Former PM: Bahamians Have To Accept Some Blame For What’s Going On

Advertisement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis is weighing in on the country’s ongoing immigration crisis, an issue he says has been neglected for far too long.

His comments follow a weekend of renewed national debate, after both the Free National Movement and the Coalition of Independents hosted press conferences and town hall meetings focused on immigration. The events prompted a swift response from the Minister of National Security, who issued a statement defending the Davis Administration’s handling of the issue.

But Dr. Minnis says the problem runs deeper than politics, and that Bahamians themselves must take accountability.

“Someone told me they had a colleague apply for a work permit, slipped some money in the application, and knew exactly who to see. That’s the problem. Until we face that reality, nothing will change. We are the problem,” he said.

Admitting that both the PLP and FNM have fallen short over the years, Minnis reflected on his administration’s efforts to address the Shantytown issue, efforts that were ultimately blocked by the courts.

Still, he acknowledged the Davis Administration’s current efforts but urged them to take a tougher stance on enforcement.

“I’ve seen Bahamians travel to the U.S. and follow every rule to a T. But here at home? Different story. Why? Because we refuse to enforce the laws. Yes, enforcing laws may cause some collateral damage. But what would you rather: some collateral damage or the destruction of your country?”

Minnis also criticized what he sees as a legislative arms race in Parliament, where laws are passed for bragging rights, not real results.

“The PLP passes 80 laws, then the FNM tries to pass more. But are they effective? No, because there’s no enforcement. No manpower, no funding, no real commitment to implementation.”