Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) Vice President Sloane Smith said the country's security could be at risk as "non-qualified" Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officers are manning some entry points in place of officers at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).
A few Defence Force officers have been placed at LPIA as customs and immigration officers have been on strike since last Thursday.
During a BCIAWU demonstration at the Department of Immigration on Hawkins Hill yesterday, Smith insisted that those Defence Force officers stationed at the airport only have a cursory understanding of immigration processes, and do not have the training or experience to perform their duties properly.
"The immigration department... has always been the first line of defense for persons coming out of South America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic," Smith told reporters while standing with about 100 customs and immigration officers.
"They are simply stamping documents and letting people through. We could readily identify the persons who are not conducive and should be refused entry, who are now potentially coming through."
However, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration Brent Symonette told The Nassau Guardian that the immigration process at LPIA has gone without incident and the Defence Force officers stationed at the airport have been given sufficient training.
Symonette also said the immigration process went much smoother than expected over the Easter holiday weekend with the Defence Force officers in place.
"I am fully satisfied with the capabilities of Defence Force officers in manning the posts that the immigration officers have [abandoned]," he said.
"The Defence Force officers have been instructed in how to use the system, the system is in place and they are acting accordingly. Over the weekend the director of immigration was at the airport supervising and also entering persons, and the process went very smoothly."
On Sunday 4,500 people entered the country, according to Symonette, who noted that despite the large numbers, minimum complaints were received from international travellers.
Protests were staged by hundreds of union members on Thursday at eight different locations throughout New Providence and other locations in other islands.
The union continued demonstrating on Good Friday at LPIA, where dozens of customs and immigration officers protested in front of the international arrivals terminal.
As previously reported, an agreement has yet to be reached on several outstanding issues, including health insurance, compensation and what the union has claimed is an illegal shift system.
However, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has said that since his meeting with the union in February, there has not been "any matter that is outstanding or that is deserving of consideration by the government".
But Smith said the union would continue demonstrating until their issues are resolved. He added that members of the Trade Union Congress would meet tomorrow to discuss the union's next move.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian