THE Free National Movement yesterday accused the Davis administration of failing to provide Bahamians with a clear plan after the United States designated its Nassau embassy as a processing site for Haitian nationals seeking immigrant visas.

“Bahamians are troubled by the recent announcement,” the party said, adding that what has been heard so far from the government is “woefully inadequate”.

The FNM said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ assurance that Haitian nationals would not be allowed into The Bahamas “for the purpose of applying for a US visa” does nothing to address concerns about how the designation will affect this country.

“That line does nothing to reassure Bahamians that the administration has an actual plan,” the statement said. “It fails to explain how the government will manage the operational impact of being designated a processing post.”

The opposition said the government has ignored immigration concerns for too long, pointing to a promised review in 2023 that never materialised, politically motivated shake-ups in the Department of Immigration, and the release of lawbreakers back to work.

The criticism came as the government sought to calm public anxiety after the US announced that, beginning November 1, Haitian immigrant visa applications will be processed in Nassau due to worsening instability in Haiti.

The Office of the Prime Minister insisted the policy “will result in no additional entries to The Bahamas for the purpose of US visa applications,” stressing that Haitian nationals are barred from entering the US under measures introduced by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Speaking in Exuma last week, Mr Davis said The Bahamas will not be “used” for visa processing. “We are not going to be just used for the purposes of allowing… because what happens if someone comes here and that visa is denied?” he said. “There’s no need to come to The Bahamas. Visas, you can go online and apply, and if you meet the criteria, it could be done.”

He added that Haitian nationals already need Bahamian visas to enter this country, and that stricter entry requirements have been under review for months.

Immigration rights activist Louby Georges urged people not to conflate Haitian visa applicants with irregular migrants, stressing that the two groups are distinct.

Haiti’s worsening turmoil, marked by the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and the rise of armed gangs, has displaced more than a million people and forced the suspension of visa services in Port-au-Prince.

Last night the PLP issued a statement reiterating the government’s position that Haitians will not be allowed enter the Bahamas to apply for a US visa.