VZCZCXYZ0026
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0663/01 1492104
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 292104Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4296
INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN 0090
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5608
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3668
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8538
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3547
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4708
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2827
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0458

UNCLAS NASSAU 000663 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RANDALL BUDDEN, PRM JESSICA YUTACOM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF SMIG BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REQUEST FOR 2007 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR 
REFUGEES 
 
REF: A. STATE 27884 
     ¶B. 06 NASSAU 657 
     ¶C. 05 NASSAU 454 
     ¶D. 04 NASSAU 2336 
     ¶E. 06 NASSAU 1840 
 
¶1.  Embassy Nassau requests $20,000 for the Bahamas Human 
Rights Network for the development of a documentary film 
regarding the plight of stateless Haitian Migrants in The 
Bahamas (reftel A).  The documentary would film a planned 
public forum on restricted rights of migrants in the Mud and 
Pigeon Pea areas of Abaco, The Bahamas, then follow up with 
individual interviews of several stateless members of the 
Haitian community. 
 
¶2.  According to a 2006 IOM study, there are an estimated 
30,000-60,000 Haitians in The Bahamas who "are not well 
integrated into Bahamian society."  The study found distrust 
of authority by the Haitian community and claims of abuse of 
Haitians.  As stated in the 2006 Country Reports on Human 
Rights Practices in The Bahamas (HRR), "anti-Haitian 
prejudice and resentment regarding continued Haitian 
migration was common."  Bahamian law enforcement has adopted 
increasingly harsh tactics to address growing migrant 
populations, including midnight raids of Haitian communities 
with questionable legal justification (reftel B).  Because of 
the concentration of Haitian migrants, The Mud and Pigeon Pea 
are particular areas of serious ongoing concern in The 
Bahamas. 
 
¶3.  The 2006 HRR also states: "children born to non-Bahamian 
parents or to a Bahamian mother and a non-Bahamian father do 
not automatically acquire citizenship.  Locally born persons 
of foreign heritage must apply for citizenship during the 
year after their 18th birthday, sometimes waiting for many 
years for a government response.  Some persons claimed that 
the short window for application, difficult documentary 
requirements, and the long waiting times created generations 
of persons without citizenship in any nation."  According to 
local reports, the issue of statelessness is creating 
mounting dissatisfaction among young Haitian-Bahamians, 
leading to tensions in the migrant communities and the 
potential for a repeat of violence seen in past years 
(reftels C and D.) 
 
¶4.  To address these concerns, Post consulted with several 
local NGO's and The Bahamian Department of Immigration. 
There is consensus that there is a lack of understanding and 
empathy in Bahamian attitudes towards Haitian migrants, 
including a lack of understanding of the issue of 
statelessness and the importance of basic human rights for 
all persons regardless of place of origin.  The Bahamas Human 
Rights Network (BHRN) has listed public awareness of 
statelessness and migrant rights issues as a top local 
priority.  BHRN has requested funding to produce a 
documentary on the issue. 
 
¶5.  The documentary project is intended to open Haitian 
communities currently closed to the Bahamian public at large, 
showing the hardship and prejudice faced by stateless 
Haitians living in The Bahamas.  Its goal is a better 
national understanding of the value of human rights for 
migrants and stateless persons, reducing the potential for 
violence in the Haitian communities.  The documentary will 
film a public forum to be held by BHRN in the Mud and Pigeon 
Pea, entitled "Shackled Freedom:  Immigrant Communities in 
Crisis" and focus on personal interviews with selected 
persons born and living in The Bahamas without citizenship in 
any nation.  The documentary would be aired on local 
television, presented at a publicized local showing, and used 
as part of BHRN's ongoing educational activities. 
 
¶6.  BHRN was established in 2006 as a result of significant 
post effort and the funding of the 2006 Ambassador's Fund for 
Refugees (reftel E).  BHRN is the leading Bahamian NGO 
supporting human rights for Haitians.  BHRN would be the 
grantee and producer of the film, supported by Highway Video, 
a U.S.-based production company that has produced 
documentaries on topics including the child sex trade, world 
hunger and Hurricane Katrina.  Highway Video has tentatively 
agreed to the proposed project and a $20,000 budget for 
travel, filming and complete post-production, assuming 
 
significant cost to support the project.  The tentative 
budget is as follows: 
 
Air and lodging for production team:  $4500 
Local permitting: $500 
Film, lighting and other supplies:  $3500 
Filming and on-site production costs: $3000 
Post-production and printing:  $4500 
Promotion and distribution:  $5000 
 
¶7.  Post certifies that it has the authority and capacity to 
award a grant to the intended recipient before the end of the 
fiscal year.  Post has consulted the appropriate watch lists 
and NGO guidelines and determined that the intended recipient 
is appropriate for the grant.  The intended recipient, BHRN, 
currently conducts no direct refugee assistance programs 
providing opportunity for sexual exploitation related to IASC 
concerns, and does not therefore have a code of conduct 
specifically prohibiting such activities.  If required as a 
condition of receiving a grant, despite its lack of 
IASC-related work, BHRN has agreed to adopt a code of conduct 
reflecting IASC's six core principles at its next meeting. 
 
¶8.  Post point of contact is Gregory A. Floyd, 242-322-1181 
ext 4510, floydga@state.gov. 
HARDT