Passport Office Walkabout
April, 2009

I am deeply disappointed in the response of the Foreign Minister to the problems raised about the Passport Office in Freeport when I visited there on Tuesday.  The Minister answered my complaints in the Freeport News today.  I am here again at the Passport Office in Nassau to bring to the government's attention what I understand is a chaotic situation at the Passport Office here in Nassau.  Once again, an FNM Minister is seeking to blame the PLP for something that is entirely the fault and responsibility of the FNM Minister and his lack of attention to his job and the details of his job.

For example, people take time off from work with their children now out of school and cannot get served in a timely manner.

I am told that there is supposed to be a booking system where you can get an appointment before you come but that the system is still overwhelmed.  I am not sure that the public is even aware of a booking system.

This is a story about the Minister not paying attention to the details and the facts on the ground.  This is not just a story about passports.  It is a story about people.  It is simply reprehensible and unacceptable for the situation with regard to passports to obtain.

The Minister says that 1517 passports were applied for in Freeport since January 2009.  Of that number only 834 have been issued, that is slightly more than half of them.  The figure may not be correct because there are scores of applications that may not even be entered.  That is dismal.  If you continue on this pace, only 2400 passports will be issued for the year in Grand Bahama.  This is shameful.  This Minister does not understand or appreciate what the average man has to go through to get even the most ordinary document.

It cannot be right to tell people to come back for a passport two three, or four months later.

Some suggestions: buy machines for data entry, for printing, hire some people.  The need for example for data entry clerks and receptionists.

The Minister is seeking to blame the PLP for this.  Strange how he was boasting when he signed the contract of what a great accomplishment it was.  We heard nothing of the badness then.

The Minister should know that nothing in life is etched in stone.  A Minister who is sensitive to the needs of people should come to the scene at this office, examine the systems and seek to get the system to work properly.  This is not about PLP or FNM. This is about the Minister doing his job for which he is responsible and he needs to get the job done and not waste time trying to blame the PLP.