Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell
By KYLE WALKINE
Tribune Staff Reporter
kwalkine@tribunemedia.net
FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell has asked passport applicants to “be patient” and “not abusive” to staff at the Passport Office in the wake of reports that some applicants may have become unruly while waiting.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell stressed to all those hoping to receive new passports that they must give the Passport Office employees enough time to process their applications and eventually give them their new travel document in a timely manner.
“I would ask the public to be patient and not abusive to the staff,” he said.
“We will work with the Ministry of National Security to help keep order at the passport facility in Nassau. I have also spoken to the managers at the department and asked them to reorient their own thinking to a more focused outcome.”
According to Mr Mitchell officers from the Ministry of Public Service will now assist workers at the Passport Office as they create a two-shift system to speed up the process.
“The waiting time, I am advised, is now on average six weeks from the time of application, up from four weeks,” Mr Mitchell said. “I am advised that the reason for this is the combination of the rush for people to replace their handwritten passports with electronic passports, which are mandated by an international agreement, and the expected summer travel rush. I have met with the management of the passport staff and we are making several attempts to ease the situation.”
The weeks from May have proved to be the busiest period for the Passport Office for years as travellers seek their documents for summer vacation.
Mr Mitchell also reminded applicants that there is a procedure to follow if passports are needed on an emergency basis.
The Foreign Affairs Minister gave his word that he will give an update on the changes within the coming weeks.
In 2009, then Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette had to fly to Grand Bahama to announce positive changes made to their Passport Office after complaints of long lines, poor service and slow turnaround time in receiving a new passport. It has been nearly four years since the e-passport was introduced to The Bahamas.
Comments
GrassRoot 10 years, 5 months ago
What a monumental task to organize a passport office. Any third grader can do that. I guess the Minister in charge has to do some house cleaning. That is, if he is at the house ever...
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 5 months ago
Freddie Boy needs to tell de'se stupid dumb impatient Bahamians (who he don' wanna pee beside in da't ol'e parliament buildin') dat dey is be standin' in da wrong line....dey should be in da Haitian express lane....no long wait dere!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago
Instead of Fred taking care of his Ministry portfolio he is out galavanting all over the world, representing LGBTs and talking fool about new Parliament buildings ..... do your job!!!!!!!
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
Why would anyone apply for a Bahamian passport anyway? Haitian passports are much more valuable. They come with a free building permit.
TheMadHatter
Sickened 10 years, 5 months ago
I like your thinking. In order for Bahamians to get better rights and service we should become LGBT Hatian's. We can then live in the Bahamas on any plot of land we like, build any type of home I want without the hassle of architectural plans and approvals, get free electricity and water and get to the front of the line at PMH! What a dumb Bahamian I have been for the last 40 years; paying for all this stuff I could have had for free.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 5 months ago
hope every Bahamian has their current passport by now
SP 10 years, 5 months ago
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE......Anyone in need of a Bahamian passport need only contact the Haitian Embassy with the requisite right amount of cash.
Birth certificates, voters cards, work permits, college degrees, marriage licenses, citizenship documents, local and international drivers licenses and NASA I.D. cards also available.
Please allow 24 to 36 hours turn around time....(cash only)
TheMadHatter 10 years, 5 months ago
Shhhh. Quite man. The WAR that Haiti has declared on us is supposed to be a secret. It's easier to kill a man while he's sleeping.
Purcell 10 years, 5 months ago
In Canada it takes 24 hours to get a passport for Canadians if you got a ticket showing you need one in a hurry. Otherwise 3 days. 6 weeks? Hahahaha.
banker 10 years, 5 months ago
It's because of the modern miracle of computers. They can check your document validity in 5 minutes. Then they take another 5 to check your police record in their database. And then you have it. Why didn't we think of using this wonderful machine called a computer everywhere in the government? I hear the police in Canada have computers to check to see if you have any traffic tickets outstanding as well. When you go to renew your registration, another one of these wonderful machines is used as well, and you have to pay up your traffic tickets before you get your registration. The computers are also used to see who hasn't paid property taxes. I tell you, if we bought some of these computers, we could do wondrous things in our government.
I applied for a passport online and when I phoned to check to see how it was coming, I was told "We een use dose forms annymor."
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