DNA leader: New immigration rules are just talk

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney does not expect the government to execute the recently announced immigration restrictions aimed at clamping down on illegal migration.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr McCartney said the government is “good at talking and making a lot of promises but their track record shows that they don’t execute”.

Directly addressing the proposals announced in Parliament by Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell last week, Mr McCartney said: “I would’ve thought when the minister was announcing these new proposals, he would’ve said ‘We would be enhancing what’s already in place.’

“One of the changes was to not accept applications for people who do not have legal status to work in the country,” he added. “If you’re here illegally that should already be the case.”

The former minister of state for immigration also questioned if the proposed plan for first-time work permit holders will extend the already protracted process.

Mr Mitchell announced last Wednesday that as of November 1, the government aims to have employers who are applying for first-time work permit holders who are residents of Haiti to come to the Department of Immigration and pay the $100 processing fee, provide a labour certificate, cover letter, stamp tax of $30 and the employee information sheet in Nassau.

Mr Mitchell said that information will be forwarded to the Embassy of the Bahamas in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where the applicant will fill out the application form and provide the supporting documents. The applicant must be certified as personally seen by an embassy officer in Port au Prince, he said.

“That’s fine,” Mr McCartney said. “The question is, how (much) longer will the application process take? Because the current application process takes months upon months. It’s long now and it will be much longer.”

Last week Mr Mitchell also announced the consideration of a ban on people who have previously entered the Bahamas illegally and have been deported from ever obtaining legal status.

He also revealed that as of November 1, the government will require all persons who live in the Bahamas to have a passport of the country of their nationality. He said those who have been born here will get a particular residence permit which will allow them to work and live here until such time as their status pursuant to any application under the terms of the Constitution is decided.

Mr McCartney said he was glad the minister and the government are acknowledging the country’s immigration woes. However, he questioned why little has been done to rectify the shanty town dilemma or prosecution of illegal immigrants.

“The minister previously stated last year, or a year before that, that a number of these immigrants are being protected by certain elites,” Mr McCartney said. “I’m wondering if indeed that is still his stance and how does that relate to this new policy?”

Comments

proudloudandfnm says...

I have to agree with bran muffin. Our immigration issue has always been about enforcement. Nothing else. Immigration knows exactly where the illegals are. RBDF knows exactly what route they use to get in to the country. If they were serious about immigration Abaco would already have a RBDF base and a significant immigration presence...

This is just more legislation to be ignored....

Posted 22 September 2014, 1:29 p.m. Suggest removal

Required says...

Can we please change the headline to "DNA Leader is just talk."

Posted 22 September 2014, 7:20 p.m. Suggest removal

sansoucireader says...

He had a seat under another party and gave it up. He was 'inside', in the circle, and if he had had any patience, or knowledge of how things work, would have /could have used that opportunity to advance his opinions & ideas. But no. Now he's just another Bahamian sitting on the sidelines, giving his thoughts on what should or shouldn't happen. Until he or his DNA party wins a seat "ain't nuttin' happenin'!"

Posted 22 September 2014, 9:18 p.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

Mr. Ingraham's Cabinet did not work that way. The only ideas advanced were Mr. Ingraham's. Everyone else was there to just warm a seat cushion. Bran called upon one of his senior officers one day in town, only to not be able to get him on the line. Hours later he discovered the man had been re-assigned to the airport. By who? HAA of course. That's the "knowledge of how things work" that you can now be aware of.

**TheMadHatter**

Posted 22 September 2014, 11:05 p.m. Suggest removal

jackbnimble says...

I agree. Mr. McCartney's ideas for immigration reform were all stifled by Mr. Ingraham. They frustrated him out and years later our immigration issues are worse. We gat a PM with his head in the sand and an Immigration Minister who spends more time flyin' than dealin'.

Posted 23 September 2014, 9:11 a.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

Jack - yes, and in 41 years the people have only seen fit to elect themselves 3 different prime ministers. That's virtually a dictatorship. I mean why not just have only one, you know? I suppose if LOP didn't die he would still be in there. Heck, his wife is the GG now. We might as well have stayed with the Queen for as much change as we have asked for. Yet, people just love to complain. I suppose they fear that if McCartney were PM he would take away so many things that they have to complain about (by fixing them) - that they wouldn't have nothing to talk about at the weekly cook-outs at Montague.

**TheMadHatter**
http:://r6827.blog.com

Posted 23 September 2014, 9:23 a.m. Suggest removal

TheMadHatter says...

Oh, and one more thing. You talk about "... if he had had any patience..."; Just so you know, Bahamians are running out of patience. We have had patience for 41 years now.

Posted 22 September 2014, 11:12 p.m. Suggest removal

sansoucireader says...

Like I said, he was already on the inside, a part of the government. I doubt he'll ever be there again.

Posted 23 September 2014, 9:10 a.m. Suggest removal

NoNoNo says...

It never ends. <img src="http://s04.flagcounter.com/mini/kfoW/bg…" style="display:none">

Posted 22 September 2014, 9:49 p.m. Suggest removal

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