The Jamaican Association Bermuda has responded to comments made by Michael Fahy, the Minister of Home Affairs regarding immigration reforms.

Mr Fahy had said that various organisations supported the Pathways to Status policy, including the Jamaican Association and the West Indian Association, and that they told government they wanted to issue public statements but changed their minds after they saw the reaction to the Association of Filipinos.

This morning the JAB released a statement clarifying its position.

“The Jamaican Association Bermuda was a party to a meeting held with the Ministry of Home Affairs in the immediate lead up to an announcement made in February 2016 by Minister Fahy on the proposed amendments to the Bermuda Immigration Act 1956.

“Our inclusion at such meeting was predicated on a request made by the Ministry for the JAB to locate two Jamaican sisters whom were referenced as examples of cases in Bermuda on which the proposed amendments were being effected.”

The statement maintains that the group is an “apolitical organisation” adding: “Whilst we are keen to support policies that are beneficial to our stakeholders, we do not lend ourselves to the framework of such policies or ascribe to a political organisation.

“We are of the view that such structures must be agreed by those who are so politically inclined together with the government of the day.

“At our single meeting held with the ministry of Home Affairs on this matter and upon a request made of us, the JAB indicated that it was not against the issuance of a statement regarding

the proposed changes.

“However, we held that such a statement should be made in the wider context of the West Indian community of which we are a part of — as a joint statement of the various associations of the West Indies.

“On the basis that this could not be agreed by the various stakeholders, the executive committee of the JAB opted to wait until such an agreement could be arrived at.”