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STATEMENT
BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON THE ISSUANCE OF VISAS
November
21, 2005
The
Free National Movement yesterday Sunday 20th November issued
a statement with regard to the issuance of visas by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Nassau. In
it, the party made allegations about the Minister of Foreign Affairs
with regard to the issuance of visas.
Our
initial analysis reveals that these are again rehashes of allegations
made before by that party. On
each occasion that the FNM has made the allegations, the Ministry has
invited the Free National Movement to make a formal complaint outlining
any wrong doing which they allege has occurred.
They have been unable to do so.
On three occasions most recently in the Minister's address at his
party's national convention, the Free National Movement was invited to
report any allegations to the police.
They have again failed to do so.
Instead, they now make political charges by the use of documents
which clearly do not disclose the whole facts of the matters.
The
documents neither disclose a breach of security nor that a decision was
made which was outside the discretion of the officers who made the
decisions.
One
document purports to support their case that the Prime Minister, the
Minister and a Senator are involved in the political issuance of visas.
The document proves no such thing.
What the document shows is that a complaint was made about visa
issuance. This is one of
several complaints which the Minister, his office assistants or aides
receive about visas on a daily basis.
They are all routinely referred to the Permanent Secretary for
investigation. The case in
the document produced by the FNM was handled no differently.
The Minister had no other role in the matter.
With
regard to any allegations about the issuance of visas as they relate to
persons allegedly sponsored by Sidney Stubbs, a Member of Parliament;
the Free National Movement must again point to the evidence of some
wrongdoing on the part of the Minister or any public officials.
They are unable to do so. The
information which they provide is only part of the story.
The
rules on the granting visas are even tougher than they were under the
Free National Movement in that brokers or middle men are restricted from
applying for visas.
The
Free National Movement surely does not expect the public to believe that
the Minister involves himself in the day to day granting of visas. He
does not. The system does
not work that way. It is
the Permanent Secretary who conducts the day to day business of the
Ministry and there is no interference on visa decisions by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs.
One
must be careful, however to note that even if the Minister gives an
instruction to deny, grant, or review a visa application, that is not
political interference. In
law, the last level of appeal is to the Minister.
During his time in office, the Minister does not ever recall
exercising such a power.
Contrary
to the FNM’s assertion, the Minister has never sought to cast the
political responsibility for the Ministry on public servants, but the
decision of the Minister to isolate himself from day to day visa
decisions is appropriate, so to avoid precisely the instant
circumstances where ill founded gossip, based on stolen documents, that
tell half the story, can find their way into the public domain through
overly ambitious, half baked and irresponsible politicians.
One
must remember that the country today is more dynamic than during the
FNM’s time in office. The
demands therefore for legitimate travel and access to The Bahamas have
increased. It is unfortunate that by use of two nationalities they seek
to use prejudice as a means of confusing the issue. Once the traveler has the resources to sustain himself in The
Bahamas and is able to assure the consular officer that he will return
home and there is no adverse national security report, there is no
reason why he should not be granted a visa.
The FNM has to say whether or not the persons they allege
received visas are still within The Bahamas.
The Ministry’s requirements are that visa recipients return
home.
The
Ministry repeats what the Minister said in his Convention address that a
management audit is now being conducted by the Public Service Commission
into the conduct of the affairs of the division.
All of the previous allegations made by the Free National
Movement with regard to the division have been referred to the
Commission and the Free National Movement is free to offer any further
information which they have that would assist in that investigation.
There
is certainly nothing which they now reveal to suggest improper conduct
on the part of the Minister. In
fact, in referring the matter to the Permanent Secretary, that
establishes accountable and transparent action on the part of the
Minister. Once the
Permanent Secretary receives it, the matter is beyond the Minister.
However,
since the Free National Movement have steadfastly refused to or have
declined to provide their information to the police, the Minister has
instructed that forthwith the police be asked to investigate the instant
allegations made by the Free National Movement.
The investigation ought to include but need not be limited to the
following:
·
Any allegations made by the Free National Movement and any
evidence in its possession;
·
An investigation into how documents that appear to have been
stolen from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs got into the possession of
Carl Bethel, a Senator designate for the Free National Movement.
The
results of any investigation will be shared with the public.
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21st November, 2005
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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