The Bahamas has agreed with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to incorporate migration issues into the National Development Plan: Vision 2040, and has discussed with IOM an advance voluntary repatriation and reintegration program. In addition, a new immigration permit has been created for people awaiting a decision on citizenship.
This from Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell, speaking at a luncheon for the honorary consular corps in The Bahamas. Honorary consuls resident in The Bahamas represent more than 40 different countries.
Calling illegal immigration "one of the three greatest priorities of The Bahamas this year", Mitchell amplified for members of the diplomatic community in The Bahamas what was in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between The Bahamas and the IOM at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Memorandum of understanding
The agreement speaks to the conduct of relevant research and studies on migration in the country and the strengthening of migration management, which Mitchell said includes measures to facilitate regular migration and to address irregular migration.
Also in the MOU is the identification and development of appropriate measures to assist and protect vulnerable migrants, the mainstreaming of migration into the development plan and the exploration of potential collaboration in activities related to the UN Post-Development Goals.
In January, the government and the Inter-American Development Bank launched a joint programme to create the national development plan -- Vision 2040. And last month at the College of The Bahamas, Prime Minister Perry Christie kicked off the public consultation phase of the plan's creation.
Mitchell said the MOU also spoke to the enhancement of disaster risk reduction and resilience due to climate change and environmental challenges which lead to the movement of population and the pursuit of informal intra-regional dialogue on migration in the Caribbean.
"Illegal immigration has been one of the three greatest priorities of The Bahamas in this year; the other two being crime and the protection of the environment," Mitchell told the diplomats, also revealing that IOM Deputy Director General, Ambassador Laura Thompson, had visited The Bahamas in November and reiterated the IOM's support for regional cooperation in combatting irregular migration and smuggling.
"There were also discussions on the Advance Voluntary Repatriation and Reintegration Programme and on The Bahamas' role in a regional consultative process to exchange views and best practices on migration management in the region," Mitchell said.
The voluntary repatriation and reintegration programme is located in Haiti, and designed for migrants who are returned to Haiti to be integrated into society.
Domestic Arena
He also outlined the steps the Department of Immigration has taken to -- as Mitchell put it -- "deal with the problem of the illegal influx of migrants into The Bahamas." Those steps include recruitment and training, and, of course, the new policy.
"November 1, 2014 saw the implementation of a new immigration policy which requires that all persons born in The Bahamas to non-Bahamian parents must be in possession of a passport of their nationality," Mitchell reitered. "Additionally, with this policy came the introduction of the Resident Belonger's Permit."
"This new permit would allow persons born in The Bahamas to non-Bahamian parents to have continuous legal status until they have had a decision on their application for registration as Bahamian citizens."
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