Department of Border Control To Be Formed
Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief announced this morning [Aug.11] the ‘Department of Border Control’ will be formed, with Government “working toward a soft implementation of 1st September.”
The new Department will be formed through an amalgamation of the elements of Customs and The Department of Immigration already engaged in this function. “The creation of a single border control agency will only enhance the efforts of these dedicated officers,” said the Minister.
Minister Perinchief said, “Important and necessary legislative changes will be a part of the coming Session. One key element of these changes is to eliminate references to the Department of Immigration and replace that with the Department of Border Control.”
“The head of the Department will also be known as the Director of Border Control replacing the familiar title of Chief Immigration Officer.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Good morning and thank you for coming. Unity of purpose brings strength. Unity of function brings efficiency. Unity of resources realizes economy. These broad statements provide some insight into the important announcement I am pleased to make today.
Within the security services framework there has been discussion about a single entity responsible for border control for some time.
However, in her National Plan, published during last year’s leadership race, the Premier signaled her intention to create such an agency. The first meaningful step in this regard came during the Budget Debate when the fiscal structure of the proposed department was set out in the Budget Book.
Since that time a team from within the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Finance has set about forming a workable model for this new approach to safeguarding Bermuda’s borders.
I am joined today by members of that team which was led by the Collector of Customs, Mrs. Fostine-Desilva, and the Collectorate, the Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Dr. Danette Ming and ably assisted by Ms. Anne Allain, consultant to the Department of Immigration. I wish to thank them for their hard work and attention to detail in this process.
More recently, the Report of the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on the Causes of Gun Crime and Violence in Bermuda also recommended that the Government create a single border control agency.
To fulfill the mandate set by the Premier the team’s recommendation was that the Department of Border Control be formed by an amalgamation of the elements of HM Customs and The Department of Immigration already engaged in this function. This would leave the revenue collection portion of HM Customs within the Ministry of Finance as required by best practice.
The Department of Immigration would also be required to shed those areas responsible for the work permit regime as this aspect of its functions has been transferred to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, for which my colleague Senator Wilson is responsible.
These recommendations were the result of detailed discussions and followed consultation with affected staff in both ministries, a general meeting with the officers of HM Customs and meetings with the BPSU as the representative Union.
The team answered questions, allayed fears and shared as much information as possible with a wide group and by and large I am satisfied that the process through which they have gone is a sound one. It is significant that this view has been endorsed by Cabinet who has given approval to the recommendations also.
I am aware of the views of some affected members of the organization that this change is not welcomed and is unclear. I support their right to have that opinion, but I wish members of the public to know that the Ministry has been clear and open from the outset and our hope is that all officers will continue to work together with us to keep Bermuda’s borders safe.
There remains much to be done. Important and necessary legislative changes will be a part of the coming Session. One key element of these changes is to eliminate references to the Department of Immigration and replace that with the Department of Border Control.
Therefore, the head of the Department will also be known as the Director of Border Control replacing the familiar title of Chief Immigration Officer. Other revisions to post-titles will follow simply to accord with the new style of the Department.
No change to the roles and responsibilities of officers performing a border control function is expected in the short term. At the senior, managerial levels, some changes may be required and those will be handled in the normal manner and subject to the necessary internal review processes.
We are working toward a soft implementation of 1st September for these changes. This working group will continue to meet and consult as we work through the inevitable challenges that change can bring.
However, the commitment to secure and safe borders remains as firm as ever. Day in and day out men and women in this country provide an exceptional service at our borders.
Recent efforts between HM Customs and the Bermuda Police Service indicate that a strong working relationship exists between the uniformed services in the area of interdiction of drugs and illegal goods.
The creation of a single border control agency will only enhance the efforts of these dedicated officers. In the coming weeks we will continue to advise the public how their interaction with these agencies may change and what they can expect as this implementation unfolds.
Thank you and with the team assembled I am happy to take questions.
Looks like we’ll be paying another “friend of a friend” to manage this “mergence of elements”!!
As I remember Immigration and Customs are verymuch “merged” now.. at least when it comes to boarder protection they are…
What’s funny is that there was already a joint task force in place before that combined Police and Customs – not sure if this still exsists. But what I find strange is that Customs Officers have more power then the Police – they are the only law enforcing body that does not require a warrant to search and seize – they can show up to your house unannounced – the only other difference between the two is that Gov controls Customs (Minstry of Finance) and the Governor controls the Police.. And yes the Police do get a crap of a lot more benefits then the other Civil Servants – so some compromise should be mad to keep the playing field EVEN.
They did have two combined teams- one for the airport, one for the seaports. In those cases, the Customs officers were required to take on the role of a Police Officer, but without Police officer pay or more importantly, medical benefits( important when you’re being thrust into ‘volatile’ situations). And if I’m not mistaken, a warrant to enter a premises is required by Customs as well. I’ve never known a situation where they can just ‘drop-in’ on a house without a legal warrant.
This way, you can reward people that seem left out. To have a Director you need a Deputy, and Assistant et al…..Just higher salaries and perks and and and and………
Wait until the Regiment takes over………….
It seems the senior positions will have their job descriptions amended along with different titles. If this is the case, their should be no empire building, read – money wasted. However,if history is used as a guide this will not happen,and an additional burden will be placed on the taxpayer.
What you going on about?
You already have a Chief Immigration Officer, which will become Director of Border Control. You already have an Assistant Chief Immigration Officer which I guess will become Assistant/Deputy Director of Border Control.
If the roles change and more responsibility, than the package (i.e. salary)should reflect it.
Can they recruit some of the 1,000+ unemployed to work or will they tell us they are OVER and UNDER qualified? This Government sickens me! It is like a posse!! If you are in demoralising yourself you get in If you have morals you are overlooked!!
Rumour has it that this is being formed to stop people from leaving the country.
Another department, more bureaucracy, more money, all at the tax payer’s expense….please…
Ummmm….this sounds like more pre election Cogwash. Don’t we already have an effective border control? It is not as if illegal aliens are swimming across the Atlantic & climbing up on our shores. There are phone lines that link the BPS, Immigration & Customs. Immigration & Customs can shout to each other.
This is nothing more than a make redundant jobs for the unemployable & buy some votes scheme.
For gawd’s sake what is all this Press Release/posturing about a Name Change and then have the audacity to say the details have yet to be worked out…?
Please will the cream of intelligentsia rise up!
Excellent Initiative ……….!This move was discussed back in 1972 by the Authorities and has no Political Implications whatsoever…It shows consolidation of the various Authorities and better sharing of private information and public information…..and this was long before Homeland Security was formed or 911/so Bermudas thing was well ahead of America even on this concern.!Congratulations to the Government for putting things in place for a better and safer Bermuda.Hopefully we will see The Bermuda Regiment and the Marine Police coming together to form that Volunteer Home Guard that was suggested some time ago to protect our shores so naysayers…..do’nt worry about the money …..there are some of us Proud to be Bermudians with real skills on land and sea who would proudly serve our Beloved Bermuda without remuneration in this unit. I remember seeing some pictures of my uncles and my father in uniform standing in the Old Home Guard during the war…..!Perhaps the old loyalty to Bermuda lies somewhere just below the surface……and that’s not a Bad thing for a country that has provided us with everything…..remember ….there is still a war going on…..even bigger if you will reflect without emotion……Very Proud to be a Bermudian………
Here here! Thumbs up!
I just had a look. Don’t see any unfriendly warships on the horizon & there will not likely be any in the near future.
My father served during the war in the home guard (too old to go overseas). He spent his time stomping around St Davids Battery with an empty rifle.
You can’t even get people to voluteer for the waste of time & money Regimient we have now. Who is going to voluteer for any Homeland Security? There are no turbaned terrorists trying to sneak in. Maybe it is those Philipino nannys you are worried about.
I am truely elated (well, actually, I’m Admiral Ackbar – but I feel truely elated). The Rebel Alliance have heard rumours for years now that the Land Crabs and Mangrove Crabs secretly joined forces decades ago.
They’ve been quietly plotting away, formulating plans, building forces and strength to launch an all-out coup on the island.
What a relief to read that Bermuda’s getting their very own Border Patrol. This shall surely thwart any evil plots and/or attempts at a coup.
Now all Bermudians will be able to rest easy knowing that they are safe from the evil and hostility that lurks just off their shores in the form of ‘JACKOFF’ – the Joint Alliance of Crab Komerades and Off-shore Freedom Fighters.
Now there’s something the taxpayers should be only too delighted to foot the bill for.
OK, I’m trying to get the jist of this. So we’re going to have Customs revenue side( under the Ministry of Finance) and Border Control( a blend of Customs Enforcement and Immigration) and work permits will no longer be under Immigration, but instead under Kim Wilson’s Ministry? Am I interpreting this correctly?