By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE Free National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard’s claims that the immigration system has become broken and corrupt under the Davis administration, immigration rights activist Louby Georges insists the country’s immigration laws remain strict.

Speaking on Beyond the Headlines with guest host Sancheska Brown on Wednesday, Mr Georges, a private immigration consultant, said he has personally witnessed the strength of the country’s immigration laws. He noted that, as a consultant, he has submitted applications on behalf of clients to the department, many of which were refused for various reasons.

Mr Georges also praised the persistent efforts of the Immigration Department and its enforcement units.

“They’re interdicting. They’re arresting. They’re going into the restaurants where they suspect that migrants may frequent, the food stores or variety stores that they think that migrants may frequent,” Mr Georges said, referring to Immigration units.

He encouraged the public to observe immigration operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), noting that officers are actively denying entry to individuals and sending them to the detention centre.

“With the resources and personnel that they have available. And what I have personally seen and continue to hear on the ground, they are doing their job,” he said.

He added that immigration officers carry out nationwide searches around the clock.

In July, FNM leader Mr Pintard accused the Davis administration of enabling a “broken, politicised and corrupt” immigration system. He pledged that an FNM government would overhaul immigration laws, tighten enforcement, and restore public trust through a national plan to secure The Bahamas’ borders.

Mr Pintard claimed illegal immigration threatens national security and public services, alleging—without evidence—that undocumented people are being issued official documents and that thousands of permit applications remain unresolved.

However, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has since pushed back against the criticism, insisting The Bahamas is not facing an immigration crisis and highlighting his administration’s record of over 15,000 repatriations.