The Tribune

PLANS are afoot for a satellite Passport Office in Long Island.

Adrian Gibson, MP for the community, announced that staff of the Passport Office in New Providence recently inspected the Administrator's Office in Clarence Town to assess the readiness of space and infrastructure with a view to commencing passport services.

"In the coming weeks, the Administrator's Office will be retrofitted to commence services. Once done, the days of having to travel to New Providence to obtain a passport will be over. We welcome this," said Mr Gibson.

During his 2019/2020 Budget contribution to the House of Assembly in June, Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield said: "To reduce the large crowds at the Passport Office, plans are underway to install e-Pics systems, which are kiosks to be placed in strategic locations in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

"The installation of these systems will allow persons to complete and submit electronic applications for passport renewals without having to visit the Passport Office. It is anticipated that utilisation of the kiosks will significantly decrease the current overcrowding at the Passport Office."

He noted that the government also plans to install e-Pics systems in four Family Islands, namely Exuma, Central Eleuthera, Inagua and Long Island.