TROY Braithwaite’s letter headed ‘Barbadians stand firm with Prime Minister Thompson on his new immigration policy’ in the Stabroek News of June 3, 2009 is an unwarranted and scurrilous attack on Guyana and Guyanese. This generosity to promote unpatriotism is generally rejected by other nationals and their media.

Former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s open door immigration policy was against his consciousness and understanding of the Guyana legacy which accommodated in the past thousands of Bajans who worked in the plantations and other industries in Guyana to eke out a living.

Mr. Braithwaite’s arrogance cannot stand up to a factual analysis of the benefits of the Guyanese contribution to Barbadians that massively outweigh the mostly perceived negatives. Those Bajans who are honest may well find that their fear of Guyanese has little to do with possible criminal intent and everything to do with our unrelenting ambition and aggression in the Bajan job market.

The population of Barbados is so dependent on visitors from other countries that the campaign against Owen Arthur’s open-door immigration policy will fail. Most Barbadians will be hard put to earn a living without tourists from other countries and Mr. Brathwaite should remember this fact of patrimony and that 10 per cent of Whites own 80 per cent of the assets of the island.

In Guyana, at least Guyanese own the majority of the assets and former Prime Minister Arthur was at least honest and frank enough to recognize the refuge and succor Guyana provided to Barbadians in the past.

Guyana has and will continue to open its arms to the people of the community and the government has remained steadfast to the ideals of regional integration.

Regrettably, the current administration in Barbados and governments in some other CARICOM states seem unwilling to reciprocate and Mr. Brathwaite is among those pushing the jingoist line.

Barbadians must begin to accept the fact that free trade and open borders are to their utmost benefit. By embracing the philosophy of free immigration and free labour mobility, there is benefit from the productivity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship not only of those within borders, but also of those from without. Expanding the division of labor into the international marketplace makes available a vastly enlarged array of resources, thus enhancing the living standards of everyone.

Guyanese often use the Hindi term `Neemak Haraam’ to refer to ingrates and the ilk of Mr. Brathwaite falls easily into this category.
TODD MORGAN