Take a gander at this, from before the internet ruled the world. Imagine if this has been written today, it may be the kind of scathing report we will soon have to answer for. Note incidentally, the involvement of a certain Senator Mitchell, then of the FMN, as well as the interesting observation that 'Father Remy, a Catholic priest from Freeport, noted a correspondence between raids and elections: "The government rounds up Haitians at election time to pacify Bahamian voters".' - http://avalon.law.yale.edu/diana/haitib…

Take a gander at this, from before the internet ruled the world. Imagine if this has been written today, it may be the kind of scathing report we will soon have to answer for. Note incidentally, the involvement of a certain Senator Mitchell, then of the FMN, as well as the interesting observation that 'Father Remy, a Catholic priest from Freeport, noted a correspondence between raids and elections: "The government rounds up Haitians at election time to pacify Bahamian voters".' - http://avalon.law.yale.edu/diana/haitib…

Emac, no one said they should have children they can't take care of. But that's not the children's fault. And considering how we go in this country when it comes to irresponsible breeding, that's not the pot calling the kettle black?

Yes dippy, use them and then turn around and abuse them

As to your second point, what can they do? Do you think they have a choice in the matter, but just want to live in a shanty town? Its not as if they arrive here with job letters, bank accounts, borrowing power, a command of the English language, the right to work, or now, even freedom of movement. What choice do they have but to eek out whatever living they can, under the circumstances? Anyway, it is not the same lifestyle, compared to where they came from, what you see is a huge improvement: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news…
Tell me you would't take your children out of that by any means that presented itself.

Ahh but Emac, as far as our reputation, global image etc is concerned, perception IS reality. These claims are making international headlines already. At the end of the day, the truth will not matter. You think anyone in South Florida will believe us over the Miami Herald? I have long argued for a transparent, independently monitored law enforcement culture, that would not just prevent abuses of power, but also negate any false claims of the same. If Immigration officers did as they were supposed to, collecting evidence against individuals, applying to the courts for a warrant, approaching said individuals while in the company of official witnesses AND video cameras, granting them access to an attorney to look after their interests, etc - it would be very difficult to make a false claim of abuse. The same goes with police brutality; not a single suspect should be interviewed without a lawyer AND a video camera being present and the latter presented as evidence in the case. Likewise, cameras throughout the detention center, monitored by an independent oversight committee. Why not? what do we have to hide?

@shamebahamas - well said. I wonder where the Bahamas Tea Party disappeared to. Must have a rule against defending brutality on the Sabbath....

Ummm, it says she was at work. It would be helpful if you actually read the story though...

LOL - I guess that means if you follow birdiestrachan and Girly's logic, I must be a Haitian-Bahamian young black male who is uneducated and got beat by the police. Cuz lord knows, people can't defend principles unless it is to their personal advantage. :)

And I also don't know for the life of me why you keep telling me that we can't absorb these people and they need to go. I know i agree. But that doesn't mean we have to trample all decency underfoot and act like animals. This policy is criminal, time will bear this out. And then we will revisit this issue and i will try my best not to say i told you so.