FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas -- Minister for Immigration and National Insurance, the Hon. Alfred Sears was in Grand Bahama on Thursday, November 7, 2024, during which time he met with staff members at the Department of Immigration and the National Insurance Board.
During his meeting with the staff at the National Insurance Board (NIB), Minister Sears was joined by the Director, Deputy Director and Chairman of NIB. Minister Sears reported that the meeting surrounded several topics and concerns, one of which included a recruitment drive, which was pushed forth under the Minister’s direction, to hire seven positions at the executive management level at NIB.
“When we asked Parliament for an increase in contribution rates at NIB, we said that there would be an aggressive reform agenda,” explained Minister Sears. “One of which is to bring in new leadership at the executive management level. We’ve undertaken a global search which is being managed by the Accounting Firm of Ernst and Young. Ads have gone out globally as well as nationally for candidates for these various positions.
Persons within NIB as well as those outside of NIB have applied.”
Also, during his meeting with executive management and staff of NIB, Minister Sears reported that NIB will be commissioning what is known as a “solution architecture," an upgrading of the IT platform to meet the company's needs.
“We feel that NIB can be more efficient and can better serve its beneficiaries,” said Minister Sears. “We must bear in mind that the beneficiaries of NIB are spread throughout the islands of The Bahamas. So, whatever we can do to make the task more efficient will be of great help.”
Minister Sears then met with heads and staff at the Department of Immigration, where he gave them an update on concerns that were raised with by the staff during his last meeting with them, which was on October 27, 2023.
That update included information on the process of promotion for all Immigration Officers throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, including aspects of reclassification and promotion of officers in Grand Bahama.
In fact, Minister Sears noted that the issue of promotion was the main concern that arose during his meeting with the Department of Immigration. He noted that because of the meeting with the staff in Grand Bahama, he made it his priority during his tenure as Minister for Immigration to deal with those concerns.
“In Nassau, we’ve set up a special unit, under the leadership of Undersecretary Sharon Pratt-Rolle and inclusive of Human Resources leaders from other government ministries who have gone through the personnel file of every Immigration Officer,” said Minister Sears. “The purpose is to ensure that the files are ready to be sent to the Ministry of Public Service for promotion or reclassification as necessary. I’ve directed that to be done this month.”
Minister Sears said that during those meetings he had taken notes of the recommendations that were put forth and admitted that as minister, he has benefited from the collective wisdom of the colleagues from both the National Insurance Board and the Department of Immigration.
“As I go back, the recommendations provided to me will be a part of the policy formation that we develop and which I will present to the Cabinet.”
While in Grand Bahama, Minister Sears and his team visited a few sites including Carnival Cruise Port that is under construction in East Grand Bahama, Freeport Container Port and Grand Bahama Shipyard.
