Immigration Min. Rejects Commercial Enterprises Act

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The immigration minister is blasting the former administration for parts of the commercial enterprises act which he  says he will not be following.

Immigration Minister Keith Bell making it clear today that he does not intend to abide by parts of the commercial enterprises act, saying the bill is unrealistic. 

His comments come after former Immigration Minister Brent Symonette suggested a clampdown on work permits may be one method to curb the influx of migrants.

The act, which was made law in 2017 while Symonette was immigration minister, says “Work permit applied for not later than 14 working days after the filling thereof and the payment of the application fee, failing which the work permit shall be deemed to have been granted to this act”.

Bell says the bill will be repealed but couldn’t say when that will happen. 

About 15,000 work permits are approved annually, according to immigration officials.

Bell says realistically, it will take up to 12 weeks for the immigration department to properly vet work permits.

The commercial enterprise act also also calls for a commercial enterprises board.