win and is a radical change that will lead to tens of thousands of immigrants being regularized.
There is more but Fred Smith has won on every issue and we are better for it. I applaud the govt for trying to finally fix this mess, and after much arm twisting trying to do it humanely.

I wonder if these bloggers watched the same hearing I did or have a grasp of what was said. Everything has been a resounding win for Fred Smith and for the rights of illegal immigrants. The government initially housed children in the detention centre, after criticism from Mr. smith they are no longer keep there but in a safe house leased from the Catholic Church - a win. The conditions of the detention centre was roundly criticized by Mr. Smith, now the govt has spent 1 million on upgrades - a win. It was criticised as being overcrowded now less than 200 persons detained there. Smith said Minister Mitchell was operating outside of the law, which he was, now He has been forced to bring legislation to fix this - a win. Most importantly this legislation creates a new class of pseudo citizens with all of the rights of a Bahamian except the right to vote. Those with belonger permits can be educated, have access to healthcare, enter and leave the as they wish, and work without a work permit. This is a huge win and is a radical change that will lead to tens of thousands of immigrants being regularized.
There is more but Fred Smith has won on every issue and we are better for it. I applaud the govt for trying to finally fix this mess, and after much arm twisting trying to do it humanely.