Passport Services Division now an Executive Agency

The Immigration Citizenship and Passport Services Division of the Ministry of National Security was transformed into an Executive Agency on June 1, to be known as the Passport Citizenship Agency.
“This agency will continue to deliver the range of services provided to the public at home and abroad, and in time we expect to see improvements in the timeliness and quality of this service,” Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security said during his contribution to the 2007/08 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, yesterday (June 13).
He pointed out that one of the immediate priorities of the agency would be to secure a more suitable and appropriate facility to improve the reception of clients and the working conditions for staff.
“The current conditions at our headquarters facility are simply deplorable and we will be pursuing every option to find another location,” Dr. Phillips said.
Dr. Phillips explained that this move was another aspect of the modernization thrust and the focus on border control. “The current security environment dictates that global security is only as strong as the weakest link anywhere. While we cannot be police to the world, our responsibility is to ensure that our border management systems are as secure as possible. This includes the effectiveness of immigration controls for entry and exit, the effectiveness and efficiency of our procedures for granting residency and citizenship and enhancing the integrity of our Passport as an important symbol of our national identity,” the Minister said.