The Bahamas government’s unwavering commitment to protect the Bahamian borders and enforce the lawful processes for entry into The Bahamas

Any and all unlawful entrants in Bahamian territory will be swiftly processed and repatriated to their homeland

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The Hon. Keith Bell, Minister of Labour and Immigration told members of the House of Assembly while delivering a communication Wednesday, February 1, 2023 about the government’s unwavering commitment to protect our borders and enforce the lawful processes for entry into The Bahamas.  

During my last communication, he said - “I stated that I know and fully accept that we will be measured by our work, our results and not our speeches.  I further stated that The Department of Immigration is committed to doing the work needed to deliver the results that the Bahamian people demand.

"Our work to address this pressing issue did not commence with my communication," he said, "nor did it commence with the many false articles and stories authored by fringe groupings, this work began ‘ON DAY ONE.’

Within months of coming to office, this administration, led by the Hon. Philip Brave Davis Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, uplifted the spirits of a demoralized and broken Immigration Department by immediately remedying the longstanding confirmations and promotions of officers in various ranks which were left outstanding by the former administration from as far back as 2014. 

“I might add, this directly impacted more than 250 Immigration Officers or more than 30% of the human resource of the Department.”

Minister Bell continued that the administration immediately recruited and commissioned the largest immigration squad in the history of the Department, “increasing the total number of immigration officers by over 30%.  THIRTY PERCENT.”

He noted: The Progressive Liberal Party government also made ‘the single largest investment in the history of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’ with an injection of over $200M to upgrade the Defence Force through the 'Sandy Bottom Project':  "We bought a whole new fleet of vessels including HMBS Lawrence Major, the first ‘roll on, roll off’ vessel of its class acquired by the organization.

“In anticipation of present circumstances,” Minister Bell said, “we established a temporary holding facility in Inagua with the capacity to hold over eight hundred (800) persons.

“This is to reduce the time required for irregular migrants intercepted in the Southern Bahamas to be returned to their home countries.

"I warned persons that any undocumented migrants will be taken into custody on January 18.  This was extended to persons working without a valid Work Permit or working outside the scope of their work permit.  This warning was further extended to persons who enter the Country as a visitor and illegally engage in employment and/or unlawful activities.”

The Immigration Enforcement Unit conducted operations to infiltrate a number of ‘escort services,’ January 19.  It is well known that these escort services consist of persons who enter the country as 'visitor' and also overstay the time granted by immigration to remain in the country.

In one operation, an escort service known as 'The Mango Season Girls' was dismantled.  Four Jamaican females were taken into custody in that sting operation.  They were charged and placed before the courts, convicted, sentenced, deported and placed on the restricted List.

On the 20th January, 2023, a joint operation by Immigration and the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the eastern area netted a number of irregular migrants, one of whom was found in possession of a fraudulent Work Permit.

Just a matter of days after his last address, “a vessel carrying 396 irregular migrants from Haiti was intercepted by the United States Coast Guard in the vicinity of Cay Sal Bank.   "In accordance with our plans to address an increase in interceptions, the Coast Guard was directed to transport the intercepted migrants to the temporary facility at Inagua where 375 migrants were handed over to Bahamian officials on January 24.  Some 21 migrants (mainly minors) remained with the Coast Guard on their vessel."

He explained, with the activation of the temporary facility in Inagua, the Government moved to quickly deploy additional resources to support the facility.  The Ministry of Health mobilized a team of Nurses and Physicians to fly to Inagua where they erected a field hospital donated by the United States government.  Food and other supplies were shipped in by the HMBS Lawrence Major.

"The Royal Bahamas Police Force and The Royal Bahamas Defence Force continue to assist the Department in providing additional security on the Island.

"Unfortunately, the interception near Cay Sal was not isolated.  On the 24th January - The Department of Immigration was notified that a vessel carrying unlawful entrants from the Republic of Haiti ran aground in the area of The Bluff, South Andros.  Officers from The Royal Bahamas Police Force, stationed in South Andros moved swiftly and apprehended a number of the unlawful entrants to our shores.  Combined with reinforcement teams from the Defence Force and Bahamas Immigration, a total of 41 persons were taken into custody following a full search of the area and surrounding communities.  The 41 persons were subsequently transported to the Detention Centre here in New Providence."

On Monday the 30th of January, Immigration Officials received notification of a suspected smuggling vessel sinking in the vicinity of Grand Bahama.  Law enforcement officials quickly mobilized and 19 individuals were taken into custody.  

They Included:

• Eleven Haitian Nationals
• Two Ecuadorian nationals
• Two Chinese Nationals

Further, four Bahamian Males suspected of being the organizers were arrested and are expected to be placed before the Courts along with this group once the investigations are concluded.

"We are challenged, but yes, we are prepared; yes, we are ready and yes, with God’s grace and mercy, we will ride this wave!  In my earlier communication, I issued a stern warning and advised the Bahamian people that any and all unlawful entrants will be swiftly processed and repatriated to their homeland."

Three repatriation exercises were undertaken, recently, by the Immigration Department totaling 251 persons including

• Thirty-one Cuban Nationals
• Two hundred-and-twenty Haitian nationals

 Source

The Bahamas Department of Immigration new policies regarding acceptance and processing of applications for Work Permits and Permits to Reside from the Republic of Haiti

The Bahamas Department of Immigration announces changes to policies regarding acceptance and processing of applications for Work Permits and Permits to Reside from the Republic of Haiti

In light of recent instability involving the Haitian Government in Haiti, the Government of The Bahamas has made decisions that will affect migrants from Haiti, said Minister of Labour and Immigration the Hon. Keith Bell during a press conference at the Ministry of Labour Friday, January 27, 2023.

“Existing and new Permit to Reside applications for Haitian citizens will only be considered on a case-by-case basis and approval will only be granted in the most exceptional circumstances.

“No new Work Permit applications for Haitian citizens will be processed until such time as revised protocols are introduced to verify and authenticate documents issued by the Haitian government and the Haitian national police,” Minister Bell said.

“All existing work permits, applications and renewals for work permits will be subjected to the most vigorous review and scrutiny.  Applicants should note that as a consequence, the time frame for the processing and determination of such applications will be impacted.”

“The government of the Bahamas is resolute in its commitment to protect its borders and enforce its immigration laws,” Minister Bell said.  “If you have information of breaches to the immigration laws, please contact the Department of Immigration and information can also be forwarded via the Department’s website at www.immigration.gov.bs under the tab ‘contact us!'”

“On Thursday, the 26th January, 2023,” Minister Bell said, “the Haitian National Police paralysed Port-au-Prince, Haiti by blocking streets and forcing their way into Haiti’s main airport.  Reports indicate that the officers also attacked Haiti’s Head of Government Ariel Henry’s official residence. Roads in several cities in the North of Haiti were blocked by protesters.  Yesterday’s protest by the Haitian National Police followed the departure from office of Haiti’s last remaining Senators and represents a further decline in the functioning and stability of the Haitian Government.”

Last evening, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis ordered an immediate involuntary departure from Haiti of all Bahamian diplomatic personnel as soon as security conditions permit.

The Bahamas maintains a strict regulatory framework for the review and processing of all immigration applications.  This process requires each applicant to produce various reports and certifications from their home countries. A key report is a character certificate from local police authorities to confirm any criminal history of an applicant.

Additionally, in many instances, the Department of Immigration may require applicants to attend the Bahamian Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s home country when immigration officials require enhanced verification.

In response to yesterday’s events, the Department of Immigration hereby advises the public of changes to its policies concerning the acceptance and processing of applications for Work Permits and Permits to Reside from the Republic of Haiti.

Persons entering or remaining in The Bahamas outside our laws will be returned to their home countries

The Increase of Migrant Interceptions in Bahamian Waters

The Bahamas Government continues to work assiduously and continually to address the irregular migration problem through its law enforcement agencies and international partners 

Nassau, The Bahamas - 22nd January 2023 - Earlier today, Immigration officials were notified that a vessel carrying 396 unlawful entrants from the Republic of Haiti was intercepted in the vicinity of Cay Sal by the United States Coastguard. 

The Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has been notified and the customary screenings will be conducted. 

In anticipation of an increase in migrant interceptions, last month the Department of Immigration in collaboration with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force completed work on a temporary processing and detention facility in Inagua.  This facility can temporarily house in excess of 800 persons. 

The intercepted migrants are presently en route to Inagua where they will be handed over to Defence Force and Immigration personnel.  Additional officers and supplies will be provided by HMBS Lawrence Major which was dispatched from the Defence Force Coral Harbour Base this afternoon. 

Through its law enforcement agencies and international partners, The Bahamas Government continues to work assiduously and continually to address the irregular migration problem.  The Department of Immigration is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the intercepted migrants are repatriated as quickly as possible. 

The Bahamas maintains an organised system to allow for the lawful entry and orderly processing of applications for lawful entry into The Bahamas.  This is the only process by which persons should enter The Bahamas.  Persons entering or remaining in The Bahamas outside our laws will be returned to their home countries. 

A further update will be provided to the public as soon as more details become available. 

 

Source

...the Hemispheric Declaration on Migration and Protection of Migrants imposed by Washington at the Ninth Summit of the Americas "is an example of its racist, xenophobic and plundering vision of migrants. It does not address in any way the real causes of migration"

The regional approach to the issue of migration in The Americas by the United States denounced!

The fall of the world GDP, which is around 10%, plus poverty and inequality, will increase the migratory pressure... in 2021 alone, one out of every 88 inhabitants of the planet left their native country 

 

More and more people die trying

People will not stop migrating and they will do so even if the conditions worsen, there is no legal protection and they can be at the mercy of various forms of violence and exploitation, ranging from underground human trafficking networks to various forms of fraud in the destination countries, where they will become a new layer of ultra-precarious migrants.

By  Francisco Arias Fernández | informacion@granmai.cu

An incident on Friday July 1st at Morocco’s border with Spain left 37 irregular migrants dead and hundreds injured, 13 of them seriously.  The repercussions were that of an international scandal and calls for a thorough investigation by the United Nations raised from everywhere.

The victims died as a result of military repression, crushing or suffocation, when there was a human avalanche and they were trapped in a watercourse near the border.

While authorities put the blame on the organized crime, the spokesman of the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization believes there was an excessive use of force on both sides of the border.

Referring to what many media have described as a "massacre," UN official Stéphane Dujarric pointed out that authorities observed an "excessive use of force," which is "unacceptable" and therefore must be investigated.  He recalled that States "have obligations" under the international law and human rights.

For its part, the UN Committee for the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families urged the governments of Spain and Morocco to "immediately" open a "thorough, independent and transparent" investigation, to which both parties agreed.

Three days later, on the other side of the Atlantic, in San Antonio, Texas, United States, 51 irregular migrants were found suffocated in the trailer of a truck.  Sixteen were rescued alive, including four minors.

Translated by ESTI

The discovery was made after screams were heard from inside the container on the truck, which had no water, air conditioning or oxygen, while the temperatures outside were around 40 degrees Celsius.

In addition, someone detected a corpse in the vicinity of the truck, abandoned near a military base, 16 kilometers from San Antonio and 250 kilometers from the Mexican border.

The first investigations point to three detainees.  Moreover, the vehicle's license plate was from the United States, which made it easier for it to cross the border without being subject to mandatory inspection.

The White House has committed itself to clarify the facts and dismantle the trafficking networks, at a time when the country reports high immigration peaks and a new record of illegal entry registration, with more than 239,000 in May, most of which cross through the border with Mexico.

A few hours later, it was known that the most recent tragedy in the Central Mediterranean left more than 22 missing migrants and 71 survivors; while another 500 people rescued and on board ships of European humanitarian organizations were waiting to be taken to the mainland.

NEWS THAT IS NO LONGER

Migration news have long been prominent in mainstream media all over the world; but they grow in frequency and cruelty as the world economic crisis, war conflicts, the impact of the pandemic, poverty, famine, blockades, sanctions, political manipulation of the issue and many other factors deepen, which have led experts to affirm that we are going through one of the greatest migratory crises in history, with more than one hundred million displaced persons in the last two years, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The agency indicates that, in 2021 alone, one out of every 88 inhabitants of the planet left their native country.

It adds that 83% of global migrants move to low- and middle-income countries, which are sometimes transit points to destinations such as the United States or the European Union, but the "migration shielding" policies of these countries often cut off migrants before they reach their destination.

The Missing Migrants project of the International Office for Migration (IOM) recently revealed that more than 4,000 deaths per year have been recorded on migration routes around the world since 2014, but this is a minimum estimate, because most of these deaths go unrecorded.

The report adds that since 1996 there have been more than 75,000 deaths in the attempt to migrate, and 48,423 from January 1, 2014 to 2022.  These statistics partially reflect the disaster because they do not include the level of suffering it generates in relatives and confirm the dangers or risks of facing the adventure.

The three most lethal points, according to the IOM project, are the Mediterranean Sea, with 23,900 migrants dead or missing; Africa, with 11,400, and America with 6,200, 60% on the border of Mexico and the United States.

According to experts, there will be more migrants and more will die in the attempt, as it has become a trend in the last two years, a trend that will worsen in the long term, as the enormous recession generated by the pandemic will drastically change migration.

The fall of the world GDP, which is around 10%, plus poverty and inequality, will increase the migratory pressure.

They estimate that people will not stop migrating and they will do so even if the conditions worsen, there is no legal protection and they can be at the mercy of various forms of violence and exploitation, ranging from underground human trafficking networks to various forms of fraud in the destination countries, where they will become a new layer of ultra-precarious migrants, according to the digital media IzquierdaWeb.

The lack of seriousness by some countries in the search for concrete solutions to these serious phenomena, together with the growing tendency to polarization and conflict between powers, are considered obstacles to solving problems that require integrated or coordinated responses at the international level.

Recently, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, in addressing the regional approach to the issue by the United States, denounced that the Hemispheric Declaration on Migration and Protection of Migrants imposed by Washington at the Ninth Summit of the Americas "is an example of its racist, xenophobic and plundering vision of migrants.  It does not address in any way the real causes of migration".

He reaffirmed that "it will be impossible to obtain concrete results in the management of irregular migratory flows if there is no genuine dialogue and collaboration among all the governments involved to respond to a problem of a global nature."

Source

Fred Mitchell totally discredits misinformation about The Bahamas’ new immigration policy at the Organization of American States (OAS)

From Oswald Brown:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister the Hon. Fred Mitchell totally discredited the malicious misinformation circulated nationally and internationally about The Bahamas’ new immigration policy during a major address at a Special Permanent Council Meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday, December 16, 2016.


Addressing ambassadors from OAS-member countries and a number of guests assembled in the ornate Hall of the Americas in the OAS main building on 17th Street, N.W., Mr. Mitchell made direct reference to the misinformation being circulated about the new policy by Attorney Fred Smith, President of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association.

“There are three allegations that have been made that bear addressing in this forum which go to the heart of the matter: our country’s reputation,” Mr. Mitchell said. “There is a Queen’s Counsel in The Bahamas who heads a human rights organization which is connected around the world and whose allegations have made headlines in the hemisphere and around the world. The specific charges must be refuted.”

Attorney Smith has recklessly accused the government of “institutional terrorism,” “ethnic cleansing,” and “running Auschwitz in The Bahamas,” referring to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

“The latter statement alleged in particular that this minister was responsible for Auschwitz in The Bahamas,” Mr. Mitchell said. “Madame Chair, words have meanings and when a Queen’s Counsel makes such a statement he must be put to proof. Certainly the government of The Bahamas is bound to respond. Let me be clear: there is no institutional terrorism, no ethnic cleansings, no Auschwitz in The Bahamas. No group is being targeted for elimination in The Bahamas, no mass murder is occurring in The Bahamas and certainly none which is sponsored or sanctioned by the state. There is no evidence anywhere that this is the case and we refute it absolutely. We once again repeat the invitation to the human rights bodies to inspect at any time and without notice.”

Mr. Mitchell emphasized that the United Nations Human Rights Commission has a representative in The Bahamas and “they have been to the detention centre and can say whether or not we are operating gas chambers and engaging in mass murder in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.”

“The remarks are so outrageous and absolutely irresponsible and I condemn without reservation,” the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister emphatically stated.

Earlier in his address Mr. Mitchell said that on “behalf of Prime Minister Perry Christie, the government and Peoples of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I appear here today to deal with a serious matter: the reputation of The Bahamas.”

“Nothing is more important to us than that in the international arena, whether in the hemisphere or in the sub region or around the world,” Mr. Mitchell said. “Reputation is everything. The respect which we have around the world, depends upon our reputation. My nation of less than 400,000 souls thrives off its reputation. Tourism is our main business. People come to The Bahamas as tourists because they believe and perceive that it is better in The Bahamas, and it is.”

Noting that The Bahamas is paradise and “we work very hard to maintain that reputation,” Mr. Mitchell said thousands of business people and “non-Bahamian residents live in our country because it has a stellar reputation as a safe place for investment and wealth management: a well regulated, transparent jurisdiction.”

“What we know however is that we must be eternally vigilant in protecting our reputation: correcting untruths and misperceptions where they exist and of course ensuring that within our borders and in our external relations we so conduct ourselves that we to the extent that our resources permit adhere to the highest standards and best practices as set by the international community,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said. “I am here today to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of the rule of law, due process, the international treaties on migration and all the instruments to which we adhere in the Inter-American system. Please be assured of that.”

He added, “This assurance goes out to friend and foe alike and has become necessary because of the misinformation that has been circulated by two innocuous administrative measures that were announced by The Bahamas, which took effect on 1st November 2014. The policies were contained in a one page document which advised the public that work permit applications would not be accepted for those people who did not have legal status in The Bahamas without them first being certified as being seen by one of our consular officers in their home country or in the nearest office to their home country.

“The second was that all non-nationals who live in The Bahamas would have to get and hold the passport of their nationality and obtain a residency permit, which would be evidence that they have the right to live and work in The Bahamas.”

Mr. Mitchell said these policies should not have been a surprise to anyone, adding that the political party “to which I belong announced that we would be perusing immigration reforms prior to our election to office in 2012.”

Mr. Mitchell pointed out that on an official visit of the President of Haiti to The Bahamas on July 28, “we advised the Haitian government that we proposed to do so and sought their advice on whether they could meet the expected demand for passports at their embassy.”

“The President indicated that they could,” Mr. Mitchell said. “This was followed up with a similar exchange at the margins of the United Nations in September with the Foreign Minister of Haiti, my distinguished colleague. We have since spoken with the Minister in the margins of the summit in Havana Cuba last week and the Haitian government has indicated that they will take measures to meet the demand. I thank them.”

The Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister stressed that the Department of Immigration, which is charged with the responsibility for executing the new policies, has an enforcement unit and each day, they go out and do immigration checks.

“The press both at home and abroad keep referring to these as round ups or raids,” Mitchell emphasized. “There are no round ups in The Bahamas. Round ups are for cattle not people. Words make a difference.”

On November 1, Mr. Mitchell added, they did what they usually do “and in the course of one of these checks, parents abandoned their children and left the children unaccompanied in their homes. This was later borne out by the parent in the press who indicated that he ran and told the children do not to open the door.”

“The constitution of our country empowers officers to arrest people who are committing offences on the following standard: a reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed, is being committed or is about to be committed,” Mr. Mitchell said. “Officers are briefed on that standard and reminded of their responsibility in law to treat everyone with respect and with dignity and to afford everyone due process. So far as I am aware they have stuck to that standard. The government does not sanction any deviation from that standard.”

He said the International Human Rights Commission is invited along with the Organization for American States “to come at any time and inspect our procedures and facilities and see whether what we are saying is correct.”

“We are open and transparent and have absolutely nothing to hide,” he insisted. “Where there are shortfalls, we are committed to ensuring that those are corrected.”

December 16, 2014

Oswald Brown - FaceBook

Attorney Fred Smith, QC says: Recent immigration raids carried out as a part of the government’s newly implemented immigration policies is institutional terrorism

Attorney Calls Immigration Raids “Terroism”

The Bahama Journal


Attorney Fred Smith, QC yesterday defended his comments calling recent immigration raids carried out as a part of the government’s newly implemented immigration policies institutional terrorism and called on all those living in The Bahamas to stand up and defend their constitutional rights.

Mr. Smith, who serves as president of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association said in an interview with the Journal Sunday that his comments were neither inflammatory nor meant to create an emotional uproar, but he charged that the government’s new policies and subsequent tactics are in breach of the constitution.

“The abuse that people are being subjected to in this country whether they are of Haitian extract or people who have entitlement to status – everybody in The Bahamas is entitled to all the protections of the constitution,” he said. They don’t become outlaws because they are of Haitian heritage.”

Mr. Smith, who contends that for 40-years he has challenged the government’s immigration policies, said there is a process the government must follow and he maintained that raids are illegal.

The attorney charged that the government’s new policies are only breeding “Haitian hatred and discrimination.

“I’m concerned with the government respecting peoples’ rights,” Mr. Smith said.”My language is not inappropriate for the circumstances when you see children being forcefully separated from their parents – people being dragged out their homes – people being hunted down like dogs in the bush my language is soft.

“I urge people in The Bahamas be they Haitian or Haitian extraction or Bahamians or foreigners whites, blacks or browns like me to stand up for their rights or else The Bahamas is going to go the same way as the dictatorship in Haiti under [Francois Duvalier] Papa Doc or many of the other dictatorial nations in the world.

“Abuse of human rights, inhuman and degrading treatment will not be tolerated.”

In an earlier press release, Mr. Smith said: “There is no legal requirement for a Haitian or anyone else living in The Bahamas to travel with their work permit or other form of identification. No officer of the law has the right to detain anyone for failure to produce the same, and any policy that includes such provisions is an outright violation of our laws.

“The Bahamas is not Guantánamo Bay. We do not simply detain people without due process and the legal authority to do so. The GBHRA calls on the government to cease and desist from this inhumane policy immediately, and replace it with one that is in accordance with constitutionally-mandated due process and the rule of law.”

November 17, 2014

The Bahama Journal

The Talk about Immigration Roundups

No Such Creature as ‘Immigration Round-ups,’ Mitchell Says

By Simon Lewis:

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Devaughn Anderson accepts the Award of Excellence honour from the Hon. Frederick Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration during Graduation Ceremony for Class of 2014 – Squad A at Freeport, Grand Bahama on Thursday.  Left is Mr. Hubert E. Ferguson, Assistant Director of Immigration.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Frederick Mitchell said Thursday that he was deeply concerned about the talk of immigration roundups.

Mr. Mitchell made it clear that “there is no such creature” and that the Department of Immigration has as it always has done, immigration checks on a daily basis.

“There was nothing unusual about Saturday’s events save for the fact that someone decided to spin propaganda to discredit what is being done on a daily basis.

“All of us must be careful not to be hornswoggled and psychologically manipulated by video images that do not tell the truth,” the Minister stated.

His comments came as he addressed a graduating ceremony for Class of 2014, Squad A at the Gerald A. Bartlett Complex in Freeport, Grand Bahama on Thursday evening.

Ten new Recruits, who underwent some four months of training in Grand Bahama joined the ranks of the Bahamas Immigration Department.  Only one day prior, a similar ceremony was conducted in New Providence where some forty young Bahamians were welcomed into the Department. The graduation ceremony in Freeport is believed to be a first for that island and the first outside of New Providence.

Focusing on the latest Immigration exercise as it related to children, the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister said that the truth is those children were abandoned by their parents and paroled to a responsible adult within two hours of their being secured by Immigration Officers.

“That is the truth.  But there is an axiom: never let the truth interfere with a good story.  Or don’t bore me with the facts; I have made up mind,” the Minister suggested.

Further, he informed that there are five children who still await the return of a responsible adult, but in the meantime their care is superintended by the Department of Social Services.

Additionally, he pointed out that the third set of children who were in fact housed at the Detention Centre, some 35 of them, came with their parents from Haiti on boats stopped on the seas over the past weeks.

“They had no previous known connection to The Bahamas.  They were repatriated to Haiti on Tuesday,” he advised.

Continuing in his remarks to a large gathering attending the colourful ceremony, serenaded by the the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, Mr. Mitchell added that the practical fact is that parents who enter the country illegally and are detained may protest their children being kept in separate facilities from them.

“So some accommodation may have to be made for the children in the Detention Centre to stay with their parents, given the sensitivities some have about children in the Detention Centre,” he said.

Mr. Mitchell also admitted speaking with his friend Mr. Joe Darville of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association.

“I just wanted to make sure we are on the same page.  This is not 1986 and the Department of Immigration carried out no raid or roundup.

“In any event, I am hoping that that nomenclature is banned forever from our lexicon.  I said in another context that we round up animals not human beings,” he said.

He also pointed out that from the time he became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, he said that enforcement of Immigration rules would be consistent and continuous.

“I did not need to be involved in the Department’s operation matters.  My role is a policy one. I have stuck to that. Each day since I have been Minister, Immigration across the country, has been enforcing the law. So what happened on Saturday last was no extraordinary event.

“Those who seek to make it that are perpetrating a falsehood. The checks will continue. That is what Immigration does,” the Minister stated.

Mr. Mitchell also expressed some concerned about the pace of immigration processing at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

“This is becoming a vexing problem for the tourism product and we have attempted over the past year to fix this problem but it remains stubbornly persistent.  I am examining again methodologies to deal with this in the short term.

“In the long term we are asking the Government to invest in new border management control systems which will make processing faster at the border and introduce biometrics and Interpol checks.  However, we as always are cognizant of the shortage of resources,” he stated.

The Member of Parliament for the Fox Hill Constituency, Mr. Mitchell also made it clear that the Immigration Policies are simple, clear and in the best interest of every citizen of The Bahamas and every resident who lives here.

“There are for the peace and good order of The Bahamas.  So I urge everyone, friend and foe alike to take a deep breath, slow down, be calm and simply comply with the rules.  Life is good believe me.

“1^st November was not an end but a beginning.  If there are issues that arise you all know that you have the most accessible government in the world. We are as democratic as a drawbridge, accessible and consultative to a fault,” he stated.

Mr. Mitchell also took the opportunity to remind the public that they have also indicated that they would wish to introduce a national identity card. 

The Minister also expressed that in the new realities, immigration is no longer a simple Bahamianization proposition but it is still Bahamians first.

“It is our job to monitor compliance with our immigration regulations.  We will be vigilant. In today’s environment, security is paramount for the state and our international partners need to know that we have best practices in security arrangements. Part of this is who belongs to The Bahamas and who has the right to live here,” he said.

Further, he advised that Grand Bahama has peculiar problems and that it has become a staging area for people from South America and the Far East and Africa to enter the United States using safe houses on the island.

He said special operations are conducted by the Department in this city to put a stop to this, and there will be operations of a covert nature to catch these criminals.

“The laws are going to be toughened and the regulations are going to be stricter.  If you want a safer Bahamas that is part of the larger price that we have to pay.  We all pledge to work together with civil society so that we understand the processes and our thinking,” he stated.

He also reminded the new recruits that Immigration will be called upon by our citizens to ameliorate the ill effects of so many things, one of which are the issues of the world economy.

“There is a limited amount that we can do but we have an obligation to act within our sphere of competency.

“That means that where people from the north of us come masquerading as visitors but being gainfully employed as property managers, as bankers and as salesmen, we must ensure that the rules apply to them as they do to gardeners, maids and handymen.

“The criticism that you will receive will not always be logical but you must hold your head and work in a directed and focused manner. You will hear all sorts of drivel.  Your integrity will be attacked but hold your head,” he stated.  (BIS Photos/Vandyke Hepburn)

NEW RECRUITS – Ten young Bahamians in Freeport, Grand Bahama joined the ranks of the Department of Immigration on Thursday.  They were welcomed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Frederick Mitchell and the Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville (seated center).  The new officers are pictured standing. Left to right seated are: Mrs. Fausteen Major Smith, Assistant Director; Dwight Beneby, Assistant Director; Hubert E. Ferguson, Assistant Director in-charge of Grand Bahama; Dr. William Pratt, Acting Director of Immigration; Hon. Frederick Mitchell; Hon. Michael Darville; Ms Cleola Hamilton, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration; Senator Tenisha Tynes; and Miss Sophia Ferguson, Senior Immigration Officer. November 07, 2014 BIS Bahamas

Bahamas Immigration Policy Update

" I wish to remind the public that the constitution of The Bahamas does not give citizenship at birth to those born here of foreign parents."

I wish to give a brief statement in response to the feedback on the administrative measures announced by me in the House of Assembly on Immigration.

I said that there would be certain changes expected on 1st November following a period of feedback.

Nothing that has come back by way of feedback on the policies indicates that there is a need to change that administrative starting date. The date will therefore stand as the commencement date of the policy.

The policy is not aimed at any national group in The Bahamas. It is generic in nature. It seeks only to better ensure that the people who live and reside in The Bahamas have the lawful authority to do so, either because they are citizens of The Bahamas or they have permits to reside or work here.

I repeat that with immediate effect, we are no longer accepting applications for first time applicants for residence or work permits from those who have no legal status in The Bahamas. Those persons also will no longer be able simply to demonstrate that they have departed The Bahamas. This is in response to the increased suspicion of fraud in connection with these applications. In order for such a first time application to be processed, where the individual has no legal status in The Bahamas, the applicant must be seen and certified as having been seen by an officer of the nearest Bahamian embassy if there is no Bahamian embassy in the applicant's home country. The embassies are in a position to process these certifications.

Secondly, all those who are not nationals of The Bahamas who live in this country beginning 1st November will be required to have the passport of their nationality and evidence that they have permission to live or work in The Bahamas.

This may represent a broad class of people. I wish to remind the public that the constitution of The Bahamas does not give citizenship at birth to those born here of foreign parents. Those children have a right to apply at their eighteenth birthday and before their nineteenth birthday for citizenship of The Bahamas. Up to the time they are granted citizenship, in law they are not Bahamian citizens. This means that these people will be required to have a residence permit to reside lawfully in The Bahamas.

This is a requirement for which there will be no exceptions, save and except where someone is stateless. In the case of a stateless individual, the Government will provide an identity document but otherwise the practice of issuing certificates of identity is to cease on 1st November. When the currency of existing certificates of identity expires, they will not generally be reissued or renewed.

We will speak with the all embassies in The Bahamas and we anticipate that embassies will be able to meet that demand for passports.

We anticipate also that in the case of one national group it may take administratively some three months to meet and process that demand and for the Department of Immigration to process the volume of applications for resident permits.

In any event, we expect that by 15th January 2015, most people will have complied with this requirement and certainly that children will have complied for the start of the school term in 2015. If any citizen has a difficulty, they should contact their local embassy for assistance with particular problems.

These measures are for the general good and will provide a more secure form of documentation for all who work and live in The Bahamas. I would therefore urge all citizens residing lawfully in The Bahamas to comply with these new measures.

Those who are not here lawfully should expect increased vigilance and enforcement on the part of the law enforcement authorities in The Bahamas.

I wish to thank the public for their support of the measures, and for the responsible manner in which these have been accepted.

In particular, I would wish to commend the continuing dialogue with leaders of the Haitian community and for their efforts to ensure compliance with these administrative measures.

The door remains open for continued comment and dialogue as we seek to make The Bahamas a more secure place to live.


Bahamas News Ma Bey