The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE “public debate” surrounding the government’s intention to cut back on work permits will aid in forming a “proper, coherent” immigration policy of which everyone can approve, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.

He said “there’s no need” to respond to the recent criticism from the private sector over the work permit proposals and praised Immigration and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell for “sparking” the varying commentary on the matter.

“I think that the immigration issue has always been a vexing issue for our country – something that we have to try to bring some coherency to,” Mr Davis said.
“I think Minister Mitchell’s approach of sparking this public debate is to at least get people sensitized to what’s happening in this immigration field; and at the same time, get some commentary on it so that at the end of the day, the decision makers and the policy makers could take into account what’s being said out there in the public – to be able to craft a proper, coherent immigration policy to which everyone of us could embrace.”

Mr Mitchell had announced in the House of Assembly last week that in about a year, the government will stop issuing work permits for maids, housekeepers and labourers.

He added the government is considering the re-imposition of a maximum limit of three three-year work permits to applicants and that “in various conditions” an understudy must be identified and hired before a work permit is granted.

He also said, his suggestion is that permit fees will “increase substantially.”

The Immigration Department wants to be certain, Mr Mitchell said, that the plea for a need of excellence in service is not a “mask” for preventing Bahamians from getting jobs in the private sector – “which are rightly theirs.”

Despite drawing criticism from the FNM, DNA, and several business owners over his remarks, Mr Mitchell noted in a statement that there was a general “positive response” and directed “irrational” critics to read what his statement said.

“Most of the responses to what we are trying to accomplish with regard to protecting the Bahamian work force for Bahamians have been met rationally,” he said.

“There have been one or two exceptions to this which have been over the top and completely irrational, one even a little hysterical. These exaggerated responses can only lead one to the conclusion that the responses are not driven by business considerations but rather by some political agenda.

“Business people and politicians who wish to pursue that line are free to do so in a democratic society, but with respect it will not resolve the legal decision that has been made.”

FNM MP Hubert Chipman said the attempt to stop issuing work permits to non-Bahamian maids, housekeepers and labourers will have serious affects on the country’s economic development. He called the move, “radical”.

DNA Leader Branville McCartney called the plan is completely “unworkable” and said the policies outlined would both increase the already high cost of doing business and “stagnate” the still tepid economic recovery.

Hotel executives have also expressed their concerns and explained the limited number of foreign staff at their various resorts.