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The
following statement has been specifically authorised by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs & The Public Service, the Honourable Fred Mitchell,
who is presently traveling as Head of Delegation to the PetroCaribe
conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
GOVERNMENT
ASTONISHED THAT FNM QUESTIONS ITS OWN IMMIGRATION POLICY
No Ministerial
Involvement in Visa Process at MFA
A
spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed astonishment
at the Free National Movement’s improper use of statistics,
“obviously released in a fashion meant to be prejudicial” and the
use of the word ‘Haitian’ in “a clear and unmistakable attempt to
spread fear and prejudice in pursuit of their political ends.
“It
was the FNM Government which left in place an agreement to regularize
all Haitians who lived in The Bahamas prior to 1985 with some form of
legal status”, said the spokesman, “This PLP Government has signed
no such agreement and all the policies of the FNM remain in place,
particularly with regard to the granting of visas as it relates to
Haitians. Now the FNM
appears to be running away from their own policy.
“Further,
it should be recalled that an effort was made to negotiate changes to
the Treaty – to add the years between 1985 and 1992 – but the PLP
Government stood firm and is now only implementing that to which the FNM
agreed and left in place.”
The
strict approvals policy for visas long implemented and adhered to by the
present Minister is that there is no ministerial involvement in the
day-to-day visa approvals process.
That discretion is exercised through visa applications, which at
the uppermost; reach to the level of the Permanent Secretary.
Further,
by firm ministerial directive from the Hon. Fred Mitchell, no visa
applications are to be accepted from brokers, middlemen or unrelated
third parties. The Minister
has been advised that these measures have been strictly adhered to,
particularly with regard to Chinese nationals.
“It
follows therefore”, said the spokesman, “that if the FNM has
information about improprieties, then their course is clear: they either
report the specific allegations of impropriety to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for further investigation, or take their allegations
directly to the Police along with their evidence.”
As
has been stated, there is indeed a normal and ongoing process of review
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with regard to the issuance of visas
to ensure that the process is a pristine one.
In fact, a recent audit of the Ministry’s Consular Division
found that some visas did not include photographic identification and as
a result, the Permanent Secretary has since instructed that practice be
brought to an end.
It
is noted that non-immigrant visas are issued to persons who do not
intend to remain in The Bahamas. The
Ministry is advised by the Department of Immigration that persons who
are issued non-immigrant visas do, in fact, return to their countries of
origin.
There
is no short circuit of Immigration controls, because before the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs grants any visa, the Department of Immigration is
consulted to determine whether the potential visa recipient is on the
Immigration list of undesirables. Once
a visa is granted, the Department of Immigration is so notified by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration records are updated to
ensure that the person leaves the country at the specified time.
The
Free National Movement, or anyone else with specific evidence that this
is not the case, is invited; indeed urged, to report the matter to the
Department of Immigration or to the Police. “But,” said the
spokesman; “…they should not try shamefully to sully the reputations
of public officers by generalised and unspecified allegations.”
-- end --
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs
6th
September, 2005
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