The reports of foreigners being able to use fraudulent documents to procure Bahamian Passports are disturbing.
From all accounts, thus far, it appears that the accused persons—two of whom are reportedly valid work permit holders and the other a foreign teen—were able to obtain Bahamian Passports using forged certificates of registration and forged letters from the Immigration Department that the Passport Office accepted.
As the matter is before the courts and, therefore, sub judice, we reserve commentary that might harm the case. However, we hope an audit is underway at the Passport Office and elsewhere to determine whether others might have slipped through by the same means.
Additionally—the Passport Office—if it has not yet done so, must reinforce protocols to mitigate the procurement of this most sacred Bahamian document through fraud.
An integrated e-system that screens passport applications against the backdrop of the Registrar General’s Office, the Department of Immigration, the National Insurance Board, the Ministry of Education, and others will go a long way in reducing the possibility of such fraud.
We encourage the Government to prioritize digitizing and integrating these and other systems to assist in verifying information purported to be authentic.
Senator Hon. Darren A. Henfield
Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
Free National Movement