Comments on: Minister: Immigration Appeal Body Needed

By: Hmmmmm

Hmmmmm — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:44:02 +0000

I know its hard, but this thing has been around since the the beginning of Cabinet Government. The UBP did it too. The PLP just happens to be fixing it. By the way, how do you “overrule advice”? By its very nature, advice can be accepted or rejected. That’s the deal; civil servants advise, Ministers decide. Its been that way for hundreds of years.

By: joe

joe — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:08:50 +0000

The Minister is trying,but I feaar most of this is electioneering. The PLP policy makers are scrambling to pull the party back to the center in a desperate bid to bolster popularity but I do not believe that those still pulling strings have any commitment to this and other, recent proposed changes.

By: Blankman

Blankman — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:36:29 +0000

Who exactly is going to appoint this “independent” Tribunal? The same people that appointed Laverne to the Human Rights Commission?

By: 32n64w

32n64w — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:18:13 +0000

“In fact, our Constitution demands that such a Tribunal be independent of the Executive. The Court has found that the Cabinet Appeal Tribunal, comprised as it is of Ministers of the Government, simply does not comply with that Constitutional requirement.”

So the PLP have been acting in direct contravention to the Constitution (not the first time mind you, let us not forget the Uighurs secretive, back-door arrival and subsequent misrepresentations to Parliament regarding erroneous security clearances). Are we really surprised here? This is the same Government that habitually ignores best practice, overrules the advice of the civil service and walks over the Planning Code.

Does this mean all prior rulings of the earlier Minister(s) wherein applications were denied (often at the personal and political whim of a single unelected individual) will be put aside and the Government proactively review any related requests to revisit earlier decisions?

By: Case gone Wrong

Case gone Wrong — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:31:30 +0000

Oh I so Agree, very much! HM Customs are a disgrace. Im starting to think that maybe foreigers should have the job, because there is no way a bermudian should be treating me like im scum upon the earth. Sometimes coming home after years of being away from the island, I think im in the CONGO or better Yet in Nigeria or something. They might as well point a gun to my head ad check my bags because the way they treat my family and other i’ve seen is a disgrace to Bermudians. Distasteful Custom Officers!

By: US Observer

US Observer — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:12:14 +0000

Interesting!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:46:22 +0000

I have had a status application on the Minister’s desk for three years – yes, I said “three years”! This is AFTER a judge in the Supreme Court (the highest court in Bermuda) ordered the Minister to review it again according to the law.

If the Minister can’t follow a Supreme Court judge’s mandate, which in my case was blatantly ignored, what makes us think the Minister will follow the decision of an independent body of persons who wish to serve as a tribunal? The Minister’s powers are too strong in the matters of immigration and, in my opinion, should not be able to override the tribunal or, for that matter, the Supreme Court of law!

By: Truth is killin' me...

Truth is killin' me... — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:49:12 +0000

Sounds good Wayne. While you’re at it you need to table the H.M. Bermuda Customs Amendment Act 2011 for any individulas aggrieved by their “due process” as they welcome back locals and tourists alike. They need some serious training in this area and this “God” mentallity that they have has got to go! There needs to be a separate complaints authority set up that is independent of them. They have no compassion and the drugs and guns are still getting in…sometimes even being carried out by their OWN!