I should not be, but I am astounded by the widespread ignorance emanating from all segments of Guyanese society on the Barbadian illegal immigration issue. I am not usually a defender of the Barbados government, far from it, however I am moved to comment on this issue given some of the emotional nonsense I have heard (a Michael Younge report on Evening News) and read in the media. Too many of these folks are speaking and writing in glorified ignorance, effectively calling on Prime Minister David Thompson and his Barbadian government and people to disregard the laws of the land and continue to harbour illegal immigrants. It is simply wrong. And what is wong is wrong.
It would appear as though persons here in Guyana are completely estranged from what Prime Minister Thompson has proposed. Acting on his own concerns and the concerns of his constituents (thousands of Barbadians) PM Thompson has moved to rid his country of all ILLEGAL immigrants who are living in Barbados, enjoying the benefits of that economy and who can potentially bring a serious social and economic strain on the country in the very near future.
Prime Minister Thompson has never said that ALL Guyanese or ALL CARICOM nationals in Barbados will be removed, deported or in any other way forced out. The focus is on ALL ILLEGAL immigrants. There is a major difference there and it would do those who are commenting so vocally to understand that difference especially since some, like Younge, are journalists and some such as Rayvonne P Bourne are aspiring journalists.
PM Thompson has given those who are in Barbados illegally until December to sort out their status or risk being deported. Of course there is no guarantee that every illegal immigrant currently living in Barbados will be ‘regularized’. Why should there be? Why should the Barbadians look favourably upon these people (Guyanese and others) who have been leeching on the Barbadian economy, and illegally so, for several years? I await even one sensible reason for this. Sensible reason would be a good departure from emotional hogwash.
Some of these thousands of illegals will naturally be refused legal status and as such they will have to return from whence they came.
Put yourself in the shoes of the Barbadian people. If you, as a Guyanese, had tens of thousands of people swarming into Guyana, living here illegally, not paying taxes and leeching on the health and social systems would you not become concerned? I know I would as I am about the ongoing Brazilian invasion which our government must move to regularise. I am not opposed to Brazilians (or any other national) coming to Guyana, working and living, however they must do so through the legal channels as I would have to do if I were to move to Brazil.
What we really should be outraged about is that as the Barbadian authorities try to sift the illegals out from the legals many persons living there legally are being detained in inhumane conditions. And apparently because they are much easier to identify Indo-Guyanese have been facing the brunt of this unjust activity. THAT is what we should be really outraged about. That is wrong and the Barbadians must cease this immediately. All CARICOM leaders should object to this act forthrightly and forcefully.
And even as we express our outrage on that issue, we should, in all good sense, support 100% the Barbadian initiative to rid the country of all ILLEGAL immigrants. These ILLEGAL immigrants have no legal right being in the people’s country. That is the bottomline. These ILLEGALS are BREAKING THE LAW and now that the authorities are moving to put an end to this they are begging for mercy. It is nonsense. They need to get themselves regularized during the grace/amnesty period and if that fails they need to return to their respective countries IMMEDIATELY!
There is, in my view, absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Barbadians wanting to remove all ILLEGAL immigrants from their midst. What is wrong is the victimization and discrimination meted out against persons living in that country legally as the authorities attempt to operationalize their plan.
It is unbelievable and ludicrous that persons, here in Guyana, are suggesting that the government of Barbados should flout the laws of the land to accommodate these inconsiderate illegals and that President Bharrat Jagdeo and other regional leaders should condemn Prime Minister Thompson for acting in the best interest of his people. It is despicably ludicrous.
I agree but the discrimination against not only Guyanese but other caribbean nationals must stop. Yes some of these illegal immagrants did wrong but that is no reason to look at the others with scorn or differently we are supposed to be integrated. Caricom needs to address this issue because it will only fuel hatred among us.
Most of the bajans fail to acknowledge that they are responsible for what is happening today. They are the immgration officers taking bribes and they come here to acquire/ request cheap labour. They knowingly hire the illegal persons just to save a buck or two.
I would also like for our President to take note and learn something from Thompson’s move to enforce his immigration laws.
The Brazillians are slowly multiplying and I am sure that most of them are illegal.
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When I lived in Barbados I had alot of respect for Prime Minister Thompson, but I think that is far from good judgment for him to impliment a law against the Guyanese people, I am Bajan and I love my country Barbados and its people, however, Guyanese are part of Caricom, are to be respect as part of Caricom. There was a time when Barbadians used to migrate to Guyana in search of work, and this is the way in which you are treating these people shame on you people who called themselves Bajan. When a man belly is empty he would take what every means to satified his desire, so come on Bajan let not pretend that we have it all. How quickly we forgot when we all used to use the toilet in the yard, have some compassion for these people in need, lets exhibit the humanity the live within everyone of us please,
Thank You
I do agree with the position that the Guyanese illegal immigrant would place a heavy burden on the Economic sector, However, speaking as a bajan, my position is this the Barbados Government should deal with the current Immigrants that are living in Barbados now, we do acknowledge that their are breaking the law but the reality is that there are in Barbados now and have establish a life, the issue for the Barbados government is this stop any further illegals from come in the island but deal this the present illegal by given the a legal right to live in Barbados. We are all Caribbean people, please do the right thing Barbados.