Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell, who has come under fire in recent weeks for his handling of several immigration matters, yesterday brushed off the criticisms.

During a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) event celebrating the 80th birthday of former prime minister and PLP leader, Perry Christie, Bell said he learned many things from his former boss.

"He taught me to put on the full armor of God when the fiery darts of the wicked [come]," he said as the audience burst into laughter.

"That is what has endured me over these weeks and months. I have the full armor of God."

Bell face a firestorm in June after he swore in a woman and her children as citizens of The Bahamas during their father's funeral service. Bell said he had honored the wishes of a dying man.

The Office of the Prime Minister later indicated that the prime minister does not expect for there to be any more swearing in ceremonies at churches.

Both Opposition Leader Michael Pintard and former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis placed on the record of the House of Assembly a series of questions surrounding the funeral swearing in and other immigration matters, including whether the individuals sworn in at the church actually applied for citizenship and whether they ever renounced their Haitian citizenship.

With the prorogation of Parliament last week, those questions have fallen away.

Bell also drew fire after he admitted that a group of Chinese construction workers at the British Colonial Hotel construction site had irregularities in their immigration status, but weren't taken to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre because it was "unnecessary".

The opposition later released a minute, dated January 18, 2023, in which the director of immigration raised concern about a directive given by Bell to release the Chinese workers.

Prime Minister Philip Davis has promised "a comprehensive review" of the checks and balances regarding how immigration decisions are made in The Bahamas, with a view to strengthening them.

The opposition has called for Bell to resign, but Davis has not addressed the issue.

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