Min. Keith Bell Tours Eleuthera & Teams Up with Min. Clay Sweeting to Address Immigration and Fishing Concerns

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Mrs. Keturah Ferguson, Director of Immigration gives Minister of Labour and Immigration the Honourable Keith Bell along with the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs the Honourable Clay Sweeting, who is also the Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera a tour of the Immigration Office in the Airport at Rock Sound, Eleuthera on Friday, October 14, 2022. Also pictured is Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration.

The Minister of Labour and Immigration the Honourable Keith R. Bell led a delegation of senior government officials from the Department of Labour and the Department Immigration on an extensive tour of Eleuthera during a two day trip on that island on Thursday, October 13 and Friday, October 14, 2022.

During the two day mission Minister Bell met with the Administrator of North Eleuthera, Mr. Stephen Wilson and Chief Councillor in Harbour Island, Mr. Terrence Davis where they discussed matters of concern to residents, chief of which was the illegal immigration challenge on the island.

The Labour and Immigration Minister also met with Family Island Councillors and Administrators on Spanish Wells including Mr. Chuck Pinder, Councillor and Mr. Herbert Albury, Deputy Chief Councillor who expressed concerns about illegal immigration challenges on North Eleuthera as well as non-Bahamians fishing illegally in Bahamian waters. Minister Bell assured the island administrators and business persons that his Ministry is committed to doing all in its powers to address their concerns.

Minister Bell and his team also visited the illegal shanty town community in North Eleuthera known as Blackwood. Other stops included a visit at the Immigration Office on Harbour Island. While in Eleuthera, Minister Bell also visited the Immigration Office and the Labour Office in Lower Bogue, Eleuthera where he spoke one on one with staff to hear their concerns. Minister Bell also met with Mr. Harvey Roberts, the Administrator in South Eleuthera.

A major highlight of the trip was a tour of the Immigration Office in Rock Sound, Eleuthera followed by the Immigration Office in Cupids Cay in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera where he was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs the Honourable Clay Sweeting, the Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera. Minister Bell’s delegation was comprised of Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration; Mrs. Keturah Ferguson, Director of Immigration; Mr. Peter Joseph, Assistant Director of Immigration; Mr. Alexander Carey, First Assistant Secretary; Mr. Morgan Graham, Assistant Director of Labour; Ms. Nicole Curry of the Department of Labour along with various government officials.

From: Bahamas Information Services

More photo highlights below:

The Minister of Labour and Immigration, the Honourable Keith Bell meets with Mr. Harvey Roberts, the Administrator in South Eleuthera. Pictured from left to right is Mrs. Keturah Ferguson, Director of Immigration; Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration; Minister Bell and Mr. Roberts.

Minister of Labour and Immigration, the Honourable Keith Bell and Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration are pictured at center with the staff of the Department of Labour in Lower Bogue, Eleuthera on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Also pictured from left is Mr. Deon Johnson, Assistant Labour Officer; Mrs. Roshea Sands-Pennerman, Assistant Labour Officer; Markishia Symonette; Ms. Margo Jarrett, Administrative Officer and Mr. Stephen Wilson, Administrator for North Eleuthera.

–Minister of Labour and Immigration, the Honourable Keith Bell at center meets with the staff of the Department of Immigration and staff of the Road Traffic Department in Lower Bogue, Eleuthera on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Also pictured in the back row is Mrs. Keturah Ferguson, Director of Immigration; Mr. Peter Joseph, Assistant Director of Immigration; Ms. Raquel Lightbourne, Chief Immigration Officer and Ms. Barbara Johnson, Supervisor for the Road Traffic Department in North Eleuthera. Pictured in the front row is Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration; Inspector Tekenia Taylor of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in North Eleuthera and Mr. Stephen Wilson, Administrator for North Eleuthera.

Labour and Immigration Minister, the Honourable Keith Bell tours Blackwood, an illegal shanty town community in North Eleuthera. Also pictured is Mr. Stephen Wilson, Administrator for North Eleuthera; Mr. Peter Joseph, Assistant Director of Immigration; Inspector Tekenia Taylor of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in North Eleuthera and Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

Minister of Labour and Immigration, the Honourable Keith Bell at center meets with Councillors and Administrators of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera to discuss a number of topics including illegal fishing by non-Bahamians and the illegal immigration challenge on North Eleuthera on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Also pictured from left to right is Mr. Herbert Albury, Deputy Chief Councilman for Spanish Wells; Mr. Stephen Wilson, Administrator for North Eleuthera; Minister Bell; Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration and Mr. Chuck Pinder, Council member for Spanish Wells.

Minister of Labour and Immigration, the Honourable Keith Bell tours the Immigration Office in Spanish Wells, Eleuthera on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Also pictured is the Director of Immigration, Mrs. Keturah Ferguson.

Labour and Immigration Minister Tours Eleuthera. Pictured left to right in front row is Mr. Alexander Carey, First Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Keturah Ferguson, Director of Immigration; Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs the Honourable Clay Sweeting; Minister of Labour and Immigration the Honourable Keith Bell; Ms. Cecilia Strachan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Immigration and Ms. Raquel Lightbourne, Chief Immigration Officer on the Island of Eleuthera. Pictured in the back row is Mr. Morgan Graham, Assistant Director of Labour and Mr. Peter Joseph, Assistant Director of Immigration.