Bahamian immigration officers received a tongue-lashing from the country's prime minister on Monday for what he described as their often "offensive behaviour" towards Jamaicans entering the country through its various ports of entry. 

The officers, gathered for the opening ceremony of the Immigration Department's 'First Annual Public Service Conference', were admonished by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to put an end to their 'unacceptable' behaviour.

Running through a veritable laundry list of complaints about the department, including the development of an informal 'pay-to-play' culture of corruption, where officers "look the other way for a price", Ingraham went on to express his grievances about the treatment of many Jamaicans coming to The Bahamas.

The prime minister acknowledged that Jamaicans were "frequently exposed" to "insolent and rude" behaviour by immigration staff in The Bahamas upon arrival at ports of entry and "very particularly" at Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport.

"Not all Jamaican nationals arriving in The Bahamas intend to overstay their allotted time. Not all Jamaican nationals arriving in The Bahamas have police records, nor are they engaged in illegal activity," he said.

"Yet, far too many Bahamian immigration officers greet Jamaican nationals arriving in The Bahamas as if they were known criminals. This is not acceptable; it must stop, regardless of the nationality of the arriving passenger," said Ingraham.

He urged officers to treat even those who "do not appear tosatisfy entry requirements for The Bahamas in a courteous and respectful manner."

Meanwhile, the prime minister suggested that people who sponsor visits by Jamaicans for "other than bona fide purposes" must be similarly warned.

"You must know that all immigration officers operate from the same remit - no facilitation, no accommodation, no tip, no bribe to permit persons to enter The Bahamas who are reasonably suspected of coming here to work legitimately or illegitimately! Understood!" declared the prime minister.

No-frills commentaries

Throughout his 12 non-consecutive years in office, Ingraham has developed a reputation for no-frills commentaries which has won him both fans and critics.

Since coming to office for the third time in May 2007, many of the prime minister's most blunt statements have been directed at the civil servants, as he has repeatedly expressed his intention to reform and modernise the country's inefficient public service into one which offers higher levels of customer service and satisfaction, productivity and diminished corruption.

Golding leaves for Bahamas today

Prime Minister Bruce Golding leaves the island today for Grand Bahamas where he will participate in the Commonwealth Local Government Conference.

Golding is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the closing ceremony tomorrow.

While the prime minister is away, Minister of Water and Housing, Dr Horace Chang, will take charge of the Government.

Golding is scheduled to return to the island on Sunday, May 17.