Embassy Events

The Bahamas Human Rights Networks receives $20,000 grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees

August 2, 2007

On August 2, U.S. Chargè d’Affaires, Dr. Brent Hardt presented $20,000 to The Bahamas Human Rights Network (BHRN).  BHRN was established in 2006 as a result of Embassy assistance through the Ambassador's Fund for Refugees and is the leading Bahamian NGO supporting human rights for Haitians.  The monies will be used for an independent video documentary on potentially stateless Haitian Migrants and their children in The Bahamas.  Filming has already been completed in what is known as the Mud and Pigeon Pea on Abaco -- areas of concern because of the concentration of Haitian migrants in those communities. 

In making the presentation, Dr. Hardt noted: “The United States is at the forefront in international efforts to enhance human rights and the dignity of every man, woman and child throughout the world.  Here at Embassy Nassau, we are determined to do our part to contribute to the President’s priority of advancing the dignity of mankind.”  He added: “It is our hope that a better understanding of the plight of these people will increase the national understanding of their situation and hopefully stimulate the national dialogue on how to address the problem of stateless individuals with a view to integrating them in ways that will allow them to contribute more to Bahamian society”.

BHRN is 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.  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. 

Elsworth Johnson, Acting President of BHRN accepted the grant and thanked the U.S. Embassy for its ongoing support.  He stated why the documentary focuses on the Pigeon Pea and the Mud in Abaco: “The reason why we selected those communities is because they are a reflection of some of the problems we see in the immigrant communities and we want to encourage discussion to find out the interests of these individuals and see if we can assist with guaranteeing them basic fundamental rights.”   The documentary will be aired on local television, presented at a publicized local showing, and used as part of BHRN's ongoing educational activities.

Caption:  Acting President of The Bahamas Human Rights Network, Elsworth Johnson, BHRN Treasurer Clint Kemp, BHRN Secretary Erin Green, and U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Dr. Brent Hardt at the U.S. Embassy.