According to Barbados’ Nation News, the Canadian government intends to revoke the citizenship of at least 1,800 Vincentians and other Caribbean immigrants who allegedly used fraudulent means to become Canadians.
Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said, “Sadly, there is an industry of what we call unscrupulous agents operating around the world who sell advice on how to take advantage of Canada to break our laws,” explaining that most of the targeted individuals were counseled by “crooked immigration consultants” on how to concoct fake proof of residency in Canada. He added that “there are some people – thankfully, I think a small minority – who are prepared to pay big money in order to falsely obtain Canadian citizenship.” By launching this enforcement action, Kenney said Ottawa is “sending the message that Canadian citizenship is not for sale.”
In a recent exposé, The Toronto Star, under the caption, “SVG – Is this Caribbean Idyll the Worst Place in the World to be a Woman,” said that the majority of Vincentians flocking to Canada, seeking refugee status, are women, who, it appears, are “fleeing domestic violence.” The paper said that while Hungary, China, Namibia, Colombia and Mexico are among the top 10 countries from which refugee claims to Canada are made, “one of the world’s tiniest nations has started appearing on the list, a place many Canadians couldn’t find on a map: St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
The Star said that, last year, 710 Vincentians sought asylum in Canada, up from only 179 in 2001, and that, over the past decade, it adds up to more than 4,500 refugee claimants — “or 4.3 per cent of the tiny Caribbean archipelago’s population. “Proportionally, it’s as if the entire populations of Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador were to flee Canada,” the paper said.
“Last year, this ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’ ranked 8th in the world for refugee claims to Canada, surpassing India (population 1.2 billion) and Pakistan (population 187 million). The population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines? An estimated 104,000,” it added.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs, has cautioned that increasing claims for asylum in Canada could result in that country revisiting its immigration policy with Kingstown. “What will change is that if Vincentians continue to make these false claims, the whole country will suffer, because Canada will require visas, which they don’t require at the moment.”
For original article, see http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/canada-to-revoke-citizenship/
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By: Canada’s Black Population « ELLIOT LAKE News & Views on December 19, 2011
at 3:33 pm
wow
By: Honeysha Campbell on December 21, 2011
at 10:22 am
For a link of the true news release and not the crap modified here, go to this link direct from the Citizenship & Immigration Canada released back in July.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2011/2011-07-27.asp
Or try typing into Google “Canada to revoke citizenship”
By: Vincentian Canadian on December 21, 2011
at 12:08 pm
It was only a matter of time before this happen. I often wonder why immigrations lawyers etc. have to mislead vulnerable vincentians to believe that this is alright.The Canadian government is not stupid, and like the Prime Minister said, this will hurt relationships with Canada and will also hurt the innocent – Peter will pay for Paul.
By: Ann-Marie on December 21, 2011
at 1:28 pm
Why does it have to be a problem if someone feels comfortable ina country and wants to live there,once the person is not involved in any illegal stuff and is not a burden to the state?as far as I know the Caribbean does not have alot to offer to their populance,in St Vincent and the Grenadines there aren’t many jobs here is so much poverty and selfishness among the people,its a dog eat dog situation there,the people who are well off do not care about the less fortunate,so if someone gets the opportunity to live,work or go to school in Canada whats the big deal.Everyone is looking for golden opportunties especially for their children so what? I agree with the lady who says SVG is full of violence against our womenfolk,every week there is a killing based mostly on domestic despute,women have no where to turn to,there is no shelter to protect them,the police will tell you its a domestic problem go home and sort it out,the next thing you know is that the woman is dead,it has happened in the past and it is still happenning so what do we do?do we take the law into our own hands as some of our women have already done?those who have done so are incaserated some of them are on remand for as long as 3 years and have their children outside suffering,homes and families have been uprooted due to this,The Prime Minister is talking about about the situation as if he does not know what is going on in SVG,he is aware of all the violence against women,he knows about all the rape cases,the unsolved murders,the negligence of the policemen when it comes to a woman reporting a beating by her husband or boyfriend,what is he doing about all this?why is he so defensive ?he prefers to turn a deaf ear or blind eye and see our women and children suffer? come on Mr Prime minister have a heart ,you have a wife and daughters too,just remember that..The Canadian government should use empathy and help our women,its not all of the refugee claims are fraud,there are many genuine cases which need to be granted status,the women are skilled and can help to contribute to furter development of your country,and their children need to be given a fair chance and an opportunity to live comfortable.Your country is well known for your high concerns about women and children;PLEASE GIVE OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN A CHANCE TO PROVE THEIR WORTH.THE GOOD LORD WILL BLESS YOU FOR THIS.
By: timaca on December 21, 2011
at 1:34 pm
Timaca I really do agree with what u said I couldn’t put it ant better ?
By: nik on December 21, 2011
at 7:04 pm
I agree with the majority of what you have said because you made some salient points that many has overlooked. While there are some cons to the entire situation, the pros are more so the stronghold of the argument. If it has to come down to visa implementation, I have no problem with that. It is done for many countries already and so what? at least it will impose some restrictions, but the good thing about it is that it can help sort the genuine cases of where help is more so needed. And one positive thing that can come about because of this is where the Canadian authorities or some humanitarian organisation would heed the cries ,or take a keen interest in the cases of vilolence against women in our country and implement some initiatives or at least start getting the wheels rolling. Yes am aware of the cons of the more so fraudalaunt cases and the dire consequences involved not only for the country as a whole but for the innocent hardworking, citizens of SVG, but with all things the bad must be exposed for the good to be realized and harnessed!
By: Gailene on December 23, 2011
at 7:37 am
Yes there is domestic violence against woman in st vincent as in any other country but it is not half as bad as the vencentian ladies make it seem.The ladies who do those thing are ladies just look for an easy way out they don’t want to work at all,all they want to do is sit around home all day and waste time .So these ladies come to canada with the advice of some stupid person they create these false allegation of domestic violence.My country ST Vincent is a paradise and these ladies are spoiling the reputation of my beloved country
By: kwaanza phillips on December 21, 2011
at 5:00 pm
agreed
By: Jennifer on December 28, 2011
at 12:46 pm
Some of these women brought on the situation on themselves. Another thing they have no reports or claims to substantiate their reports. Telling lies. Tell them to Leave the Prime Minister alone. His/our Country has a reputation to maintain and a dignity to uphold. He’s correct in his thinking an his idealogies are honest. Give him a chnce Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
By: Jennifer on December 28, 2011
at 12:50 pm
Timaca, thank you for your contribution however, there is an alternative route which requires a certain level of education and experience and I, even you, know that the majority of the claimants would not qualify.
There is a case where a person tried to obtain status using the common law relationship method but later filed using abuse of a former partner 10 years prior to the sour common law relationship. This is an abuse of the good natured Canadian system.
By: pelan on December 21, 2011
at 5:15 pm
This discussion is interesting. Timaca I hear you but I think you are more emotional than factual, you stated “every week there is a killing in SVG based on domestic violence”!! WOW! where did you get that information from? There are 52 weeks in the year…This year we have had about 20 homicides…and all are not related to domestic violence…SVG actually has a much lower homicide rate than many other CARICOM countries! e.g check St Kitts.”they have more than 30 with a population of approx 37000! that would be equivalent to SVG having like 80″!!! …..however every homicide is one too many and ideally we would certainly love that there be zero…but we live in a real world. Is the domestic violence situation in SVG really any worse than other Caribbean countries?…I really dont know…it would require some research and even data that is recorded often does not relfect the true story. I know that Vincentians try to stay in Canada and use many ways of doing so including engaging “dubious immigration consultants” who really are just trying to make money however they can. It quite often involves the use of false information…The Canadians are aware of it too. However if the trend continues they may seriously consider putting in place Visa requirements for Vincies wanting to go to Canada. Who will or should be blamed for such an eventuality?…I do hope that all concerned get aware of the consequences of their actions.
I must admit though that we need to check why SVG has such a proportionately high amount of assylum seekers in Canada. Is there a “ring” of advisors targetting vulnerable vincies?..really dont know…
Best wishes to all for a more productive, healthy and prosperous 2012. Let us all do some introspection and see what we can do at an individual, family and community level to prepare ourselves to confront the many challenges that lie ahead…and try not to blame others for what quite often are our own actions!! God bless!
By: Doug S on December 29, 2011
at 10:57 am