The Free National Movement called for an independent inquiry into the number of non-immigration visas issued to Haitian and Chinese nationals, it was revealed last night.
Senator designate Carl Bethel disclosed that the number of Visas issued to Haitian nationals grew from 102 in 2002 to more than 2,200 in 2004.
According to confidential material released to him anonymously in September, records from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the number of non-immigrant visas issued to Chinese nationals also quadrupled since 2002.
“We indicated that with great concern persons were being issued with visas irregularly, with incomplete and/or unsigned application forms, or without photographs of the applicant; that there appeared to be political involvement at the highest levels of the Christie government and that PLP MP’s, political cronies and family members appeared to have sponsored repeated batches or groups of Haitian and Chinese visitors for Visas,” he revealed.
He claimed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs never addressed the allegations or treated them with serious concern.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, sought to dismiss the allegations in a series of press statements without ever answering any of the very serious questions that have been raised,” he said.
Mr Bethel said after his speech at the Convention, Mr Mitchell told the media that he had “no involvement in the issuance of visas and that it was the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary”.
The matter was dealt with discreetly Mr Bethel said “in the hope that the government would deal with this matter in a serious and responsible manner, rather than trying to shirk their political responsibility.”
In response to Minister Mitchell’s comments about letting the chips fall where they may, Mr Bethel said “some of those chips fall squarely upon him”. He charged that the Minister is responsible for all changes made within his ministry.
Further he pointed to ledger entries which showed 47 visas issued to un-named individuals between Oct 1 2004 and Oct. 5 2004. “From an apparently random collection of copied visa application forms, I have isolated 84 approved visas at the request or upon the sponsorship of one man between the 23rd Sept. 2004 and the 30th Nov. 2004.” Over a period of a year, he pointed out that one man brought 470 Haitians into the country.
The Minister in his comments at the PLP Convention said to address the issuance of visas, “I have requested a management audit of the department by the Public Service Commission and I thank the Acting Chair Bishop Sam Greene for agreeing to undertake this work”. The recommendations will also include those of the Auditor General which he said, “should result in the enhancement and protection of the government’s revenue and the security of our country”.
To that suggestion, Mr Bethel said a public inquiry should be carried out and chaired by no less than a judge in the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal.
“Anything less than an independent public inquiry into this scandal is unacceptable and could only be viewed as a political cover-up,” he said.
Minister Mitchell in his remarks assured the Bahamian people that “no scandal of any kind has been found in the visa section”. He called the information FNM propaganda.
“I have sought within existing procedures to put in place a transparent system where there is an initial finding by the officer; if that is refused then it may be reviewed again or appealed to the Permanent Secretary. That is generally the last level of appeal,” he revealed.
By: JIMENITA SWAIN, The Nassau Guardian
