By RIEL MAJOR
Tribune Staff Reporter
rmajor@tribunemedia.net
IMMIGRATION Minister Elsworth Johnson yesterday defended the government’s decision to mandate work permits for Hurricane Dorian volunteers entering the Bahamas.
Speaking to reporters outside Cabinet, Mr Johnson said the government still has an obligation to ensure only fit and proper people, who have the country’s best interests at heart, are allowed to enter and leave The Bahamas.
He said: “We have not just national obligations to ensure that the right persons are here but an international obligation. Because we are dealing with the OECD and the Financial (Action) Task Force and we are saying to the world that we can account for persons coming and going.
“This is what the government has done post Hurricane Dorian. We issued the exigency order to allow products and services for the purposes of dealing with the devastation from Hurricane Dorian to come. You saw international groups came in and they fed persons, they were allowed in and their staff was allowed in.”
Mr Johnson added: “(This) is still ongoing because the exigency order is for six months. Persons can’t just turn up; you must understand that around the world after devastation you had persons who came, and they did not have proper intentions. Women and children were hurt.”
Mr Johnson said the government is serious about guarding the country’s borders as well as the redevelopment of Grand Bahama and Abaco.
He said: “This is a very serious thing. We still have to ensure that the fit and proper persons are coming into the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and we can’t tell you everything that happens.
“But I will tell you this, that history has shown in different areas after these things, people come in who are not supposed to be in and you could just do a simple research. Children are hurt and women are hurt.”
The minister said the government is still welcoming and inviting volunteers to come to this country and assist with storm relief and rebuilding.
He said volunteer groups should contact the National Emergency Management Agency or the Department of Immigration about the protocol for entering this country for relief efforts.
“The policy is if you put cogent, fit and proper explanation to the Immigration Department that you are here and you’re not here to displace Bahamians from working, you’re here genuinely to provide a service to assist.”
He added: “In those circumstances we have the authority to exercise our discretion and we have been doing that. I think what we have to do is sometimes, it’s a reason I listed the history of what we have done as a government and as a people.”
He spoke on the issue after there was some commentary on social media about a foreign volunteer needing a work permit.
Mr Johnson said when one clip goes viral on social media, everyone “seems to forget everything”.
He said: “I’ve spoken to the immigration director; he’s looking into this matter. I have spoken to the gentleman who represents the Chamber of Commerce in Abaco. I’ve given him my contacts; the immigration director is in contact with him.
“Our role is to facilitate economic activity and commerce within these islands so that products and services and industry can move freely, and the development of these islands can happen very shortly. The gentleman from Baker’s Bay said in a year, year and a half they can rebuild bigger and better. They have the experience before.”
He added: “So we’ve gone on the ground, the different government agencies and all of the necessary licences will all be applied, but if you can make a reasonable – if someone coming in or if someone wanting someone coming to assist – make a reasonable proposition to the Immigration Department.”
Comments
The_Oracle 5 years, 2 months ago
He obviously has never heard that good news is kept to oneself, but bad news spreads like wildfire. Get off your backside and go offer to register the NGO volunteers both Foreign and Expat spouses as they COOK and FEED YOUR Immigration staff every day, and continue to do so every day. Work Permit? GO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!
TalRussell 5 years, 2 months ago
How could anyone not feel sadness for way the comrade PM has characterised his newly minted immigration minister as the foreign aid volunteers $300 must go to Work Permits fall man's, yes, no .... Everybody knows who real culprit is behind must possess $300 Work permits scheme ....
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 1 month ago
'True' Bahamians should not be made to endure the piss poor judgment of this brain dead cabinet minister. The Bahamian people are paying a very dear price today for the transgression of the voters who cast their vote for Elsworth Johnson back in May 2017.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 1 month ago
Hopefully every volunteer will use their $300 to buy a one-way ticket to Miami. God almighty, the things you here every single day in this country makes your head spin. Problems like these solve themselves. As word spreads amoung the volunteers, it will spread amoung the potential new ones as well.
If it's too inconvenient for them, then they will just stay home. If i go to Disney World and they request a blood sample, then i will go to Rapids Water Park instead. Easy.
TalRussell 5 years, 1 month ago
There's wise post Hurricane Dorian saying that warns, If a Ghost hoping in back seat your car late at night will freak you out, then avoid driving around Abaco at night time, yes, no ....
BMW 5 years, 1 month ago
What a total lack of forsight!! If the aid both humanitarian and monetary were to go away because of this very third world way of thinking, are you johnson gonna get off your ass and physically help rebuild the country? Common sense is not at all common in this country.
realfreethinker 5 years, 1 month ago
I can understand the rationale behind this decision. following hurricane dorian, I was approached by an independent adjuster who did not represent any of the insurance companies. He wanted me to pay him to do the adjusting work so that I can compare it to the insurance adjuster's.
ohdrap4 5 years, 1 month ago
And you can say no. I know a landlord who asks tenants to show work permit and writes in the lease that they must vacate if the permit is not renewed. I know of at least one tenant who was asked to leave.
linlowe 5 years, 1 month ago
Why would they need work permits if they are NOT GETTING PAID???? I really hope this fool is misinformed because we are blessed to have these people come to help out when our own government is nowhere to be seen other than to get in the way with more government red tape. Another government minister just said this is not true so somewhere the government is going in circles in confusion. Nothing new there.
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