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MUM CAN STAY
JAMAICAN-BORN Kerry-Ann Riley with her son. (Picture by Donnay Deane)
Published on: 12/5/2009.
by MELISSA ROLLOCK
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT Kerry-Ann Riley will not be deported under any circumstances.
This assurance has come from Gilbert Greaves, permanent secretary in Defence and Security with responsibility for Immigration. It comes after Riley’s plight was highlighted in yesterday’s WEEKEND NATION.
The 30-year-old Jamaican-born mother of five reported that she was prevented from registering her eight-month-old baby back in April after allegedly being told by an employee of the Registration Department that they were no longer registering babies belonging to illegal immigrants “from this year”.
Under the Barbados Constitution, everyone born in Barbados after November 29, 1966, is deemed a citizen by birth.
Riley said that the child’s father was a citizen of Barbados and when she asked if he could register the child, the answer was still “no”. As a result, the baby has no name or legal status. She has four other children ages 13, 12, six, and four who she had no problem registering in the past, she said.
She said she was brought to Barbados at the age of eight and had very little knowledge of her native country.
Yesterday, Riley told the SATURDAY SUN that she was afraid to go back home after a neighbour called her at work yesterday to tell her that immigration officers had visited her residence.
When contacted, Chief Immigration Officer Erine Griffith said she could not discuss the matter with the Press.
However, Greaves said the young mother faced no threat of deportation.
“There is no threat of her being deported. She musn’t be afraid to go back home. She will not under the circumstances be asked to leave. It is as simple as that.
“Nobody is going to put out someone who claims they have five children here and who says she has been living here since she was eight. The department doesn’t do that sort of thing.
“The lady can do two things; she can either come and see me or she can see the chief immigration officer. If she has been residing in the country for 22 years as she claims, then she is entitled to some form of permanent status.
“She would just have to complete the forms and so on and once that is established, the child can be registered,” he explained via telephone from his office at Government Headquarters, Bay Street, St Michael.
Greaves said that Riley would have to pay about $1 000 in total – $200 for the application and $800 for her status.
He added that she would need to produce evidence to show that she went to school in Barbados, which meant she would have to obtain letters from the educational institutions she attended to show she had been residing here “all this time”.
“Once that is proven, she can apply for whatever status she decides. Frankly speaking, she can apply for citizenship. When she comes to us, we will look at her situation and see what can be done,” said Greaves.
Riley’s lawyer Douglas Trotman said he and his client would certainly take up Greaves’ offer.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT Kerry-Ann Riley will not be deported under any circumstances.
This assurance has come from Gilbert Greaves, permanent secretary in Defence and Security with responsibility for Immigration. It comes after Riley’s plight was highlighted in yesterday’s WEEKEND NATION.
The 30-year-old Jamaican-born mother of five reported that she was prevented from registering her eight-month-old baby back in April after allegedly being told by an employee of the Registration Department that they were no longer registering babies belonging to illegal immigrants “from this year”.
Under the Barbados Constitution, everyone born in Barbados after November 29, 1966, is deemed a citizen by birth.
Riley said that the child’s father was a citizen of Barbados and when she asked if he could register the child, the answer was still “no”. As a result, the baby has no name or legal status. She has four other children ages 13, 12, six, and four who she had no problem registering in the past, she said.
She said she was brought to Barbados at the age of eight and had very little knowledge of her native country.
Yesterday, Riley told the SATURDAY SUN that she was afraid to go back home after a neighbour called her at work yesterday to tell her that immigration officers had visited her residence.
When contacted, Chief Immigration Officer Erine Griffith said she could not discuss the matter with the Press.
However, Greaves said the young mother faced no threat of deportation.
“There is no threat of her being deported. She musn’t be afraid to go back home. She will not under the circumstances be asked to leave. It is as simple as that.
“Nobody is going to put out someone who claims they have five children here and who says she has been living here since she was eight. The department doesn’t do that sort of thing.
“The lady can do two things; she can either come and see me or she can see the chief immigration officer. If she has been residing in the country for 22 years as she claims, then she is entitled to some form of permanent status.
“She would just have to complete the forms and so on and once that is established, the child can be registered,” he explained via telephone from his office at Government Headquarters, Bay Street, St Michael.
Greaves said that Riley would have to pay about $1 000 in total – $200 for the application and $800 for her status.
He added that she would need to produce evidence to show that she went to school in Barbados, which meant she would have to obtain letters from the educational institutions she attended to show she had been residing here “all this time”.
“Once that is proven, she can apply for whatever status she decides. Frankly speaking, she can apply for citizenship. When she comes to us, we will look at her situation and see what can be done,” said Greaves.
Riley’s lawyer Douglas Trotman said he and his client would certainly take up Greaves’ offer.
50 comment found!
: 12/9/2009
QUESTIONS: I read in one of the articles where the father said that he took her from her grand-mother's home in Jamaica when she was 8 years old. They lived in Jamaica for a further 3 years before he moved to Barbados with her and his Barbadian girlfriend. Make no mistake. This young lady is no fool.
mum can stay : 12/9/2009
guess it's a typo, but in the earlier article it said she came here when she was 11. In this one it is 8. Don't know well enough to regularise your status, but know well enough to get the services of a lawyer. So many questions... and will never get the true answers.
LOOK : 12/9/2009
GIRL IF YA WID DE CHILD FATHER GET DE RID OF DE PIECE A MAN AND FIND SOMEBODY TO FILE FOR YA BAJAN MEN LIKE OUTSIDE WOMEN CAUSE THE LIKE GOOD BITTLE. COOK, CLEAN AND YOU WILL BE ALRIGHT. LOL WHA LAW
: 12/8/2009
I hope it all gets sorted out for her and her family - but if she's not legal enough to register a child, how is she working?? Unless I read wrong, she said her neighbor called her while she as at work.
: 12/7/2009
I was born in Barbados and is now a British Citizen ,holding a Brit passport and for the past umpteen years I have been allowed to live and work in Barbados.What's your point 100% Bajan?
papers... : 12/7/2009
after all these years our barbados still hanging people up with papers...my mom came back to the US as a teenager after being born in NY and raised in bim, she had no papers and it was a mess! but her mum had her US papers here.
now i know why she gets stressed out.
: 12/7/2009
IF I WAS BORN IN BARBADOS AND IS NOW AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WITH AN AMERICAN PASSPORT AND I WANT TO LIVE IN BARBADOS WILL I BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN BARBADOS????????
MUM CAN STAY : 12/7/2009
Ms. Rollock a million thanks to you for exposing the nature of this story. This family can finally have that dark cloud remove and be able to stay together as a family unit. What a beautiful Christmas gift. Barbadians are not all that bad, there is still some good in us.
To those pundits who believed that this was sensational journalism you have proven them wrong. Ms. Rollock KUDOS! Keep on bringing us this type of journalism that is so long overdue.
People working with the public need to attend quarterly/semiannual workshops on diplomacy, tact, sensitivity and professionalism. These are attributes that are lacking in Barbados.
There are times we have to step outside the box and put ourselves in the other person's situation and go that extra mile to help others. Instead of just saying no, offer an alternative to the solution and not create or become part of the problem.
Ms. Rollock one day I hope you would do an undercover story, with you as the client to get it first hand.
Thanks to you and Mr. Gilbert Greaves this family can stay intact as a family unit.
I hope God continues to bless Ms. Rollock. Thank you.
Jersey Girl 12/7/2009
Bajans are strange. : 12/6/2009
Especially the ones that have authority
and the others that have never live out
side of Barbados.The are great copy cats
without a clue to why things are done,
young men wearing their pants below the
but and so on.If this is the 21st.century
don`t expect their thinking to change.
: 12/6/2009
Good luck, Kerry Ann, I hope everything works out for you and yur children
WW : 12/6/2009
NOT ALL BAJAN LIVING OVERSEAS ARE ILLEGAL ALOT OF US AS LIKE KERRY-ANN LEAVE AS KIDS BUT I AM SURE OUR PARENTS DID RIGHT BY US AND MADE SURE THEIR KIDS PAPERS WAS IN ORDER HER DAD OR STEPMOM NEVER DID I AM HAPPY TO SEE THAT BARBADOS IMMIGRATION DID RIGHT BY HER AND HER KID... I AM HAPPY TO CALL MYSELF A BAJANYANKEE
Thank you : 12/6/2009
A huge to thank you to Mr. Greaves for making this incredible wrong - right. God Bless you and your family.
Proud, as always, to be a Barbadian
: 12/6/2009
Good old Human Rights - don't we just love it. I knew it would pop up. Forget about laws , rules and regulation as long as there are human rights everything will be all right.
Note to self : 12/6/2009
Just wanted to let you all know that Mr. Greaves is the former Chief Immigration Officer. Please note that the cases and files the departtment gets are all reviewed and approved or denied by the P.S for Defence and Security after the Immigration Department has made its recommendations.
mum : 12/6/2009
walk with your head up high what ever god do is well done what ever is for aman he should recieve
Mum Can Stay : 12/6/2009
I agree that Kerry-Ann should be given some legal status BUT ONLY after she is processed as per immigration laws.
Automatic permanent residence/citizenship without a check is absurd....for one thing, she has to prove her identity...where are her Jamaican documents? As another poster stated, someone else could be out there travelling the globe as Kelly - Ann.
Her child IS a Barbadian by birth and that's that!
mum can stay : 12/6/2009
Let's not blame the authorities for takings the steps they have since it's basically the same prcedure in most democratic countries ,where one has to have legal status before one is allowed to reside in that country .In this case however,I'll support her staying on humaitarian grounds considering her age on entry to Barbados .
Permission to stay : 12/5/2009
Barbados should adopt the concept of the USA give the parents choices. Take the kids back with her or entrust them to the guardianship of a trusted parent. With 5 children what possible contribution is she making to the barbadian community. Will this decision be absolute to all illegals who have a sad story, then eventually the barbadian resources will be sucked dry. It would be interesting to get a background of her lifestyle and if these kids were from 5 different dads.
: 12/5/2009
Firstly, according to the provisions of the immigration amnesty program, Ms. Riley would entitled to some form of amnesty provided that she can meet the documentation requirements. However, it is interesting that although Ms. Riley indicated that she has no further connection to Jamaica she can nonetheless give her passport and birth certificate to a relative, presumably Jamaican, to "fix" said documents. Secondly, where are the "citizen of Barbados" fathers of this child or the other children? Are these men holding themselves out as the fathers or is Ms. Riley just stating that they are the fathers?
: 12/5/2009
d reality is that bim has rules and laws...try doing that in the UK... if u dont have ur papers I'm sorry but u will not be seen...she needs to hae her papers in order and do things by the book...alot of wunna talkin about barbados hearltes...dis is d 21st century and things need to be done properly plain and simple as long as she brings d right documents and sort herslf den she will get what she entitled to but she cant expect not to have d right papers n expect miracles..,get real! Bajan living in d UK and following d British laws to a T
Apalling!!!!!!!!!!! : 12/5/2009
It's with regets i'm repling to some of the insane mail i'm reading about the bajan..I'm a PROUD BAJAN living legally in toronto,after receiving my citizenship some many years ago..I must personally say the "jerks" that cry down bajans aren't bajan,it's creeps like them according to MIGHTY SPARROW song that make the bajan look bad,so if u folks don't have anything worthwhile saying about barbados and bajans,shut to hell up..
Permission to Stay : 12/5/2009
This is a human rights issue. Each child regardless of the parents status in a country is entitled to a name and a nationality. However, I am curious about who has the responsibility for whether an illegal non-national stays or is asked to leave - the Chief Immigration Officer or the P.S for Defence and Security?
mum can stay : 12/5/2009
She have absolutely nothing to return home to and the welfear of the kids have to be taken into consideration. Thank god caribbean people still have heart.
KerryAnn : 12/5/2009
It's good to know KerryAnn will get to finally have a life and can now walk with her head held high. Jamaica
TO CURIOUS : 12/5/2009
HOW MANY CHILDREN SHE HAVE DOES NOT MATTER . I BELEIVE IF YOUR KIDS ARE UNDER AGE AND THEY ARE A CITIZEN OF A COUNTRY IN THEY PARENTS ARE RESIDING ILLEGALY THE PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SOME FORM OF STATUS ALLOWING THEM TO STAY. WHEN IT COME TO IMMIGRATION TOPICS I CAN RELATE LIKE ANY BAJAN LIVING IN USA ,I MYSELF WAS ILLEGAL IN THE USA WITH TWO AMERICAN KIDS.
Mum Will Stay... : 12/5/2009
Perhaps Mr. Greaves is about one of only a few Christian people who reside in Barbados! Most Bajans are really great people...aren't they? I bless my lucky stars every day to have been resident outside of Barbados for the past almost 30 years..it has been the best education in life. I now understand why most people of standing after their careers are over quit Barbados and live elsewhere. Many Bajans are heartless. What happened to that great teaching, "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof". Thank you Mr. Greaves!! Bajan in NY.
: 12/5/2009
Let's trade. Deport all the illegals from Barbados and then have all the illegal bajans living overseas return. Just remember that they are more bajans living outside of Bim than there are on the rock.
MUM CAN STAY : 12/5/2009
Barbadians should hang their heads in shame when they consider the inhuman treatment being handed out to our fellow Caribbean persons residing in this country. When will sanity return to this country?
Closed Minded : 12/5/2009
Whether or not either parent has Barbadian citizenship once the child is born in Barbados the child is a citizen and Riley's lawyer should press charges as this child is being discriminated against and is not being given his birth rights.
I would think after just celebrating independence and remembering what our forefathers did to ensure or privileges of today why would you closed-minded fools try to deprive this child of what is rightfully his. Wake up...
: 12/5/2009
this is typical of the bajan society of today men cant be bothered to marry the women their are living wid the women cant be bothered to ask the men to marry them and so they just have children until things go wrong,then the parties separate and start new lives with some one else where the same pattern of living start a new, no responsibility, this is the same attitude that this lady had with regard to her status only when things appear to be going wrong that she then seek help to get it put right i know that most people would say that the government have no right to tell people how to live but it come a time when some one has to say enough is enough,either you get married or we make unmarried men and women who have children pay more for the up keep of the caring services hospitals,schools,and the like.may be if there were married they would have a more responsible attitude
That's true in Bermuda. : 12/5/2009
Even if you are born in Bermuda to a non Bermudian you are not entitled to automatic citizenship. [ http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizenship.htm ] You'd have to go apply to be a citizen wherever the mother or father is from. I find it funny that the government can pick a choose laws. She broke a law and now wants other parts of Barbadian law to protect her. It is obvious then that the baby under the law is a citizen, however the mother is not. She would have to return to wherever she come from in Jamaica and wait on the father to file for her. OR- he can keep the baby and file for the mother whereas she becomes his responsibility to support. But what the heck maybe the rule of law isn't important anymore. This happens all the time in America, a non citizen gives birth and the mother then says she should be allowed to stay. The United States says your child can stay with the other parent but the mother has to return until they are filed for.
: 12/5/2009
i agree with the decision to grant her status, "so she can gwaan live fi her life" See we bajans do have a heart, the woman is practically a bajan now. Good luck to Kerry-Ann and her family.
No Deportation : 12/5/2009
Thank you Mr. Greaves & all the others who intervene on her behalf. Some of us left Bimsire & went overseas for a better life, some legal & some illegal. & we made it.(of of us). I know the Nation hasn't printed everything, but what happen to the So called bajan father?. is he helping in anyway? Woman to woman, Ms. Kerry-ann, TIME TO SHUT THE SHOP DOOR.5 kids, my friend no more.. Things are looking up for you. You & your lawyer can get together & see Mr. Greaves & his people. Good luck on that. Like i said yesterday in the 1st article, get that baby baptize. No matter what church you belong to, there is only 1 Mount Calvary. Some pastor or Rev. would had lifted up that child.. .All the best to you kerry-ann & your children. Look after them. Thank you Nation for bringing us Part 2 of this article(a follow up story). I appreciate you. PS. nice pics.
Citizenship : 12/5/2009
Well, I hope this story will have a happy ending. If she came to Barbados as a child it's unlikely she knew of immigration and such. After awhile she didn't think she needed to become a legal citizen. They're people living in the USA and Canada who've lived there most their lives without the benefit of citizenship. It happens. The question remains, why doesn't the father step up and do something?
Mum can stay : 12/5/2009
Why all these children? Is this contribution to Barbados??
Well..Well..Well : 12/5/2009
The lady claimed the child's father is a citizen of Barbados. We should accept that unless it can be proved otherwise.
For every Bajan deported from the USA, there are thousands roaming America's Inner Cities. Ninety nine percent of those deported, ran afoul of the law. And how about those who have been there for decades and never returned,not for funerals, weddings, or other family events.Think about that!
Peter pays for Paul : 12/5/2009
After years of mismanagement and corruption, the powers that be seem to have decided that the way to fix the problem is to reform the process to make it more difficult for the innocent people to obtain fair, respectful, humane treatment.
Truth be told, there probably isn't much wrong with the process but more the people in charge of the process. My suggestion, purge them and prosecute the wrongdoers to the full extent of the law.
: 12/5/2009
Why should you give her status just like that? Seems strange that she's been in B'dos for all those years, and are still illegal. Just keep on having babies girl, you will get more sympathy.
MUM CAN STAY : 12/5/2009
We have rules and regulations, Laws that govern our country. Some how these laws seem to be locked away and applied at the mercy of the person you meet when you violate these laws. Why are our laws so hard to access for the person on the street? Seems like things are Design to keep us Ignorant of the laws.
What is the problem? : 12/5/2009
I don't know what all the fuss is about? Certainly if someone has been in Barbados for 22 years there was ample opportunity under various admnistrations for that person's status to be regularised. Kerry Ann chose not to get her papers in order because there was no policy to isure this is done. I am now happy to see that there are checks and balances. However Immigration has to take each case on merit and everyone can see that this was not an issue to take the lady on an emotional roller coaster. It is only fair that she be allowed to regularise her stay with the chuldren. Where is the father in all of this? Has the law changd in this regard? could he not register his child as a Barbadian citizen? Something is misssing in this situation.
Why Citizenship : 12/5/2009
To Concern Bajan: Do you really believe this young lady will stroll into the Permanent Secretary's office, and come away with a Certificate of Naturalization? Mr.Greaves was simply outlining the legal options available to her. Please cut us some slack here Bage.Background checks, and other evidence to substantiate her claim will obviously be required. Please stop comparing the Immigration Laws of USA with Barbados. That is like comparing apples with oranges.
Excellent : 12/5/2009
People have the right to their opinion, but some of you that commented clearly cannot read or comprehend the article.
I'm glad that the government granted her stay, i'm glad that she will be able to register her child and the baby will finally have a name. I love to see when my country by pass the politics and deal with Humanity.
The Constitution has spoken, let it be done....
I pity simple minded bajans, especially the ones who have never travel abroad. Almost every country in the world has benefited from contributions of illegal immigrants.
Once again the "baby will be registered and finally be known by his/her name".
Please disregard the typos and grammatical errors, i know alot of "educated bajans" read these post and love to critique people's writing...
Have a great day everyone...
MUM CAN STAY : 12/5/2009
wow,
she is illegal, has a job, kids getting taken care of by the government, and they giving her citizenship, that is y the barbados government cannot get my foreign dollar. these illegals need to go, next the guyanese and others will be using the same ploy to stay also.
: 12/5/2009
I did not believe, for one moment, that this young lady would have been deported after living in Barbados for 22 years , albeit illegally and being the mother of five children who were born there. It just did't sound right to me. In my opinion when Ms Riley was told that she could not register her child did it not crossed her mind that the next step was for her to regularise her status. Why didn't she put her thinking cap on. Surely she must have heard the call from the Government earlier in the year asking people like her to get sorted. I guess the new episode will be that she hasn't got the money to do it because she has to find money to send the children to school and everything, plus the school she attended has disappeared and she can't find the teachers.
i am glad for the poor child : 12/5/2009
thanks thanks and many thanks mr greaves, please let the father of the baby boy go get a name for his child, i dont see wats the hold up for a birth paper, 4 cryin out lout he is a born barbadian thanks
: 12/5/2009
Before I comment on anything else, I want to comment on the conduct of the Registrar, Ms Clarke. As a Senior Public servant, good customer service is important. It does sit well to be arrogant and uncouth. It is coomendable that both Mr Greaves and Mrs Griffith were more approachable in this a very sensitive issue at this time. Ms Clarke need to take a leaf from Griffith's book and be polite.
I still would like to ask the followi
At age 8, how was she brought against her will and what choice did she have? Who brought her and where is that person now? How and where did she attend school from age8-16, at least? Has she worked here in all this time and if so has she contributed to NIS and PAYE, if not who has been abusing her services and committing an offence? Why is it that her documents had to be sent to Jamaica, is there no Consulate service in Barbados? When were the documents sent considering a full term pregnancy and a child now 7 months old, when she knew she would need them? How was she able to utilise the medical services for 4 other pregnancies undetected? What about the paternity of this and the other children? Is there a flaw in the legislation pertaining to registration by fathers? What if a mother dies in childbed?
Come what may, please take of these children, one of might be a future P.M. There are no limits. Hopefully Mr George Griffith will help her, if she accepts the service of his organisation.
Retired.
Well..Well..Well : 12/5/2009
OK...where is the father? is he also an illegal immigrant?Because can't he register the child if he is a Barbadian or have legal status? Come on people she is 30, came to Barbados at the age of 8. Why didn't she apply for legal status? Will everyone with a child or children be given the right to stay? Make your laws work the same for everyone ..this is wishy washy.
When you make a law it some how should remain a law.(for everyone)
Why didn't she apply for legal status. I can tell you why ...it is because it is so easy to come to Barbados and live, no status needed, that's why.
Barbadians are deported everyday from the USA and other Countries. Just look around your neighborhood a lot of our people that just " come back home " are sent back home. Think about that!
Mum can stay : 12/5/2009
All the best Kerry-Ann.I consider you to be
a Barbadian.In fact you are more Barbadian
than you are Jamaican,after being in Barbados
from such a tender age.
Why Citizenship : 12/5/2009
I can understand Mr. Greaves wanting to help Ms. Riley and her 5 kids but why gave her citizenship so easy, what about permanent residency. In the US you become a resident then you have to apply for citizenship after a thorough background check. Please investigate her story before citizenship is given. Someone else could be using her passport to travel around the world. Do your homework first Mr. Greaves, even if it means contacting the immigration in Jamaica. Something sound fishy about the story. Where are her parents or the person(s) who brought her to B'dos? These are questions that needs to be answered first.
Glad : 12/5/2009
Mr Graves that is good news.All you people you say she should be sent back to her country have no love in your hearts.I am glad to see the child would now have a name.
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