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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS STATEMENT ON THE PASSPORT (AMENDMENT) RULES 2007
Mr. Speaker,
You would be aware that in December 2006, the
Government signed a contract with Indusa Global, a Greenville, South
Carolina based information technology development and consulting
firm, for $12.7 million dollars to provide four systems:
an ePassport issuance system;
a Machine readable Visa system;
an E-Identification issuance system
(smart cards for holder of work permits, spousal permits,
home owners residence permits); and
a Border Control Management System.
The pilot of the ePassport Issuance System was
launched in New Providence on Wednesday, 5th December,
2007.
Mr. Speaker,
In order to facilitate the introduction of the
ePassport, the Passport Rules are hereby amended to provide for:
inclusion of "biometric data and
features" meaning:
i. digitized finger prints;
ii. machine-readable facial features;
iii. machine-readable biographical
data including signatures.
Photographs that comply with the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards;
and
Revised Passport Fees Schedule.
Mr. Speaker,
With regards to passport fees, my Ministry, in an
effort to recover some of the costs associated with the
implementation and maintenance of the system, consulted with the
Ministry of Finance. Subsequent to these consultations, Cabinet
agreed to a modest increase in passport fees as follows:
|
TYPE OF DOCUMENT |
CURRENT FEE |
AGREED INCREASE |
|
Children’s Passport |
$15 |
$25 |
|
Frequent Traveller’s Passport |
$60 |
$100 |
|
Regular Passport |
$30 |
$50 |
|
Temporary Passport |
$10 |
$35 |
|
Certificate of Identity |
$20 |
$25 |
These fees are considered reasonable compared to
other countries where the fees range from $40 - $180 (DPM, the
comparison table is attached if you wish to refer to specifics).
Mr. Speaker,
The Passport Rules are also amended to provide
for:
the old passport and E-Passport to be
issued concurrently, and
a separate passport application in
respect of each and every person.
Mr. Speaker,
The ePassport system will be implemented in
phases throughout the Family Islands and in our Overseas Missions.
During the phased implementation period, we will continue to issue
the old passports at these locations until the new system becomes
available. When fully implemented by mid – 2008, it is anticipated
that there will be a total of 19 passport stations where persons
will be able to apply for and collect their passports.
Mr. Speaker,
We would wish the public to know that persons
should continue to travel using their old passports until either
their passport expires or they are duly notified otherwise,
whichever comes first.
Mr. Speaker,
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
has mandated that all member countries must be issuing Machine
Readable Passports by 2010.
Mr. Speaker,
The Bahamas, by our ePassport initiative, will be
ICAO compliant.
Mr. Speaker,
I now lay on the table of this Honourable House
the Passport (Amendment) Rules 2007. |
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