NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday told Parliament that a company contracted by the Minnis administration as the sole collector of Immigration fees held more than $6 million in revenue belonging to the government for some two years.
Davis furthered that the company was not licensed to collect revenue or engage in the provision of financial services, as he kicked off debate on the mid-year budget.
He told Parliament that “for reasons which remain profoundly unclear”, the Minnis administration appointed a private company, as the sole collector of immigration fees.
“This was contrary to the practice since the Department was created, whereby fees were paid directly to the government. Under this exclusive contract, every person then had to go to the various offices of this company, to pay for work permits and all other immigration fees in cash,” said Davis.
He said: “What is deeply troubling, is the fact that this company was not licensed to collect revenue, or to engage in the provision of financial services. This is how loose and slack this was. We cannot imagine why the administration chose to enter an agreement with a company which was not licensed to trade in the terms of the contract.To make matters much, much worse, they collected the money and kept it.”
According to Davis, the company is estimated to have collected some $6.4 million.
He said: “When the government approached them asking them to forward the monies collected, they said they were holding the government revenue, in order to, and I quote: “expand their business.”
Davis continued: “This company was also collecting taxes on behalf of the Government in a Family Island, and yet again, keeping the money. This was the same company that provided $12 million in loans during the pandemic, as part of the government’s Covid-19 Loans for Small Businesses Scheme, and the company cannot, or will not, provide a single record of any of the loans. Investigations are also continuing in this matter. But I can report that after discussions, the company has agreed to forward the revenue collected to the government. I am advised that some money has been received.”
Opposition leader Michael Pintard urged the government to present the full report to Parliament on the matter.
“I have said over and over that the government should not drip-feed the public,” Pintard said.
“They ought to present a full report. We welcome a full report. The Prime Minister has not mentioned a single period. For all, we know this could be the last 18 months. If it isn’t and is before he ought to give the period of time. Other than that this is a broad statement of salacious details. Put the details on the House of Assembly table so all of us can examine what the facts are.”
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