NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government is to implement electronic or ‘E’ Passports by October 2007, aimed at reducing fraudulent and other corrupt practices, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette announced.
Making his contribution to the 2007/2008 National Budget in the House of Assembly on Friday, June 8, Mr Symonette also disclosed that the cost of the equipment – a machine-readable passport/visa issuance system – is approximately $13million.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is responsible for establishing the specifications for passport security features worldwide and has issued a blueprint for contracting states to comply with thus ensuring the standardisation of all passports by 2010, Mr Symonette said.
“The decision for The Bahamas to advance the ‘E’ passport initiative is based on ICAO’s blueprint legislation enacted by the United States of America,” Mr. Symonette said. “This legislation affected visa waiver countries and required all nationals to be in possession of an ‘E’ Passport to enter the United States.”
He explained that although The Bahamas is not a member of the visa waiver countries, it is one of three countries worldwide that enjoys US pre-clearance privileges.
“Subsequently, it was recommended that The Bahamas institute an ‘E’ passport to ensure ease of entrance by legitimate Bahamian travellers into the United States,” Mr. Symonette said.
He noted that when the FNM administration left office in 2002, it had commenced negotiations with Canadian Bank Note for the production of machine-readable passports.
It was later determined by the former administration that given the advances in technology and international security concerns, that biometrics should be included in the initiative.
Consequently, after a lengthy process, negotiations were completed on December 22, 2006 and the former administration awarded the contract to Indusa Global LLC, Mr. Symonette said.
The contract included the provision of e-passports with biometric features, an electronic visa issuance system, secure immigration documents and border control systems.
“The contract has been signed and The Bahamas is on target for the implementation of electronic passports by early October 2007,” he said. “All protocols will be in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
“This means that all passports and certificates of identity will have certain biometric features which will greatly reduce the incidents of fraud and other corrupt practices,” he said.
The $13 million for the equipment covers hardware, software, application software, services cost, consumables, and maintenance.
The capital budget for the 2007/2008 fiscal period shows an increase of $4.825 million to $6.3 million mainly for the computerisation of the passport and visa system.
“Given the cost of this new system, it would not be prudent for overseas missions or the Family Island passport centres to issue passports,” Mr. Symonette said.
Once the new system is in place the production of passports will be possible only at the Passport Office in Nassau. All other services such as submitting applications, interviews and collection will remain unchanged.
“The new passport system will ultimately result in changes to the Consular Division as a part of its contract relates to the issuance of visas,” Mr. Symonette said.
“Similarly, the passport/visas initiative will not only affect the way business is conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but will have a direct bearing upon the work of the Department of Immigration through the issuance of permits.”
He added that the Government is reviewing all the implications of the change to the e-passport system.
“I anticipate that I will shortly be in a position to inform this Honourable House of the full extent of the required changes including the question as to any changes with charges/fees relating thereto, as well as the expected time for implementation,” Mr. Symonette said.
