THE Department of Immigration is investigating three “matters of national import” after receiving complaints and reports of irregularities in recent weeks.
In a statement on Friday evening, the Department said it is reviewing the project at The Pointe at the British Colonial Hilton, Nassau, and expects to meet with the developer and the Department of Labour shortly.
It also said it had received a report from the Department of Labour regarding the actions of a non-Bahamian employee toward Bahamian employees at Memories Resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama, and had acted on its recommendations - “that is the withdrawal of the employee’s right to work in The Bahamas and his recall from The Bahamas”. However, the may be subject to an appeal, it added.
The statement said the Department was also looking into reports of abusive behaviour by foreign management toward Bahamian employees at The Cove in Eleuthera.
The Department said that complaints and reported irregularities regarding work permits are initially investigated by the Department of Labour and emphasised that the government “is particularly sensitive to the labour components of commercial agreements as regards the limitations on foreign labour and the training and hiring of Bahamian labour”.
Comments
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
These department are pandering to the voter by treating him like a little child. What would the government have done if this was a biggerty Bahamian manager abusing his authority?
The Memories matter should be taken up with the owners of Memories as to the direction they intend to take their resort and if it is in accordance with the best interests of this country's economic policy.
Instead they have said to Bahamians if someone upsets you come to mummy.
We have to grow up and handle matters in an adult manner.
This is why The Bahamas has no respect, and no new investment from first class investors, just bottom of the barrel ones, like Memories.
GrassRoot 8 years, 3 months ago
Not sure the self-proclaimed "Ministry of Ethos and Moral Standards in the Bahamas" is in the right hands with the Minister of Immigration. As posted earlier in a thread, this is not a matter of immigration, rather a matter of the respective businesses to deal with, possibly the Labor Board. There are ways how to deal with that in courts (contractually or even criminally as it may fit), if the issues arise to that level. So please government, mind your own business and leave the business community alone. There are more disgruntled and falsely entitled employees in the Bahamas, than a@hole bosses (they exist too, of course).
P.S.: It must be sometimes really hard not to be noticed as a public figure.
DreamerX 8 years, 3 months ago
They plainly stated that the Department of Labour has primary responsibility for a lot of it. What these statements could do however, is place the spot light on the DOL if they have ignored the issue. Thus people cannot claim Immigration did no action, they have given the DOL a chance to act and set up in a way, a secondary action in case of inaction of the DOL.
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrades at Immigration says it is investigating three “matters of national import” after receiving complaints and reports of irregularities in recent weeks. One on the list of "national import" is the project at Da Pointe at the British Colonial Hilton, Nassau,Town.
Shouldn't Irregularities also be included when ya foreign government's hotels windows does be facing right across from the USA"s Embassy's?
Now, was that just a fluke of an coincidence, or some planned spying irregularity?
Immigration says they expects to meet with the Chinese developer and the Department of Labour shortly - which shouldn't be that difficult a meet to arrange considering - isn't the offices for da Department of Labour located right there at Da La Pointe?
Comrades you does knows I ain't making this stuff up okay.
sansoucireader 8 years, 3 months ago
Isn't the US looking for a new location for their embassy for the same reason? Yes, they outgrew their Queen Street location eons ago but this information was only released in late 2015. My first thought when the Chinese took over/brought the Hilton was, isn't the US Embassy right across the street? Hmmmmm....
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrade Sansoucireader if it is the case foreign workers under work permits at Baha Mar were in fact relocated to Da Point, how is this possible if still working under their original Cable Beach work permits location?
Tell me, have you a clear understanding what in the hell ever happened to the thousands foreigner construction workers that were living in their "workers village" at Baha Mar? Did they exit the country? Were their work permits canceled? Were all their work permit fees paid? National Insurance deductions?
Did the workers employer pay to have new work permits issued, or did they simply switch employers?
Why is it that no reader of the Tribune has ever seen a photograph of that "workers village?"
Wasn't there questions raised over building permits for some garage under construction next door this same project?
Clamshell 8 years, 3 months ago
Here's the problem at The Cove on Eleuthera: Management requires the staff to show up every day, on time, and actually work all day. This has come as something of a shock to Bahamian employees, especially on the Out Islands.
GrassRoot 8 years, 3 months ago
thank you.
asiseeit 8 years, 3 months ago
The Chinese will get a pass from Emperor Perry of the Chihamas Government. Ain't nobody gonna mess with Emperor Perry's people!
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrades no need worries as for them be spying on me cause all me secret documentations have been secured at a another unknown location and all me house's windows done been covered over with old Tribune newspapers. My only advice USA Embassy would be to relocate your offices quickly but in da meantime you has keep all your done read copies da Tribunes, for window taping purposes.
No Comrades, I am not making all this stuff up, upstairs me head okay.
by TalRussell
Stapedius 8 years, 3 months ago
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If there are irregularities of course they should be investigated and dealt with appropriately. The immigration department has ajob to do and I agree that professional behavior is paramount to do the job. But we keep beating down our own at every turn. I've seen ICE kick down a door in the US to find an illegal group of Mexicans and I didn't hear the neighbors complain. In fact they were pleased that these federal agents were doing their jobs.
SP 8 years, 3 months ago
......................... 110% agreement with your sentiments ........................
People complaining here are relics of the UBP with a mentality that black Bahamians rightful place is "underfoot". These people lost physical political power but maintained financial power which they now use to manipulate both PLP and FNM against black Bahamians at every possible turn to "keep us in line".
These are the merchant class descendants of slave masters that wholeheartedly embrace and perpetuate the Haitian parasite epidemic because they also inherited a thirst for an underclass of subservient "grinning, yes boss, ass-kissers".
These handful of white Bahamians account for a minority among our white brothers and sisters but are exceptionally dangerous to our sovereignty because they feel themselves totally insulated by massive wealth and they would be even more comfortable should Bahamas fall and descend into another failed state like Haiti.
Foreigners abusing Bahamians is just fine with these people because Bahamians do not ascribe to their white supremacy heritage.
Fred Mitchell and department of immigration are doing the right thing in protecting Bahamians from foreign white supremacist.
baldbeardedbahamian 8 years, 3 months ago
I am a white Bahamian. This racist rant by sp is offensive and it would be good if we had law on the books that make such statements subject to prosecution. What are the chances that Sp is plop voter, never studied in a different country and probably thinks the government is doing a stellar job as we progress to junkbond status and a failed state.
Economist 8 years, 3 months ago
We can't compare ourselves to the US. The US, like North Korea and a couple of other countries has refused to sign certain treaties relating to human rights and international criminal court. So don't look to the US for an example.
The Bahamas signed treaties and is bound by them.
Stapedius 8 years, 3 months ago
This is not a human rights issue in this case. If the department has suspicion or evidence of Bahamian laws being broken then it is obligated to uphold the laws of the land. I don't get why we are making every discussion of immigration about human rights. True, we should treat people with respect and human dignity but it doesn't negate our responsibility to protect our borders. I cannot accept the argument that we are a signators to international agreements and this somehow dismisses our sovereign right to defend ourselves. Absolute nonsense. Diversity is good and brings many different cultures and people to our shores but people need bro recognize that there is a process and when you bypass the process by coming here illegally there are consequences.
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrade Stapedius from what the Tribune is saying, this is not about a breach of immigration laws but over labour matters that may just involve a work permit holder. A major difference in the nature of the complaint.
Stapedius 8 years, 3 months ago
Exactly the point. So commenters shouldn't bring up the issue of international obligations and allow immigration and the department of labor to do their jobs.
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrade if it's true that the Ministry Labour has a physical office inside Da Point/ British Colonial Hotel - how does that sit with you?
cuckoo6 8 years, 3 months ago
Every time I drive pass The Pointe disappointing to see how few Bahamians on the job site. Nothing going on there that local construction can't do. We getting the Pointe alright !!
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Unanswered to this date?
banker 8 years, 3 months ago
Not only are we getting the Pointe, we are getting the shaft as well.
TalRussell 8 years, 3 months ago
Comrades when it comes to the department labour acting to protect the rights of ordinary workers - they are but useless tits doing the deeds for whatever political party's people just happens be seated around that big ass cabinet room's conference table.
From the days the white Bay Street Boys reign, into the Pindling and onto Papa Hubert's regimes, and as we speak today, hasn't the department of labour continued to act as the "tool" to both the PLP Cabinet's and the unions to police work permit holders?
Comrades can you recall any incident whereby the department of labour actually walked onto a job-site, or workplace, to project the labour rights of any ordinary worker who was not either a dues paying unionized worker, or where it didn't involve an alleged offending work permit, or residency permit holder?
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