The Cabinet is now considering investing in new border management control systems to make processing faster at the border. Plans to introduce biometrics and INTERPOL checks are in the works, and the Cabinet could possibly make the move in 2015, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell has disclosed.
The disclosure came as Mitchell spoke at the graduation ceremony for new immigration officers in Grand Bahama. The minister spoke with Guardian Business about the matter subsequently.
"The matter has been to the Tenders Board and is now advanced to the Cabinet for its consideration," he said. "I do not want to anticipate the decision that might be made (about when and if a new system will be acquired). If one is favorable, then procurement should be next year."
The minister discussed his expectations for the new system.
"This is the next generation of border management. It should make The Bahamas consonant with best practices and the latest technology. One hopes that all systems will be fully digitized [to include] border entry (airport and sea port), biometrics at border entry, passport applications fully digitized, biometrics within those passports, approvals also electronic, visa applications electronic and digitized with biometrics and new security features, access of the passport and immigration to police criminal record data bases and international criminal checks.
"Passports and immigration and police and defense force, their personnel and computers ought to be able to talk to one another. I would wish to have what exists in Dubai; it takes three seconds to process a visitor through the border machine, and you are on your way."
Mitchell initially disclosed the request for new border management systems at the graduation ceremony for new immigration officers in Grand Bahama last week.
"However, we as always are cognizant of the shortage of resources," he told the recruits. "I again appeal to the public to understand that there is a severe shortage of resources which immigration cannot rectify. We try to do more with less, but there is a critical shortage of equipment and manpower which the department is seeking to address."

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