Mr. Mitchell (PLP) Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, released this statement on Thursday, following another self induced controversy.
In typical fashion, anyone that disagrees with him has "some political agenda". Of course most of the responses were from business people and non-politicians.
His remarks and actions and those from of Mr. Khaalis Rolle (PLP) Minister in the Prime Minister's office that sought to clarify Mr. Mitchell's statement dominated the news story. There were brief comments from the Official Oppostition. But most comments came from business people and hoteliers. However, maybe holding political office does not make one political?
The final paragraph of his release is worthy of consideration. He says; "No business has been threatened or crippled or will be crippled by any action taken by the Department of Immigration."
As one person commented here at at WeblogBahamas.com about his actions:
"The power of the irrational is formidable. Sadly the Bahamas for
the most part is not run by reason. Irrational thinking drove Bank of
America from our shores. HIS, the largest Japanese travel company,
reestablished its head Caribbean office in Cancun, Mexico. The list goes
on as irrational government policies and decisions continue to destroy
the business climate of our country."
Meanwhile his office is refusing a work permit for an editor because The Tribune will not hire an understudy – that does not appear to be available – or agree to have this hire report to the department of immigration within four weeks to be interviewed.
Maybe that is logical action on his behalf?
The rest of Mr. Mitchell's release is a rant about how his announced policies are what the voter wants and "will serve the public interest". Two vague statements to be sure, but give rise to a couple more questions:
- Would the voter want policies that have a detrimental effect on the engine of commerce that creates the jobs? and,
- If "the public interest" is to work Mr. Mitchell should be recommending policies that would grow the economy instead of discouraging investors?
The problem is, when investors leave or others decide not to invest, they don't call the press and say the bad government policy is what caused their action. They either pick up their Georgie Bundle and leave or do not invest so jobs are not created.
But there is nothing new about doublespeak from some politicians in our town.
Dear Minister,
May we please have a public accounting of the number of work permit applications that have been made in each quarter of the year; the sectors for which the permits have been made; the decision criteria used to assess the applications; and the rate at which decisions are made about the applications?
And whilst we’re at it, if not yet done, perhaps the decisions can be made public with the Government’s rationale for accepting/rejecting the application(s).
I think the simple steps above could go a long way in reducing the arbitrariness that now relates to your decision making.
Thanking you in advance
S3S
Now, now S3S. Do you expect them to hold themselves to standards similar to those they pass laws to hold the private sector to?
No, but this would be one way the Minister can back up his claim that “”No business has been threatened or crippled or will be crippled by any action taken by the Department of Immigration”.
I hear the talk but it is only the sound of ignorance.. Political power corrupts and we are fast becoming a corupt nation.. We have become a closed society pointing fingers at each other when in reality we should be pointing the finger at ourselves..