Torchbearers Youth Association First Vice President Gabrielle McKenzie suggested that the government should learn from other countries and choose its immigrants wisely.  

Ms. McKenzie shared her views on immigration yesterday during Love 97’s Jones and Co. radio talk show.

“Canada only accepts the best and the brightest. We go around and compare different countries. While their demographics may be a little different, we look at different policies that we can possibly take and pull from,” she said. 

“They don’t just take anyone. Anyone isn’t just going to drop on the doorstep of Canada and say, ‘Listen, I’m going to be a Canadian.’ They want the brightest and the best and people that will impact and build that country up. I believe that should be the same case here.”

Ms. McKenzie said while she sympathizes with the plight of illegal immigrants in the country, she said Bahamians ultimately fund their citizenship endeavors without knowledge of what they bring to the proverbial table.  

“We don’t know if they are going to be contributing to society. Are they going to be the doctors that we need? Are they going to fill the teachers gap that we need? Will they be the nurses that we need?” she said. 

“Will they contribute to the crime aspect of the economy? I’m not saying that they do.”

As for those born in The Bahamas to foreign parents, Ms. Mckenzie suggested revamping the process to accommodate those entering the job market, as the law requires these people to apply for citizenship at the age of 18. 

“Persons are saying they have already been here and they have to wait until they are 18. Then they say that they don’t get accepted until 21, which keeps them from finding a job,” she explained. 

“Maybe that process needs to be looked at for that grouping of persons.”