By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet Minister says the Bahamas must "open up the Immigration debate".

Speaking on the sidelines of a recent Rotary Club of East Nassau meeting, Brent Symonette said: "We have to open up the Immigration debate, and debate and make it a hot button item because I think that, for far too long, we have sort of put it aside because a lot of people have strong views as to what should happen."

The Financial Services and Immigration Minister added: "There are a lot of people who were born here that may become stateless or feel aggrieved that they don't have citizenship. That's an issue I think we have to face had on. Let's bring it out and make it an item for discussion so we can all understand where we go from here."

Mr Symonette said there was a sensitivity over Immigration with regards to financial services, which is also in his portfolio.

"We recognise that there are concerns by many Bahamians over either glass ceilings or the unavailability of jobs, but at some point there is a need to train and there is a need for direct foreign investors to have their top management with them, so it's a balancing act. We hope to be able to do that balance," Mr Symonette told Tribune Business.