The Tribune

DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell says he would like to see the Passport Office move to a “cashless system” in Freeport after some $25,000 reportedly went missing there several months ago.  

While in Grand Bahama on Friday, Mr Mitchell told the media that an employee at the Ministry of Finance has been dismissed and a police investigation has been launched into the matter.

“I have spoken to the Chief Passport Officer because I would like to move to a cashless system where no cash is handled in the Passport Office at all; that is something we are investigating now,” he said.    

Minister Mitchell stated that, some months ago, it was discovered that $25,000 went missing when some banking deposits were made. He said the ministry took the necessary action to determine whether or not the funds were missing.

He stressed that once a determination was made, disciplinary actions were immediately taken.

The Ministry of Public Services, the Ministry of Finance, the police and the Auditor General were notified and investigations were launched.  

“All of these steps have been taken,” Mr Mitchell said. “Disciplinary steps were taken and the individual was interdicted immediately. I am advised that a ‘show cause’ letter for dismissal has also been issued by Ministry of Public Services.

“This is not a joke and one of the reasons why I am trying to flesh this out is because I do not want the public to get the impression that Auditor General descended on the Passport Office because he heard something. The fact is that we discovered it and we asked them to come in because it is their role to come and confirm what the government accounts are,” Mr Mitchell explained.

He said the Auditor reports to the Public Accounts Committee.  He further explained that once the Auditor did a special audit it was sent to the House and the file made its way to Table in the House.  

“That is why it became public matter,” said Mr Mitchell, who indicated that the matter is not something just occurred. “It is an old story because this happened several months ago,” he said.

“I believe in the course of investigation the employee admitted that the funds had been taken and that disciplinary action continues with regards to it, and necessary steps will be taken by MOF (Ministry of Finance) and other government agencies to ensure that there is an appropriate investigation, and that the action which is deemed fit is taken in these circumstances.”

 When asked by The Tribune whether any changes will be made concerning deposits at the Passport Office in the future, the minister said that a comprehensive meeting was held by the Ministry of Finance with all the staff to go over the rules and regulations.    

He then indicated his desire for a move towards a “cashless system” at the Passport Office in Freeport.

With the deadline for e-passports at the end of November, The Tribune asked Minister Mitchell for an update concerning the hiring of additional staff to help deal with the backlog of passport applications in The Bahamas.

He indicated that former senior police officer Clarence Russell - who headed the Passport Office in Freeport - now heads the Passport Office in New Providence and has started a reform effort which will include recruitment of staff across the service “to beef up staffing”.

“The Post Office has also gotten permission from the Ministry of Finance to do overtime to try and put a dent in it and they are beginning to start with that additional programme to tackle that backlog.”

 Mr Mitchell said the deadline is coming up this month when persons won’t be able to use handwritten passports. 

“Everyone should have an electronic passport and they (the Passport Office) are making a rush with that,” he said.

According to Mr Mitchell, there have been many instances where persons are being required to provide affidavits for simple mistakes in the spelling of their names in their passport and birth certificate.

“The fact is that the documentation is necessary and many get annoyed because they are being asked to provide affidavits . . . there is no point in calling the minister and asking to waive the rule, the simplest thing is comply with the request,” he said.