With questions being raised over the issuance of visas, work permits and other permits related to foreigners working or living in The Bahamas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said on Monday during the annual honorary consular corps luncheon that several reforms have been made to address those concerns.
Minister Mitchell announced that for the first time a security clearance officer who vets all visa applications has been employed. In addition, there is a restriction on the use of brokers or agents for visas, he said.
The minister also said he has sought to isolate himself from visa decisions on a day-to-day basis so that it may be a transparent process.
“We have some ways to go,” he said at the luncheon at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.
“I am presently studying the report of the chairman of the Public Service Commission and the auditor general’s report on the matter. There is likely to be assistance provided by the commonwealth fund for technical cooperation to revamp our procedures and to put the issuance of visas on a statutory and regulatory basis.”
Recently, former Free National Movement Chairman Carl Bethel, who is now a senator, claimed that visa racketeering schemes were operating through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Bethel also claimed that there was an upsurge in visas granted to Haitians and Chinese since the PLP came to power in 2002.
Minister Mitchell has denied both claims and challenged Mr. Bethel to provide proof of his allegations.
“While it is easy to make allegations and cause a swirl of rumors, the police and the ministry need to act on hard facts. I again invite all those who are aware of any specific impropriety to visit the police at the earliest opportunity,” Mr. Mitchell said on Monday.
During the luncheon, the minister also indicated that The Bahamas embassy in Havana, Cuba is scheduled to open during the first week of January 2006. Additionally, Minister Mitchell said that plans are progressing to open an embassy in Beijing, China in early 2006.
He also indicated that some interim measures were being taken to assist students trying to obtain British visas to attend school in the United Kingdom next year since the closure of the British High Commission in The Bahamas has prevented students from obtaining visas here.
Minister Mitchell reported that relations between The Bahamas and the United States – its number one trading partner – continues to be good.
He announced the Freeport Container Port will be designated a port for customs pre-clearance by the United States which he said will considerably enhance the value of the container port in international trade.
Commenting on the “remarkable” trade relations that The Bahamas has with China, Mr. Mitchell said that annually the trade between both countries has reached $120 million.
“This is significant. With The Bahamas listed as a designated tourist designation that trade is likely to increase. The Bahamas has agreed to purchase two high powered scanning machines for cargo at our ports. This is a significant purchase and we look forward to the installation of the equipment in the new year,” Minister Mitchell said.
During 2005, The Bahamas has successfully established diplomatic relations with 10 countries, including Latvia, Egypt, Pakistan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Ghana, Mozambique and Estonia, he reported.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
