In what has developed into a war of words between the opposition and Immigration Minister, Shane Gibson, the Free National Movement (FNM) yesterday urged Prime Minister, Perry Christie, to ask Mr Gibson why a $10,000 cheque for Anna Nicole Smith's permanent residence permit was delivered to the immigration minister personally, instead of to the appropriate officers.
It is the latest round of criticism from the FNM over Mr Gibson's handling of the permit for the American celebrity, who was granted permanent residency after reportedly purchasing a house on the island.
"Prime Minister Perry Christie should ask Mr Gibson how it was that the $10,000 cheque for Ms Smith's permit was delivered to him personally – at Ms Smith's house – instead of to the appropriate officers at the Immigration Department," the FNM said yesterday in its weekly "Commentary."
"In fact, the prime minister should ask a lot of questions about this sordid affair. He should make an example of Minister Gibson so that in the future, Ministers of The Bahamas government will know how to conduct themselves with propriety and dignity."
Mr Gibson did not return calls left by The Nassau Guardian up to press time yesterday.
However, last week, Mr Gibson admitted that he was on "friendly terms" with Ms Smith. He said her permit had been granted in three months and said he saw no problem with processing applications for qualified persons as quickly as possible.
"I would even bring it down to two weeks if I could," he said at the time.
The Cabinet Minister was responding to criticism from the FNM over his visits to Ms Smith in hospital and at her private residence in Nassau. The FNM pointed to the visits in a statement hitting out at the government's decision to dismantle the specialised Coroner's Court system following the death of Ms Smith's son in Nassau earlier this month.
Mr Gibson said that visiting the celebrity in her "moment of distress" was exactly what a friend would do in those circumstances.
But the FNM has alleged that this was a "clear case" of a government minister "personally intervening and fast-tracking an application for a permanent residence permit for an individual whom he described in speaking to the press as a 'foreign friend.' Then he adds insult to injury by telling the Bahamian people that he did it in the national interest."
To make its point, the opposition pointed to the December 2004 case of British Home Secretary David Blunkett, who was forced to resign from the Cabinet when it was revealed that his office had intervened in the processing of a visa application for a woman who wanted a nursemaid for her young child.
"Even though no direct intervention on the part of Mr Blunkett was proven, he had to pay the price," said the FNM.
"The point is that it had to be demonstrated to the British people that even a very popular politician had to pay a price for abusing the system. When Mrs (Kimberley) Quinn was allowed to jump the queue, it was not in the national interest but in the personal interest of the Minister's mistress."
The FNM said that both the Progressive Liberal Party and FNM governments have subscribed to the idea that it was a good thing to give annual residence permits to wealthy foreigners who own second homes in The Bahamas, noting that it was the opposition that developed a Home Owners Card, which is issued to foreign persons who own a residence in The Bahamas. The card facilitates frequent entry to The Bahamas, without providing any legal entitlement to residency status or gainful employment.
It also said that both parties had subscribed to the policy of giving permanent residence to foreigners who have lived here for years and have contributed to the community, and both parties have granted permanent residence status to major investors who come here and contribute significantly to the development of the country.
Also, both parties have followed a policy that provided for accelerated consideration of application for permanent residency status by individuals who own residences above a stated monetary value and who are able to demonstrate their intention to make their residence in The Bahamas more than a vacation home, added the FNM.
"From what we can garner from press reports, Anna Nicole Smith does not fit in any of these categories," said the opposition.
"We know that Ms Smith is not a long-time resident of our country. The press reports that she has purchased a home somewhere on Eastern Road, though they have been silent as to its monetary value or intended use. And nothing appearing in the press about Ms Smith indicates that her permanent address will not remain in the USA," the opposition added.
The prime minister, who announced that Ms Smith had been granted permanent resident status, did not offer any reason for the decision, the FNM said.
The Nassau Guardian
