NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As illegal migration has been an ongoing issue for decades, the government has recently issued a request for proposal to secure drones to assist immigration officials in their apprehension efforts, Minister of Immigration Brent Symonette revealed Tuesday.
“The government, as you have seen in the newspapers, have a request for proposal out for drones, and the deadline for that is possibly this week.
“We are looking at some drone technology to provide cameras for Crooked Island, Acklins, Inagua, Mayaguana, the Dominican Republic passage, the Cuba passage and the Haiti passage, so that will enhance that issue,” the immigration minister revealed.
Symonette was speaking on the steps of Cabinet before heading to Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Symonette said Cabinet ministers were also expected to be engaged in a presentation given by Dame Anita Allen, who was expected to give a presentation on amendments to the immigration act.
“…they [ministers] will discuss it [amendments] today and it will be sent out for discussion in short order. This is purely for input purposes,” Symonette said, adding that the amendments are expected to address spousal permits, revocation of permits and a total upgrade of various immigration issues.
Meanwhile, the immigration minister said what the country really needs is a discussion on immigration as the issues are only highlighted by the media and are not addressed.
“We really need to sit down and talk about immigration. How many non-nationals can be in this country?
“How long should you get a work permit for?
“If you are born here, does that automatically entitle you to [citizenship] so hopefully that will come out of the Immigration Bill,” Symonette said.
