BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN the first edition of our new column (What If?), the response was great and, as expected, varies from for and against to political motive and harassment.
The topic was based on the operation launched in Nevis on Friday (Mar. 12) by members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force to rid the island of illegal immigrants and the manner in which it was done. And the question asked was, “What if all nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis residing and working in foreign countries are asked to leave?”
One individual, JENEKE, whose Screen Name is given as POOR SKB, commented…“One word comes to mind when i read this – OVERPOPULATED.” But John Smithen is of the view that…“What’s ironic is that there are more born citizens of the federation living outside the federation than who are currently living there.”
Approximately 24 percent of those who sent comments saw the situation from a political perspective. An individual who gave their Screen Name as ITS ALL A POLITICAL GAME, said, “This is pure politics and we all know. The lady who took the pic on election day suffered because she spoke out. The politicians are afraid that these Guyanese or Dominicans will unite and start talking about what these corrupted politicians or the staunch supporters have done to get votes for their parties. That was unfair for human beings to go tru such humiliation. If everybody from SKN who is living abroad and working have to be sent home, we will suffer big time.”
Cecil Farrell (Screen Name Home Boy) said, “Everyone want to have a better life and enjoyed it to the fullest, so if one have to travel outside of their place of birth to get that opportunity so be it, as long as they abide by the Law of the Land. Politicians need to act as politicians and not as children. When it is convenient for them it is alright, but when it is not they act as a beast. We as Nevisians have spread our wings all over the world and our little island have benefitted because of our contributions that we have send back home.”
Weighing in on the political perspective, Thunder (Screen Name Peace) posited, “I personally think that this is politically motivated, its amazing how we can take up 10 or more police officers to embarrass the non nationals in our country, but yet we hear them saying that there is not enough officers in the police force to do street patrols in order to prevent all the crimes that has been plaguing our islands. I mean come on, the government is in control of our country they know who comes in and out so therefore if they taught that persons were here illegally, there was a simple method for that, they should have records that they can check, they know the persons that the issued work permits to those that is pending and those that was denied, unless they not doing their jobs and thats the only means on finding out. We have out nationals all over the world out there trying to make a living I am sure that almost if not everyone has someone overseas who is trying to make a living, and thats all that these people are doing trying to make a living, whats so wrong with that? In the end this is going to come back and bite us in the ass, we have to look at the long end of the stick what happens when our people starts applying for visas and are denied, our people who are applying for school overseas and are denied, we depend solely on tourism now, what happens when these people hear of our corruptions, then what?? Its amazing how a small twin island like that can be so caught up with politics, May God have Mercy on their soul!!”
And another, whose Screen Name given is non national, wrote, “I think it is a political spree election in nevis is upcoming and it appears that someone feels that these non nationals will vote for the opposition but it might back fire because by now these non nationals would hv gotten friends and relationships and it no way u can treat ppl so and expect the other ppl in their immediate circle to vote for u after u hv done their friends like this ok.”
Contrary to these comments, and rightly so, Onika, whose Screen Name given is Lady M, said, “If you don't have the proper documents to reside in a country for an extended period then so be it, you leave. But if you possess the proper documents and you commit no crime then you stay.”
However, Yolanda - Screen Name Nubian Queen – sent a stronger message: “If nationals of the federation has no legal status in another man land then they should not be there and if they get caught they should be sent back.”
One individual claims that he/she is no stranger to the recent treatment meted out to the non-nationals in Nevis, but decried the time in which it was done. That person - Tash, with Screen Name ‘Talk de tings dem’ – singled out St. Maarten as an example.
Tash said, “St. Maarten police do us that All the time. I remember in 2008 I was in S.M an the (Johndam) police stopped me. I did not have my travel documents, they transported me to de hotel so I could show them. I was never more humiliATED in my life!!! They chase us from S.M all de time. So sad they had to wait til after election to do it.”
Strupes also spoke about similar activities in Tortola and claims that Caribbean peoples discriminate against their own: “You never been to Tortola, dude this happens all the time. Not just to SK or Nevis people, but all 'downisland people'. This is nothing new, Tortola, throw it in your face everyday. I am not saying it is right, but it is becoming a common thing for Caribbean people to discriminate against their own more than any other nations.”
On the other hand, big B, with Screen Name ‘big’, empathises with the non-nationals and blames the law enforcement body for not competently undertaking its duty. “The way these people were illegally rounded up speaks to the incompetence of the police and the deep seethed political corruption that’s plaguing the federation. I’m a citizen living abroad and this type of operation which has no legal legs to stand on could have never unfolded here without serious repercussions by both the judicial system and the community at large. Shame is an understatement as to how I feel about this situation.”
Simba Warner too empathises with the non-nationals. Warner claims that systems and measures should have been in place to control illegal entry into the Federation. He also questions the purpose of CARICOM.
“I think it’s a disgrace for what’s happening to the foreign nationals on the islands. There should have been a data base and equipments already given to security forces and measure should have already been in practice ages ago to control illegal entries. ALL caricom member states should be allow to travel and work anywhere they want in the caribbean community. Revenue will flow between countries easily and taxes wouldn’t be that high. Here in the UK/Europe the EU laws allow all Europeans EU citizens to travel visa free in any EU country and work as well, so why can’t this be done for the islands since it’s a so called caribbean community. CARICOM...It only shows that the politicians are playing with people life and the representatives of the government are doing the same. Remember St. Kitts/Nevis nationals are immigrants in other countries too and they do struggle and fight hard just to make a living in order to come back to ST.KITTS/NEVIS to invest and big up the REVENUE as well. Now tell me is there is such a thing call caricom? and what does integration stands for? I think the people needs an answer. So hypocritical,” Warner said.
Three nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis who are residing on foreign lands also empathise with the non-nationals and briefly share their experiences.
Eversley Liburd wrote, “I arrived in NY in '81 with 35 cents and got a job as a teacher. I turned the school into a ‘St. Kitts school’. No one harassed us while we were undocumented and we made a contribution. About 8 Kittitians were on the staff and we taught kids who today are doctors, lawyers, rick rappers, etal. Not only is this unfair but it goes against the agreement of free movement for Caricom Nationals. With shame and sadness I write this comment. As the earth rotates so should its inhabitants. Heaven helps us all.”
Anthony Audin, whose Screen Name is ‘Teacher’, wrote, “I have been a foreigner all of my adult life. I have been ‘home’ for a little less than a year. In response to some of the previous posts I have to say the two wrongs do not make a right!! What happens in Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Croix, The Dominican Republic, the USA, and other nations should not dictate what happens here in our own country. In a time when Europe and other nations are trying to unite it is sad to see that our tiny little countries are still fighting for ‘we own space’.”
And the third overseas-based national who gave his/her Screen Name as ‘Overseas National’ said, “I am a citizen of st. kitts and nevis. Lives in canada on a work permit .Immigration dont pick up anyone once you enter the country, and your Permit expire you has a grace period unto three months to submit your renewal, once your application is in process you are not allowed to leave until the immigration issue your new work permit. if you leave you then break your status. you cannot return to the land until 6 months. In our federation work Permit is too expensive and it only last for a year.”
True Kitty has a different view. This person strongly believes that non-nationals should return to their country of birth, and those who legally reside in the Federation should not be allowed to vote.
“If a citizen of st. kitts & nevis was living in the united states or virgin island they wouldn't be sent back home cause you can't get no work in the US unless you have a green card. Are you use that crap to much for excuse let them go back where they come from, and if they do live in my country they should stay out of our political system come work but don't vote. do you see any kittitian or nevisian running to guyana, cuba or sant domingo to live? We as kittitian do not benefit from this arraignment at all.”
An individual whose Screen Name is given as ‘hmmmm’ sees the situation differently to True Kitty: “As a country we should not treat ppl like this our birthrate in st. kitts is going down because the young ppl running to the states to deliver their babies but these same babies will now be non nationals in st kitts and nevis and suppose they are not allowed in to the schools. jus now more kittitians will start migrating because of the cost of living and imagine u are treated like that.”
While the comments of the above respondents are based on the manner in which the police conducted the operation, their perception of the government’s involvement and why the non-nationals should not be treated in the manner meted out to them, among others, only a few persons addressed the topic in discussion.
Among them is John C. Arthurton (Screen Name jon), who said, “That’s a very interesting scenario and one that would hurt countless families in our federation who rely on families overseas for remittances to support themselves and their families here.”
Sugarfidem said, “…well I would be the first one they round up! On a more serious note, I think as long as these people in question pose no threat to the Country in terms of any degree of lawlessness and the required documents for residency is presented, they should leave these people ALONE! "Every bread must get butter!”
1ouise Chapman (Screen Name 1ouise) said, “What if all the Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis were rounded up and sent home. Where would they live? What job would they get in our fair land the land of their birth. This is a serious situation and we should act and think carefully about this. What if it were our relatives or friends whom we are depending upon to help us out in these serious times. WHAT IF...”
And someone who gave their Screen Name as ‘Fatter 2682’ claims to have held discussions with national from both islands.
Fatter said, “Disaster will catch Nevis. In discussion with some Nevisians and Kittitians after reading this article, a woman said to me ‘Wha Nevisians gon come back here to do? Not even me wha live here all me life going go do agriculture, so Parry better left dem Guyanese cause Nevis nah have money to import food. Lets say all the non-nationals return home and natives have to return here, would they settle for the lower class jobs that are offer to non-nationals. What goes around comes around harder. Just wait.’”
Now that you have read what the respondents had to say, what are your views?
