One of the hot button political issues in The Bahamas is illegal Immigration.  It is fair to conclude that successive administrations over the last twenty years have not been successful in dealing with the problem.
   While there were sporadic attempts recently, the lack of consistency in apprehending and deporting illegal immigrants, there is a growing population of  illegal Haitian nationals in The Bahamas.
    In Abaco, Haitians now outnumber Bahamians. On Russell Island off Spanish Wells
in North Eleuthera, the Haitian population has grown. In North Andros, most of the farmers are Haitian immigrants. There is also a large enclave  in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama. Throughout the southern section of New Providence, in places  off Carmichael and Fire Trail Roads, Haitians settlers abound and their children in some instances are in the majority of primary and secondary schools. Medical Clinics  are  dominated  Haitians.
   Even though there has been a slight increase in unemployment in the country, it is clear that certain categories of the labour force are also dominated by Haitian nationals. Indeed the economy of The Bahamas is heavily dependent on these individuals. But they should possess work permits.
   While many Bahamians are xenophobic, there is a real fear among the population that the country is being overrun. It could be argued that this is only perception. However in politics and real life experiences, perception for many is reality.
  The present administration has responded to public demands to demolish several so-called Shantytowns  developed  by Haitians over the last two years, but many more remain.
   The authorities must show Bahamians that they are more pro-active and intentional in dealing with illegal immigration. At the same time, the children of Haitian nationals who were born in The Bahamas and who have been living in the islands for decades must be properly integrated and regularized.
   It is simply not their fault that the government has been slack or inattentive on matters of immigration. The backlog of applications for Permanent Residency or Citizenship is a national disgrace.  No serious attempt has been made in reducing this vexing problem for many years. This has led to allegations of official corruption and misconduct in the Department of Immigration.
   The present political situation and socio-economic conditions in Haiti have exacerbated the immigration challenges for The Bahamas.
  The cultural divide  between the francophone blacks of Haiti and the more ethnically mixed anglophone Bahamians only became a problem after the mid-twentieth century, once the contrast between Bahamians prosperity and labour shortages and Haitian overpopulation, poverty and political turmoil led to a flood of illegal migration. By the end of the century, with first, second and even third generation Haitian residents constituting a sixth of all persons living in The Bahamas, the problems of economic, social and cultural interrelationships,and the degree to which integration was feasible, had become critical.
   Bahamians were always hesitant to accept refugees from the frequent political turmoils in Haiti, or the economic migrants who might compete  with native Bahamians (as well as bringing a culture regarded as alien.)
  In many areas of The Bahamas we are witnessing the Haitianization of Bahamian culture. This is not sitting well with tens of thousands of Bahamians who see environmental degradation similar to many parts of Haiti. This is unacceptable and again it is due to a serious lack of enforcement of environmental laws in The Bahamas.
   The Bahamian people are demanding the type of action  seen in the mid 1980s when Cabinet Minister, the late Loftus  Roker pursued draconian policy  with much public support to repatriate illegal immigrants.  While some of this is presently being done, the government must put on more speed in this regard.