The donkey brays again , now finally with some sense. I have no regard for Smith becuase I see him as an opporrunist and media h#@r, but he is right on this GBPA fiasco. Give credit where it is due and he deserves it in this instance.

Mr. Smith really seeks attention at every turn. If you are going to challenge the government then shut your mouth and bring your case to court. You are a big time QC and still spouting like a newbie to the bar. Facts and evidence talk not conjecture and nonsense in the press. But Smith is so biased against any PLP action he can't contain himself. He will find any opportunity to work against the current administration. As much as the PLP annoys me at this moment I agree with them that something must be done. Whats so disgusting about Smith is that he uses terms like genocide to describe the government's policy. It is a gross misuse of the word and it is down right stupid for a man who is supposedly so studied in law. My question Smith is, will you ever support anything that is Bahamian? Every conflict you get involved in seems to involve the interests of people other than Bahamaians. If you are so concerned about human rights then why not address the inhumanity which goes on in Haiti? The Haitian government appears to have a no care policy about its own people and when other countries tighten up they want to have sour grapes. Well something must be done. I agree that we must be humane but Mr. Smith has not yet recommended any alternative to the government's current initiative, neither has the official opposition. Given the response of the opposition I am of the thinking that the FNM given the opportunity would have done the same. Party lines aside Bahamians are recognizing the need for a sensible plan for immigration. This haphazard approach is no longer feasible and with boat loads of Haitians coming daily we cannot continue to take a passive approach to this.

True. But, personal intrigue is one thing, spreading the photos within minutes to when the families are still in absolute shock is uncalled for. Also Mexico may have different cultural and social practices that may not be applicable here. Do you recall when the governing party was campaigning in the last election and they put those posters of the murder count up? The people went mad and that was just showing data. So can you imagine if our newspapers had images on the covers. It would not go over well.

The irony here is that the police are attempting to go after people on social media when a few years ago it was one of their officers who leaked case details. When the lady was murdered by her boyfriend a few years back and the pictures, police files included were all over social media and email. To date no one knows what happened to the offending officers. No case was ever brought before the courts and the family of that victim had to endure the pain of it all. The COP took it upon himself to protect these scoundrels from public ridicule. I said it then and will say it again, the COP was wrong. He should have fired them, prosecuted them and allow them to accept responsibility for their actions. To this day the officers responsible have still not been made known to the public. The RBPF is not a private firm and the COP does not have the right to just quietly do away with matters of public interest.

Now comes 2014 and the rank and file want to go after people for social media postings. I most certainly agree that its disgusting and stupid for people to have taken these pictures. It tells you where we are as a people. This is a most tragic event and we find ourselves right back to the same old antics. The COP and the rank and file of the Police Force need to get real and do things in fairness and transparency. Most of these leaks come from within their ranks and it would be appreciated if they start their investigations there. Second there is no proper legislation to govern these things. It is most certainly in poor taste but I suspect that even if found the Crown would have a hard time building this case. The lesson here is that Bahamians need to learn what it is to be decent, respectful and show a little class. We've become savages and it seems anything goes.

Good, now hopefully people can come together on other issues of national importance and move this country forward. Let us show the world that we can be a successful, hardworking country. I can't say how genuine this is by Minnis but it feels good to know that we Bahamians are standing together on something. Political parties have strangled the energy and creativity of this country. Bahamians we are one. I don't care if you're red, blue, pink, black or white, I want to see the people of this nation working together.

This another ass. First Fred Smith now the PM practicing how to be a donkey. We have nothing to apologize for. Nor should there be any attempt at damage control. We have done nothing illegal and we remain a people who have given much of our time, resources and energy to solving this serious trafficking of people to and through our nation. This big mouth woman out of Florida can flap her gums til the cows come home. As the Haitian community in the Bahamas has made clear she needs to mind her own business. The PM should realize that the people of the Bahamas are in support of these new laws and he was elected to represent the wishes of the people. So act and stop looking around and asking questions. Next thing you know he want have a big referendum to sort it out.

We love slackness. As soon as the Bahamian government acts then the Haitian government has seen it necessary to react. Fred Smith is an @#$. When the border patrols in Arizona and California are readily stopping and detaining Mexicans I haven't heard one word about genocide come from the human rights lips. The reason we haven't heard a word is because it is not genocide and Smith should have more sense when making public statements. He apears to have a serious hate for this country and nothing either government does is right. The reality is that the largest concentration of illegal immigrants in the country are Haitian as are Mexicans in certain areas of the US. So naturally the largest group to be detained will likely be of Haitian descent. That being said, it is my understanding that Cubans, Jamaicans and people of several other nationalities have also been detained for violation of our immigration laws. Mr. Smith always finds a way to grand stand and use the media to his benefit. Human rights is certainly important and we should all have respect for our fellow man. But, it is hard enough for the immigration officers to have to deal with the dangers of their job and on top of it be criticised for doing it. These are our young men and women going into some pretty gritty conditions and are having to sort out a whole range of social problems. Mr. Smith instead of always bashing everything the Bahamian government does I wonder if you are ever concerned about the protection and rights of our Defense Force Officers or Immigration officers. In many instances the RBDF have been fired up by Domincan fishing vessels. What about their rights?

@ThisIsOurs. Its always good to see people who tend to observe and listen before speaking. I absoulutely agree with you that we have issues in this country that are inclusive of illegal immigration. We cannot continue to bury our heads and pretend it doesn't exist. When we do mount a response we are called xenophobes. Many Bahamians are well aware of the historic signifigance of the revolution in Haiti and what it meant for people of colour in this part of the world. Yes, the French screwed them and they have been dealt some pretty messed up cards. But the modern history of Haiti shows a leadership that has been corrupt and terrible to its own people and these were black men. See many people love to go back to the revolution story and not think about the opportunities for development that Haiti has had. If we as a people keep going on and using slavery as an excuse for our corrupt politicians and lack of development then we do ourselves a disservice. We should not forget our past, but we cannot continue to use it as an excuse for our own failures today.

Well there is law and there is enforcement. They have already broken the law by entering illegally. When ICE goes to pick up illegals in your country there is no regard for if you're at work or if you have time or not to pack your belongings. They simply pick you up and your belongings are auctioned. The reality of it is the shanty towns have become a breeding ground fro illegal activity. So, first they break the laws by entering the country illegally, second they squat on someone's land, third they hook up electricity illegally. How many laws must they break before we do something about it? It would not happen in your country so please spare us the crap.

Lots of smoke and steam these folks are blowing. Well tell her to boycott then. Its no use going on with idiots. This so-called Hatian-Bahamian talk is bullshit anyway. You are either Bahamian or you are Hatian. Now they may have Haitian heritage but they need to make up their minds where the hell their loyalties lie. They want ride us like donkey for 60 years and when the donkey finally kick up they want protest. You cannot have come here illegally and say you're Haitian-Bahamian. You are a Haitian and are afforded all the rights and privileges offered within your country. Get it? Your own country. I can't go to the US and expect education, social assistance and healthcare and in the people country illegally. You are indeed respected as a human being and are entitled to basic human rights. But the boldness and forwardness displayed by Haitians in this country would never happen elsewhere. Why don't they sail on over to Cuba or Jamaice more frequently get their business fix there? Haitians seem to have this sense of entitlement in this country and it is disgusting that they would even think of raising protest against this nation. But that's what they love to do and it is exactly why they themselves can never have a sensible election in Haiti. It is always this need to have some grand revolution.