by Athena Damianos
How will tourists react to being subjected to immigration spot checks, not to mention Bahamians who have an aversion to apartheid-like pass laws?
What if someone forgets to carry their card? Will they be tossed into the hell hole of a detention Center like the Swiss banker? What about ever forgetful children? What if the card is stolen?
This would surely be a gross infringement of our civil liberties.
Tourists are advised not to travel around Nassau with valuables (including passports) because of the theft problem. Will they be issued national tourist cards?
With corruption endemic in our society, I suspect a card system would present another means for the unscrupulous to make money.
Like the horrendous crime problem that should have been addressed many years ago, the authorities are now grasping at straws for a solution to an immigration nightmare that was allowed to thrive right under their own eyes for decades.
January 22, 2014
Has the Bahamas gotten lesson from Cuba and North Korea on how to be a police state ? This is what one calls slight of hand, the main issue here is out of control crime, and a totally out of touch old style government. this hate of foreigners has to stop, remember the Bahamas is a country of just about 372 odd thousand, many under educated, but want to be in control, it’s so sad, sunshine and sand just doesn’t have the same ring a ding ding anymore.
I think its just another way for someone to make a whole lot of money on the black market after all,that’s what this country seems to be damn good at.
In Nazi Germany, all Jewish German citizens were forced to wear the Star of David on their personal clothing to identify them as Jews and political undesirables.. This hateful, discriminating policy eventually lead to forced internment, incarceration and extermination, the barbaric and tragic “final solution” policy..
Citizens of the Bahamas should oppose any form of a government imposed National Identification program which can only lead to increase government control and limits on the people’s individual freedom.. Strict enforcement of our immigration laws is the only answer where workers seeking employment which Bahamians will not do will be approved in a fair and speedy fashion.. Targeting out Bankers, Japanese tourism specialists and other experienced expats is not necessary and only creates an international embarrassment that is soon not forgotten.. Additional government policies to expand further control over the people is totally unwanted and unnecessary..