The Government has put out for public comment its latest proposals for immigration policy. It can be found on several official websites, including that of Parliament (www.barbadosparliament.com). The document, 'Comprehensive Review of Immigration Policy and Proposals for Legislative Reform', is a so-called 'green paper', can be found at http://barbadosparliament.com/htmlarea/uploaded/File/Info/Green%20Paper%20On%20Comprehensive%20Review%20of%20Immigration%20Policy%20and%20Proposals%20for%20Legislative%20Reform.pdf. I have not read it yet, but will aim to over coming days. I urge you to do likewise. Comments may be sent by emailing gapplewhaite@barbados.gov.bb.
I have commented before about the Government's approach of putting the cart before the horse by announcing in May a revision to an amnesty for non-Caricom undocumented immigrants but without any context of the overall policy framework within which that was operating or could be seen. Now, a mere 6 months later, we get the policy framework. A lot of confusion and animosity has been generated by doing things this way, and the damage that caused may be hard to repair. I would like to give the Government credit for getting its act together, but I have to hold back as I wonder how supposedly smart people can act as if they are just arriving in the world for the first time. Maybe it's a result of being out of power for a long time, but I think that would be unduly generous an interpretation.
The debates on immigration now have more meat on which to bite and hungry mouths should be well satisfied.
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1 comment:
Migration is ageless and still ever present. As I mother winter arrives, fish and birds are currently seeking alternative places of rest. The Nomads, the people of Israel, the Greeks and Italians have all changed residences at some point in time. Lawn Tennis and Basketball in America, Soccer in England and the breadfruit tree from Africa too have had their own particular experience. So why is Immigration in America such a big political football? Isn’t immigration, like migration a natural response to need and a change in circumstances? Why is a “policy” the preferred response presumed human instinct? Why are we afraid of the flow of the water in the river? It is going to take the path of least resistance what ever we do? Long before the politics of today, expedience or common sense degrees that it would be better to share the experience of sugar boilers between Barbados and then, British Guyana. This adjustment of calendar for reaping canes had other consequences. The cricket seasons of the countries became different. I do not know if people complained then, but I hear none today about seasons. And even if we were not around yesteryear, Barbadians should note that for every new beach we create the sands of times robs some brother or sister of their beloved beach cove. Yes, we need to keep our beaches clean. Yes we need immigration policies, but not at the expense of cooperation. If Barbados now have a surplus in Education capital, shouldn’t that also be part of the Green Paper? Unless progress has made forget that we still reap what we have
sown.
Walter Edey
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