IMMIGRATION and Financial Services Minister Brent Symonette.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
IMMIGRATION Minister Brent Symonette yesterday said there could be no excuse for the fate of unregularised migrants apprehended by increased enforcement measures, which he stated were already underway.
Mr Symonette noted the concerns from the business community; however, he said there has been more than enough time for people to start the regularisation process.
“There will be an increase but the message is very clear, we intend to carry out what we said we’ll carry out. So when persons are apprehended they only have themselves to blame, because we’ve given them enough notice.”
Mr Symonette warned employers on Tuesday they had the remainder of this week to send all illegal workers home.
Following those comments, business leaders cautioned the government to be sensitive over threats of financial penalties.
Edison Sumner, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer Confederation (BCCEC) CEO said the government should remember businesses shoulder the weight of the economy.
Arawak Port Development (APD) CEO and BCCEC Chairman Mike Maura said the Minnis administration’s latest warning to employers about hiring undocumented immigrants was “establishing fear” in the minds of business owners.
However, both men acknowledged there should be no excuse for any business to hire illegal employees.
In the aftermath of the government’s December 31 deadline for all illegal immigrants to leave the country voluntarily or face aggressive pursuit and deportation, Mr Symonette said there are also plans to make the penalties for those who break the law more stringent.
Mr Symonette said modernisation efforts underway at the Department of Immigration were progressing, but did not give a timeline on when a new computerised system will be fully rolled out. The high volume of permit applications was described as the greatest challenge faced by officials.
In August last year, Mr Symonette explained the inundated system is further exacerbated by outdated manual processing and limited physical capacity at the aging, rented complex on Hawkins Hill.
Yesterday, he said: “People who have been here for ten or 12 years and ignored going to (the Department of) Immigration at all, they can’t use the excuse that they haven’t heard back from (the Department of) Immigration. Those people aren’t getting deported because they should be able to show proof they applied.
“Some people get a work permit, let it expire for years and when they get caught, try to renew. No, you gotta be current all the time, those are the laws of this country. Efficiency at immigration has nothing to do with it.”
Comments
TalRussell 6 years, 3 months ago
Comrades, of course we ain't goin allow the 'red shorts' to duck out their fair share illegal immigration neglect blame for what is now a 'fourth red shorts administration' comprising 15 years and 11 months. There is no law on the books allowing for the minister immigration to 'regularize' what is 'illegal.' Funny how the PM decided this was the time him take leave from the PMO undergo minor surgery to remove a cataract? This 'red shorts' cabinet wants the natives to forget who they were for the first 15 years at governing, there has never been a proper discussion over Kelly Island dealings during their 15th years term at governing?
bogart 6 years, 3 months ago
RE: last paragraph ....'Some people get a work permit, let it expire for years and when they get caught, try to renew........Efficiency at immigration has nothing to do with it.'
Das why we hav the problem cause yinna aint checking the log book next year yhen deys work permit holder aint show up and yinna aint cross referencing wid da nex Airport or Port arrivals an departure book book to see if deys leave the country.
If yinna na kno who comes in de country and leaves we has a big problem so much so that the international tourist guides and country data has Creole as our second language. What nex, spanish?
The fact that is with the full use of all Security, Immigration, Customs, Police and Defence forces and even US assistance that we have this national problem actually might not be efficiency but lack of basic common sense among other challenges.
This situation as dtated in the above referenced also has implications for the Financial sector in that what happens after the workers bank account is opened with a work permit and then expires for yearss as to whether for years monies are deposited transferred and withdrawn and the source of funds is therefore illegal but part of our monetary system.
The issues of illegals are far reaching and stems largely from what goes on and has gone on for decades at Immigration as the only agency which deals with work permits and issues of Immigration.
Its not efficiency, its something else but needs a quick solution.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 3 months ago
Indeed .......... Just like the unlicensed cars driving around on the streets. We should be at a place where a list of delinquents are printed at the end of each month/year and APBs issued for their arrest/detention etc.
What is the use of having technology if we cannot take care of simple things in Government??????
TheMadHatter 6 years, 3 months ago
Bogart & Sheeprunner - yinnah is too smart for dese Bahamalands. Immigration ga deport yall first before u cause too much people to wake up and realize they gettin goosey.
Graham keep tellin people dey rich wit aragonite and oil, but i guess they just love dem $200 a week cashier job too much :-)
ohdrap4 6 years, 3 months ago
he forgot aragonite, that is too much work. ' he wants to buy and sell crypti currency now.
bogart 6 years, 3 months ago
Funny you should mention oil because last week it was mentioned that the company with the local oil drilling leases has movement on its shares.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 3 months ago
Why is the HMBS Lawrence Major not tied up to the dock and being loaded with the thousands of illegals to be sent South??????? ......... If they can send it down to Dominica ...... use it to ship out the frigging illegals!!!!!!! .......... Stop talking and get the frigging illegals OUT!!!!!!!
No Bahamian passport ....... No work permit ...... No citizenship papers pending???? .............. GET OUT!!!!!
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