The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said the government is bolstering passport security as it advances plans for a new passport office, rejecting opposition assertions that safeguards around passport issuance are lax.

His response followed comments from FNM deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, who said in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that the public is increasingly worried about how easily people can obtain passports. He said many Bahamians believe officials are not being diligent enough in protecting the nation’s patrimony and birthright.

Mr Mitchell countered the claims yesterday, saying Bahamian passports are more secure than at any point in the country’s history. He reiterated that there is no evidence of widespread or even minor fraud in the passport issuance process.

“We are continually working on security,” he said. “There's going to be a new passport office shortly with updated equipment, which will even increase the passport security and in fact, the argument out in the country is not that they're so easy to get, but it's so difficult to get a Bahamian passport so I want to assure the Bahamian public this morning, the Constitution is very clear as to who gets a Bahamian passport.”

The exchange came amid heightened scrutiny after Opposition Leader Michael Pintard claimed, without producing any proof, that a package of “unaccompanied” Bahamian passports was allegedly found on a Bahamasair flight. He said the discovery prompted an internal investigation at the airline. Government officials have repeatedly dismissed the claims and labelled them “irresponsible.”

Yesterday, Mr Mitchell added: “What is the value of a Bahamian public official saying that a Bahamian passport is fraudulently issued when you have to use that passport to go around the world, just even when we cross the border here.”

He urged the public to handle the subject with care, calling it a serious matter.