Premier: Passport Issue Was ‘Contentious’ In UK
[Updated] Plans to move passport printing to the UK was “strong point of contention among all the Overseas Territories” and there was “no indication” the UK Government plans to move from their position, Premier Craig Cannonier said in the House of Assembly on Friday.
Citing a new passport design with improved security measures, the UK Government announced plans to transfer the printing of British Overseas Territory Citizen [BOTC] passports to the UK, effective December 2014.
Under the proposed programme, the responsibility for the application process will remain with the islands, but the passport printing will take place in the UK. This is due to affect all Overseas Territories, including Bermuda.
Home Affairs Minister Fahy previously pointed out that Bermudians sometimes travel abroad for emergency medical attention, which can happen at short notice.
Noting that the Department of Immigration can currently produce passports for medical emergencies within one business day, the Minister said moving passport printing to the UK will “result in serious implications for Bermuda” as it relates to emergency medical travel.
The issue saw both parties in agreement, with the Opposition PLP saying they “support Minister Fahy and the OBA in finding a way to halt or delay the removal of Bermuda Passport printing from on island.”
Audio of part of the exchange in the House of Assembly:
The Premier, Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy and Minister of Finance Bob Richards recently traveled to the UK to attend the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council.
Minister Fahy lead a discussion on the section of Passports and Immigration, and the Government previously said the Minister “pressed for a guarantee that Bermudians would have access to emergency travel passports under the intended new system and sought an agreement in respect of delivery times of regular passports.”
When questioned by the Opposition in Parliament on Friday about the passport discussions during the UK meetings, the Premier said it was a “strong point of contention among all the Overseas Territories”.
Premier Cannonier said the Overseas Territories are “very much concerned about moving in this direction” and it was “contentious.”
When asked by Walter Roban [PLP] if there was any indication they would be any movement by the UK Government from their position, the Premier said, “There was no indication at all they were going to move from their position.”
Update 10.46am: Minister Michael Fahy addressed the topic in the Senate this morning
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Madam President, I’m pleased today to provide a report on Immigration matters discussed at the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council meeting that took place in the UK on Wednesday, 27 November, 2013.
Madam President, Tim Colley, Head of the Caribbean Territories and Strategy Department, Home Office provided the introduction to the meeting’s proceedings. I attended in my capacity as Minister of Home Affairs for Bermuda. I, together with other Ministers representing their respective territories, sought to address some very pressing issues related to “Passports and Nationality Decision Making” which was the first item on the JMC agenda. The main issue of the session was to focus on agreement on preferred options for passport repatriation and to identify short term solutions to meet the needs of Overseas Territory (OT) citizens for urgent travel documents.
Madam President, Senate Colleagues will recall that the UK Government plans to repatriate the printing of all passports for British Overseas Territories in December 2014. While the decision has already been taken, the main issue for Bermuda and other territories is ensuring a transition that does not serve to disadvantage our citizenry. The Territories require clarity on the open issues such as turnaround times and service delivery standards, emergency travel documents and steps to be taken in consultation and/or agreement with other nations to provide for travel during emergencies.
While some progress on these issues was made at the meeting, decisions taken and actions that remain outstanding need to be documented and progress reported.
Madam President, “Immigration Policy” also formed a part of the agenda wherein Simon Dadd of the Home Office provided views on the parameters of setting Immigration Policy. These discussions focused on the process by which OTs and the UK consult on changes in Immigration regulations. The goal of this session was to highlight security considerations as well as economic considerations as part of wider considerations required to ensure OT Immigration policy meets international commitments (such as ECHR) and to minimize adverse immigration flows.
Madam President, in light of Bermuda’s own consideration and changes over the years with regard to entry requirements, the “Entry Clearance Operations/Visas” was a timely agenda item that was presented by Carol Doughty and Peter Chaplin of the Home Office. The OT’s explored the possibilities around “light-touch” Entry Clearance systems. This is provided for a wider discussion on the future approach of OT Entry Clearance (Visa) operations. The aim was to build awareness amongst the Territories with respect to our access and the ability to draw upon existing models across the network and to provide information to the UK with regard to the level of UK technical and infrastructural assistance that can be expected to support any planned changes to entry requirements across the OTs.
Madam President, the final agenda item of the day was related to the issue of Asylum and this matter was covered by Neil Parkin and Rob Jones of the Home Office. The UK is pursuing a consistent approach towards Asylum Policy in the Territories. The session focused on the practical approaches to Asylum policy in the Territories and highlighted areas where OTs and the UK can work together to identify and mitigate against risk.
Madam President, the dialogue was useful in helping to shape Bermuda’s future immigration policy and to advocate for clarity and completeness as it relates to the implementation of the planned repatriation of passport printing. While there remains work to be done by all parties to ensure a smooth transition, the ongoing collaboration that the JMC provides is vitally important and it is imperative that Bermuda continues to be well represented at these meetings in the best interest of the people of Bermuda.
Thank you Madam President.
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I believe we can thank the great, HONOURABLE, Dr. Brown for this.
His actions regarding the four gentleman brought from Guantanamo has most likely given Britain a wake up call that Overseas Territories are disregarding the laws that are in place.
Moving passport printing to the UK may be a safe measure by the UK for this reason and to also remind us that we do answer to Britain.
God Save The Queen.
another indication that there is a higher power, bigger than all of us put together. I guess the easy way around it is to take a trip to the UK 3 days before your passport expires and when you get stopped tryna get out, then mum will be responsible for feeding, and housing your dependent territory citizen azz until they print you a new passport
I need a Bermuda British passport now my Bermuda British passport expired and im in the states in school were can I apply for a Bermuda British passport…need some answers please help. The government web site is very vague. And i believe the US consulate in DC only print uk british passports to my knowledge and unfortunately it is impossible to speak with a live person all automated telephone system that pass me on from one robot to another …HELP
you will have to get the uk passport in dc.
when you return to Bermuda you can apply for the Bermuda passport.
Does not the British Embassy still exist in Washington DC? That’s where they use to print the British Passports when Bermudians were making applications for full British Passports. I imagine they’ll be able to assist you in some regard.
Great idea swing voter. I have some doubts about where you will be housed and what you will be fed but what the hell. I’m sure it will ensure a new policy being introduced to ensure Bermudians are provided with P/P’s promptly.
I was in the same sort of situation. Had a my family go to immigration and they send if I send back the old one they will renew it within a day. Also you can leave the US on an expired passport as long as u are going to your native country. And when u get home jus renew it.
I was in the exact same situation. My passport expired when I was in the states. Was in school In Maryland. You need to go to the British embassy they will help you. Only thing is when I got mine done I got a uk passport and when I travelled back to bermuda I had trouble. Just got asked a million and one questions going through customes about the passport. I got my passport from the embassy in DC within 3 days. And also you need to personally go around the embassy as well.
You can get your new British passport renewed at Victoria Station Passport Office,within 24hrs.If you need help I can assist .Call me at 234-2950.
Can some-one clarify a point raised on passports…
A British citizen who is granted BERMUDIAN status can only apply for a BTOC (Bermudian) passport if s/he is a naturalised BTOC citizen.
So, if a status Bermudian must be granted naturalisation, isn’t the distinction that a born Bermudian is a naturalised BTOC citizen whereas a status Bermudian must be granted this entitlement (in order to hold a BTOC passport)?
As of December 2014 will both passports be issued in the UK, or will the BTOC passport become non-existent?
London, England
The questions below may have been asked (by Senator Fahy) and answered (by the British Government), however, I cannot find the answers, so please provide transparency on this issue.
I am using the ministerial statement on this blog as read out in the Senate, so I would like to post it here for clarity:
“Madam President, Senate Colleagues will recall that the UK Government plans to repatriate the printing of all passports for British Overseas Territories in December 2014. While the decision has already been taken, the main issue for Bermuda and other territories is ensuring a transition that does not serve to disadvantage our citizenry. The Territories require clarity on the open issues such as turnaround times and service delivery standards, emergency travel documents and steps to be taken in consultation and/or agreement with other nations to provide for travel during emergencies.”
My questions are: Has Senator Fahy, whilst in London, asked the British Government to clarify the following issues: 1) Will our BTOC (Bermuda) passport no longer be issued; 2) If yes, when will our BTOC passport no longer be issued; 3) when will our BTOC passports cease to be valid; and, 4) will the invalidation of our BTOC automatically cancel and/or reduce the entitlement of BTOC naturalisation to born Bermudians, or, at the very least, grant the entitlement of BTOC naturalisation to status Bermudians?
I do not see where these questions have been asked of the British Government, even though the British will go ahead with repatriation of passports in December 2014. However, if these questions have been asked and answered please show transparency.
London, England