After being detained by immigration authorities for more than 3 months, the whereabouts of a Bahamian-born man, Jean Rony Jean-Charles, are unknown and his lawyer has been denied access to the detention centre where he was being held.
Bahamian immigration officials detained Jean Rony Jean-Charles, a Bahamian man born to foreign parents. Neither his family nor lawyers have seen him since the second week of November. On 4 December officials at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre denied access to Jean Rony Jean-Charles’ lawyer, Fred Smith QC. When he returned again on 5 December they informed him that his client had been “deported” from the Bahamas on 24 November.
According to Fred Smith QC, authorities have not provided him with a deportation order. In accordance with international standards, any deportation procedures must ensure individual assessment of each case, provide individuals with deportation orders in writing, and allow individuals to challenge their deportation before an independent court of law.
According to an affidavit by Jean Rony Jean-Charles’ relative as part of a writ of habeas corpus, in which they also annexed a certified copy of his birth certificate, Jean-Charles was born in the Bahamas and has lived in the country all his life. This gives him the constitutional right to apply and be registered as a citizen. According to Fred Smith QC, the Bahamian authorities have not charged Jean Rony Jean-Charles with any crime.
