Nassau, Bahamas (Statement) - I read with
dismay the recent release by Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Passport
Office issued on July 10, 2015. It unfortunately "advised that those who need to have
passports within 48 hours of the application after the 1st of July can with the
payment of a fee of 200 dollars plus VAT obtain the passport on an emergency
basis".
Additionally,
this update by officials comes on the heels of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
advising House
at the time of the budget debate that the wait for passports is twelve weeks
from the date of the application.
I have two concerns:
- On
which lawful authority can a $200 fee be levied on the citizens of The Bahamas?
The laws and the accompanying rules clearly state the cost for obtaining
passports by categories and makes no mention of room for extra cost. Is this
another new tax under the smoke and mirrors of a fee "on emergency
basis"? Was this apparent new tax even lawful?
- Why
are Bahamians being taxed for the inefficiencies of poor direction and
mismanagement from the political leaders? Is the Minister taking serious
and timely steps to address the backlog? Why is more staff and equipment
just being brought in to "deal with the challenges" instead of
proper preplanning on systemic peak periods in requests?
The current administration appears
asleep at the management wheel again at the expense of the Bahamian public.
Under the former FNM Administration which were faced with the same equipment,
the passport process was maintained at two weeks based on proper preplanning
and management. There is a need for ingenuity and strategic management
directives instead of poor execution and visionless leadership.
