At her wit’s end she considered the possibility of having to send her son to live
with his father in Haiti, a decision that would tremendously affect his ability to
gain Bahamian citizenship or giving him up to Social Social Services in order for
him to have a better chance at life.
The policy though introduced in November 2014 was only implemented the fall 2015
semester. It mandates that every person living in The Bahamas has a passport of their
nationality with proof to legally reside in this country, among other restrictions, like the
requirement for every foreign person enrolled in schools, including children born in The
Bahamas to immigrants, to have a student permit.
“I also wish to announce that we will as of November 1 require all persons who live in the
Bahamas to have a passport of the country of their nationality,” Mr Mitchell said. “Those
people who have been born here will get a particular residence permit which will allow
them to work and live here until such time as their status pursuant to any application
under the terms of the Constitution is decided.
“This will also allow access of children to school. This will not apply to the children of those
who are here illegally. The Haitian president and the ambassador have confirmed that
they will be able to meet the demand for these passports.”
- F
ormer Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell
Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell explained that the implemented school permit rule
would assist the government in keeping track of who works and lives in The Bahamas as
well as who attends the schools.
Haitian migrants as a result are forced to pay the annual school permit which costs $25
along with a $100 processing fee.
Rights Bahamas and other activists on the ground have been resisting this policy as we
consider it to be an attempt to legitimise discriminatory practices against Haitian
immigrants.
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