By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
A CABINET Minister yesterday lamented the high cost of illegal Immigration, and warned that "someone has got to pay" for the near-$2 million deportation bill year-to-date.
Brent Symonette, who has responsibility for Immigration, confirmed some work permit fees will increase as he addressed the first in a series of World Trade Organisation (WTO) industry consultations to be held over the next two weeks.
"The fees will come into effect by July 1. There are only a couple of changes, and they are mainly in the low-end $1,000 bracket. Some are $25-$50 because those fees haven't been increased since 2008," said Mr Symonette.
He added: "I think there is concern. The Ministry or Department of Immigration has just rented a building in which we are going to establish a registry. In the last four weeks or so, we have moved over 300,000 files; physical files. Each of those represent a person who has applied for a work permit or otherwise in the Bahamas.
"That doesn't include permanent residency or citizenship. That doesn't include GB Shipyard, which is doing 300 permits a week. That's just basically here. The cost of deportation is another large cost, which has been about $1.6 million so far this year; deporting non-nationals. At some point someone has got to pay for this."
Mr Symonette also addressed the Commercial Enterprises Bill, expressing confidence that it will encourage more international firms to headquarter and establish a physical presence in the Bahamas because of its incentives.
"The Government passed the Commercial Enterprises Bill the other day," he said. "I think on Tuesday of last week we were through [around] 12 applications under that Bill which resulted, in one case, one company bringing in 35 people. They're moving their headquarters here and will hire local people.
"That one application was processed within three weeks, so the process is moving. The Prime Minister is on a tour at the moment, which will result in investment and opportunities where we market the Bahamas and say, for instance, Grand Bahama, and position the Bahamas as the place to move business."
Mr Symonette added: "I got a lot of criticism in the press talking about a call centre. One of the applications we approved was actually or a call centre in a particular field. It's interesting that Act has had a tremendous reaching effect and, as time goes on, we look forward to more business headquartering."
Comments
bogart 6 years ago
Don't try dat!!! ....aint gats anyting to do wid me!!...never hired no illegal....aint gats money...never rented nothing cause aint have noting to rent....never sheltered none illegal nor did any plenty family or friend could afford to hire no illegal ....cause we all scrappin catchin hell calling it good time.....so betta dont try putting any a dat bill on we....!!!!
Betta try let dose who can afford it try pay an dont talk fool saying somebody....cause it aint we!!! ....the majority a da poor strughling catchin hell. Muddoes dred what we poor do ta deserve dis.....dey messin wid we Fire Engine...messing no beds at PMH....messin wid we jobs at da Pointe....bey dey betta try stop ...fix dey face an vharge da right people fer da illegals transportation....!!!
Dawes 6 years ago
So in effect you make those who come here legally, pay for those who come illegally. Whilst i don't have a problem with increasing it, the reason behind it is laughable.
Economist 6 years ago
Send the bill to the Bahamas Defence force for not doing their job of protecting our boarders.
They let the illegals in.
They are one of the largest defence forces in the Caribbean and have the most ships and don't know how to use them.
They should have to pay for their incompetence.
bogart 6 years ago
Minister Bodie just on the news talking about slsckness and people off from work for it seems months.....and his intention to do someting bout it.....good going Minister Bodie!!......dats accountability fer governance doing da rite ting for the Bahamian people, sovereign nation.
ThisIsOurs 6 years ago
"#Mr Symonette added: "I got a lot of criticism in the press talking about a call centre. One of the applications we approved was actually or a call centre in a particular field. It's interesting that Act has had a tremendous reaching effect and, as time goes on, we look forward to more business headquartering."
I hope they've done the research and have the necessary mitigation plans in place for the possible negative side effects of call centers. Check Jamaica.
sheeprunner12 6 years ago
85% of the deportees is to Haiti ...... Send their Government the bill ....... Then Jamaica, Cuba, China etc. who also collude in exporting their riff-raff to other countries in order to get remittances ......... We are losing our "top graduates" every year to the First World and taking in the riff-raff (unskilled) from the Third World.
No wonder our Government is under strain to increase taxes to take care of this burden.
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