Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell expressed concern Sunday regarding the closure of the United States pre-clearance facilities at the Grand Bahama and Nassau International airports, saying that the move may not have been necessary and may cause great inconveniences to travelers.
U.S. authorities said that they closed the facilities due to fears surrounding Hurricane Isabel.
The Department of Homeland Security made what it considered to be the “precautionary decision” on Friday evening, due to the path which the category five hurricane was treading.
As a result of the closure, Bahamians traveling to the United States can only do so if they are in possession of a valid U.S. visa.
“It appears to us that this storm is headed on a track that did not call for the evacuation of personnel from The Bahamas,” Minister Mitchell said.
“As we understand it, there is a decision that this thing is supposed to stay in place for seven days, subject to review and seven days is quite a long time given the normal travel patterns to this country. So we are – as a matter of priority – trying to get some clarification on that.”
A press statement released by the U.S Embassy and the Department of Homeland Security said the safety of its personnel is a priority.
The Embassy expressed confidence that the Bahamian public understands that the temporary measure was made by the Department of Homeland Security to assure the safety of its personnel due to the proximity of Hurricane Isabel.
“The U.S Embassy and the Department of Homeland Security anticipate that these facilities will be re-opened and functioning quickly after the danger to personnel and equipment posed by Hurricane Isabel has dissipated,” the release said.
Minister Mitchell said the move could cause considerable delays at both airports.
“The whole thing has just thrown everything off…we will make representation to the U.S State Department,” he said.
The U.S Embassy stressed, however, that officials of the Department of Homeland Security have been – and will continue to be – in close contact with all airlines flying to the United States from The Bahamas and with Homeland Security officials at ports of entry.
This is to ensure that travelers arriving from Nassau and Freeport with passports and visas are expeditiously cleared to enter the United States, the release said.
“Because of the post-clearance arrangements that have been made, the vast majority of the public traveling to the United States from The Bahamas should not experience any inconvenience or disruption to their travel plans due to this temporary measure occasioned by the threat of Hurricane Isabel,” according to United States officials.
“Bahamians with valid passports and visas should not experience any disruption to their travel plans to the United States or onward destinations during this temporary condition.”
Meantime, to assist Bahamians with confirmed airline tickets to travel during the next several days, the U.S Embassy consular section will be open to “expeditiously process” visa applications for Bahamians with valid passports.
“We expect to restore full, normal operations as quickly as possible, once the danger posed by Hurricane Isabel has passed,” the release said.
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
