A local human rights group has called for an amnesty period in which undocumented migrants living in The Bahamas without legal status can voluntarily repatriate before immigration officials proceed with a "fair and humane" enforcement of immigration law.

Joe Darville, vice president of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA), said this amnesty period could be facilitated through cooperation between human rights advocates and immigration authorities. A comprehensive, archipelago-wide public information program would be critical as a supporting measure, he added.

In a "Ten Point Plan" for immigration enforcement prepared by the human rights group, which has been sharply critical of the manner in which the government is engaged in immigration enforcement in recent weeks, Darville said costs of the voluntary repatriation of any people who come forward during this time to their countries of origin could be shared between those individuals themselves, the Department of Immigration, and businesses which have employed the undocumented workers in The Bahamas.

"Many of these persons, who have been here for some time, may have accumulated good sums of money and should be able to partially fund their return to Haiti," he said.

As a way forward that could mitigate any rights abuses as the government moves to address immigration violations, Darville charged that this amnesty period should be two months in length, a period of time which would allow "all undocumented people to leave voluntarily". Those who may have status should declare this, in case they have permission to remain in The Bahamas.

The GBHRA vice president further called for a full documenting of all people who may not have, or claim status, as a step towards improving the management of the country's immigrant population.

His comments come as tensions have risen over the manner in which the government has pursued the enforcement of immigration rules, announced in mid-September and coming into effect on November 1, with the government hitting back vehemently against claims that the initiative has led to human rights abuses by officials of the Department of Immigration against vulnerable migrants in The Bahamas.

Dozens of people have come forward to provide testimonials to the GBHRA alleging wrongful detention and mistreatment at the hands of immigration officials and within the country's main immigration holding facility in the wake of the government's harsh new immigration enforcement policy.
Fred Smith Q.C., president of the GBHRA, noted recently that several who have been held at the detention center compared it to "Auschwitz or similar horrors from history’s darkest moments”.

"Together, these testimonials paint a picture of a concentration camp where there is inedible food, insufficient water and shelter, and where verbal, mental and physical abuse are endemic," said Smith.

Faced with criticisms, the government has conceded that it is seeking additional space to hold migrant women with children, amid complaints that besides other deprivations these migrants have been contained in groups in the center among a general population that includes men.

Darville suggested the amnesty period should be coordinated by special committees of human rights advocates, in conjunction with a plain-clothed senior immigration official.

"After this period of amnesty and voluntary repatriation, immigration should be free to carry out its usual checks for undocumented persons, again in a fair and humane manner. However, the life of the special committee, appointed by the Minister (of Immigration), will continue its' work for an additional period of one month, for the benefit of those who may still wish to come forward voluntarily.”

Darville noted that an immigration amnesty period was undertaken successfully in the 1970s, having been organized by the GBHRA "under the watchful eye" of immigration officials.

"Hundreds of Haitians voluntarily choose this path rather than being arrested and put into prison, where they were separated from their children who were put into juvenile correction facilities," said Darville.

The human rights advocate suggested that the committee put together to coordinate the amnesty and voluntary repatriation should be provided with a place to do its work, a paid secretary, and would be set up on each island "where there are significantly large groups of undocumented aliens.”

"As soon as the minister and Cabinet approve this or any other similar plan, we move full force ahead to carry out this work in a dignified, humane and Christ-like manner, mindful of the sacred lives and circumstances of all these children of God, irrespective of how they happen to be present here," he urged.