New Cuba visa policy for the Bahamas
|
| Published on Friday, June 15, 2007 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The Cuban Embassy has instituted a new policy regarding sponsorship of Cubans, resulting in Bahamians having to submit an affidavit to that country before applying for a visa.
 |
| Deputy Prime Minister, Brent Symonette. (BIS photo) |
This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette as he made contribution to the 2007/2008 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly.
On Friday, June 8, he told Parliament that the move adds another step to the visa process, which could result in further delays in processing such applications.
“Effective May 1, 2007, the Cuban Embassy has instituted a new policy with regard to Bahamian sponsorship of Cuban nationals,” Symonette said. “As a result, Bahamians desirous of sponsoring Cuban nationals to The Bahamas must now submit a legalised affidavit to the Cuban Embassy before applying to the Bahamian Embassy for a visa.”
The British Embassy in Havana previously issued visas on behalf of The Bahamas, after referral to the Consular Division in Nassau, Mr. Symonette said. He added that with the accreditation of The Bahamas’ resident Ambassador and the Embassy’s official opening in July 2006, The Bahamas Embassy in Cuba now accepts visa applications.
Visas are issued to Cuban visitors, businessmen and government officials, he said.
Symonette recalled the controversy and on-going debate surrounding the issuance of visas to a “certain group” of individuals.
“The previous administration had obtained the advice of an expert from the Commonwealth Secretariat on the functions of this section as well as report from the Auditor General,” he said. “The Commonwealth expert made a number of recommendations to improve the functioning of this division, starting with the acquisition of additional space for this section.”
These include an operational manual guide to the work of the officers in the sections; hiring and training of additional eight staff members; and improving the security systems in the office.
“Over the next few weeks and months the Ministry will move expeditiously to implement the recommendations contained in the report of that expert,” he said.
The Counsular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the issuance of visas, Diplomatic/Official passports to government officials, authenticating legal documents for international use, deportation and providing assistance to Bahamians in distress. The section is also responsible for arrangements for repatriation of foreign nationals.
The division, with its staff of 11 in Nassau, issued over 3,319 visas last year, Symonette said. This is separate and apart from the 4,000 visa referrals which are processed by the British Consular offices, after approval from the ministry, and approximately 8,000 visas issued annually by the overseas consular officers.
The majority of visas issued by the Counsular Section in 2006 were to Haitian, 2,298. Visas were also issued to nationals of a wide range of countries including Saudi Arabia, India, Philippines, China, Columbia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Poland.
The Counsulate General in Miami also processes a significant number of visas, Mr. Symonette said. In 2006, that office issued 337 visas to Europeans mainly from Eastern European countries; 253 visas to Haitians; 114 to Dominicans; 1,102 visas to Columbians, and Guatemalans, and 608 to nationals of Asian countries. |
|
