Minister of Immigration Fred Mitchell said in a statement on Monday that the Department of Immigration is working tirelessly to ensure that law and order prevail in the country.
Minister Mitchell’s statement follows last week’s events surrounding an incident that involved the shooting death of an individual believed to be a part of a migrant community in the Gamble Heights area.
A police vehicle was also damaged when the community reacted adversely to their operations.
“Activists in the country responded to reports in the press that the police have been asked to consider alleged remarks made at a meeting organized with one of the migrant communities in Nassau which may have bordered on incitement,” he said.
“The response from those who organized the meeting was that this was some attempt by the minister to intimidate free speech. That is typical of the kinds of exaggerations in which they often engage.”
Minister Mitchell said this particular area of New Providence is well known by the Department of Immigration, not only for hosting a shanty town of migrants, but as well has been searched on no less than four occasions within the last year and is believed to be occupied unlawfully.
“What is needed is its removal because it is believed that through a combination of artifice, scams, corruption and intimidation, illegal migrants continue to occupy the area without let or hindrance,” he said.
“I reported to the House that at one time it was suspected that those escaping the immigration net in Abaco were making their way to Gamble Heights in New Providence.”
Moving forward the minister expressed that the Department of Immigration is working with the Ministry of Environment to identify resources to accomplish the removal of unlawful settlements.