Central Basseterre parliamentary representative Marcella Liburd has issued a statement on behalf of the SKNLP concerning the Saturday/Sunday raid and subsequent detention of persons from the Latino community by Immigration Officials.
Liburd said the SKNLP “sadly recognizes that on the eve of the highly publicized Latin Festival, our nation continues to be affected by the insensitive, uncaring and inhumane treatment to Latin American & Caribbean brothers and sisters by the Dr Timothy Harris led Team Unity Administration.
“The spectra of deportation squads knocking on doors in the middle of the night and hauling residents out of their houses to unknown destinations for them to prove legal residence is not what Kittitians & Nevisians are all about.” Liburd further highlighted the mistrust and fear of children left behind as their families were taken away to unknown destinations.
Liburd said the decision to round up the Latin illegals could not have come at a worse time. She pointed out the net effect would be to mar the proceedings of the Latin Fest Night and have further negative impacts on tourism as it relates to the Latin Community.
Liburd acknowledged that nationals of SKN are making a living in other countries in an effort to make ends meet. Insert here. Liburd appeal to officials of the High Command to treat the detained humanely allowing family visits to attend to their physical and medical needs And called on the Team Unity Government to release the detainers “unless specifically charged” and allow them to regularize their status as CARICOM nationals over the deportation they now face, the press release concluded.
Freedom Fm spoke to Inspector Jacklyn Browne, the Officer in charge of Immigration and who supervised the operation on Saturday. Inspector Browne declined comment but told Freedom Fm Newsdesk that an official release on this matter would be issued later on Monday.
Freedom Fm spoke to Mr Jose Rosa the President of the St. Kitts Chamber of Industry and Commerce who confirmed that round up but indicated that the raid did not take place at the Latin Fest grounds. Rosa said as President of the Latin Fest he was busy and spoke to COP Ian Queeley, but maintained that no one was detained at Latin Fest 2016. Speaking to Jose Rosa and not as the Director of Chamber of Industry & Commerce (CIC), Rosa said it was the first time he had heard of illegal Latinos being picked up, but “we have rules and regulations in SKN and the police have their job to do”.