By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING heavy criticism from business leaders over the government’s intention to cut back on work permits, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell refused to respond to “anything specific” and advised critics to simply read what his statement says.

Speaking yesterday, the Fox Hill MP said: “The statement speaks for itself. People should read and digest, and not over act. You got to be rational.”

He added: “That’s as much as needs to be said now. People should read what the statement actually says and not be irrational. That’s all I’ll say... I won’t comment on anything specific at all.”

It was earlier this week in the House of Assembly that Mr Mitchell announced, within about a year the government will stop issuing work permits for maids, housekeepers and labourers.

He added the government is considering the re-imposition of a maximum limit of three three-year work permits to applicants and that “in various conditions” an understudy must be identified and hired before a work permit is granted.

The minister hit out at Grand Bahama companies for having employees on work permits – explaining residents there have complained about foreign workers – and stated: “We will begin to refuse all requests for work permits, cold turkey, unless there is a clear understanding of the need for policies to hire and train Bahamians.”

He also said, his suggestion is that permit fees will “increase substantially.”

The Immigration Department wants to be certain, Mr Mitchell said, that the plea for a need of excellence in service is not a “mask” for preventing Bahamians from getting jobs in the private sector – “which are rightly theirs.”

However, his remarks drew criticism from the FNM, DNA, and several business owners.

FNM MP Hubert Chipman said the attempt to stop issuing work permits to non-Bahamian maids, housekeepers and labourers will have serious effects on the country’s economic development. He dubbed the move, “radical”.

“We are greatly concerned,” he said, “that the Minister might be using a heavy blunt instrument to tackle a vexing business and social problem for which skill and precision seem to be in order.

“The devil will be in the details and we will observe closely the Department of Immigration’s strategies and tactics to ensure that this government does not unduly and unreasonably disrupt the way of life of ordinary Bahamians or the conduct of commerce by attempting to resolve in one year a set of problems that have evolved over a generation or more.”

DNA Leader Branville McCartney said the plan is completely “unworkable”.

“It is very concerning to say the least,” Mr McCartney said. “I was very stunned, shocked to hear that. I would strongly recommend that they reconsider this matter.

“I hope he doesn’t go through with it. It will cripple our economy. We don’t need that. Things are rough as it is. We don’t need any more handicaps.”

The former immigration minister said the policies outlined would both increase the already-high costs of doing business and “stagnate” the still-tepid economic recovery.

Reported in a local daily yesterday, hotel executives also voiced their concerns and explained the limited number of foreign staff at their resorts.

FULL STATEMENT:

Immigration policies have not harmed businesses

Fred Mitchell MP

Minister of Foreign Affairs

and Immigration

THERE has been generally a positive response to the initiatives in immigration announced on Monday in the House of Assembly.

The line remains open to any feedback to the proposals advanced to the vexing problem of immigration that was announced against the backdrop of demands by the Bahamian people for objectives in Immigration which are often not compatible with one another.

Immigration policies are necessarily and by experience tweaked to meet the existing needs of the society.

It is clear that the masses of the Bahamian people voted for some kind of change to what exists up to now with regard to immigration policies.

Most of the responses to what we are trying to accomplish with regard to protecting the Bahamian work force for Bahamians have been met rationally. There have been one or two exceptions to this which have been over the top and completely irrational, one even a little hysterical. These exaggerated responses can only lead one to the conclusion that the responses are not driven by business considerations but rather by some political agenda. Business people and politicians who wish to pursue that line are free to do so in a democratic society but with respect it will not resolve the legal decision that has been made.

It is important to note that public policy must consistently reflect the collective will, desires and aspirations of the Bahamian people and I am satisfied that these latest proposals meet that criteria. Further, government can only cross the line when its policies fail to serve the public’s interests.

I am also satisfied that these proposals when settled will serve the public interest.

All citizens of The Bahamas should remind themselves of the provisions of the Immigration Act which has been law in The Bahamas, unchallenged since 1967. The law allows the Immigration officials the power to grant a permit to a worker from outside The Bahamas with conditions attached. If any applicant is aggrieved of a decision of the Immigration Board there is an appeals process. If that process leaves the applicant still aggrieved then there are the courts.

No business has been threatened or crippled or will be crippled by any action taken by the Department of Immigration.