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View Full Version : Moving to Abaco - hopefully



HboykinRN
12-08-2007, 09:35 AM
Hello,
I am a US nurse trying to find out if there are any employment opportunities in Abaco. My husband and I are exploring the idea of moving in the future so I wanted to see if it is likely that I could work at one of the clinics. Thanks for your help!

yellowpages
12-08-2007, 11:39 AM
Jobs in the Bahamas are for Bahamian citizens. That being said...if there is a job that can't be filled by a Bahamian then the employer can seek non-citizen employees and assist in getting them a work permit. If you are a "specialty" nurse this might make things go your way...assuming there is a need for your service. In any event...the only way to find out is to write the local clinics and ask.

silentfaith
12-08-2007, 04:18 PM
Isn't a hospital on the drawing board for Abaco? Maybe Mr. Ingrahm can speed funding along for it soon, it is needed because Abaco is the coolest place on earth and everyone wants to move there.

abacolover
12-08-2007, 04:28 PM
Last time I checked, as I too am a nurse, you can apply, it takes about a year to get a license, the government health service regulates and hires. They also assign you to anywhere in the Bahamas there is an opening, no guarantee that you would be assigned where you like, and the annual salary was less than 25,000 a year.

abacolover
12-08-2007, 07:10 PM
link to apply for a nursing license;

http://65.75.74.99//dp_form.asp?fid=251



FORM DATA
Please read Copyright (http://65.75.74.99//copyright.asp) information before you download document(s)


Form Title:
Nurses Agencies Licence Application Form
Description:
For the supply of Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives and Enrolled Clinical Nurses to provide services which are consistent with their professional status. For additional information on the Nursing Council click here (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/A07DF589F0242186852571C4005F68D0).


Prerequisite:

Attachments:


Philosophy and objective of the Agency.



Policies and procedure for governing the Agency.



Records to be kept.



Methods of evaluating the quality of care received of client.



Policies for ensuring the confidentiality for records



Means of liability insurance for the staff of the Agency.



List of staff with registration/enrolment numbers.


Instructions:
1.Complete and download form.2.Submit completed form along with supporting documents and fee payment to the Nursing Council.

No application will be reviewed/processed until all the above listed attachments are received.



Payment must be made to complete the process.



Legal action may be taken against any person who operates an Agency without a licence.

3.Publication of the application will be made in the local newspaper.4.A Public Hearing will be heard to process the application and deal with any objections.
Fee:
$350.00 ($50-processing fee, $300-registration fee)
Form:
http://65.75.74.99//images/pdf.jpg (http://65.75.74.99//documents/HEALTH_nursingAgencyRegistration.pdf)
<A class=link_top_side href="http://65.75.74.99//faq.asp?fid=251">FAQshealthgeneral@bahamas.gov.bs[/email]
http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/health ("]
Contact:
HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MINISTRY OF
POINCIANA HILL
MEETING ST.
P. O. Box N 3730
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Nursing Council[/font]

The Nursing Council is a body established to provide control of the training and practice of clinical nurses and midwives, for the registration of nurses and midwives and the enrolment of clinical nurses. The Council functions according to the Nurses and Midwives Act (chapter 209) and the Nurses and Midwives (Nurses Agencies) Regulations, 1993. (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Welcome--Health+Website+PDFs/$FILE/NURSES%20AND%20MIDWIVES%20ACT.pdf)

The Council consists of 10 appointed members:

· 5 persons whom the Minister selects
· 3 persons nominated by the Nurses’ Association
· 1 person nominated by the Minister of Education
· 1 medical practitioner whom the Minister selects << see more (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Programs--MOH+Nursing+Overview) >>


Registration/ (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Programs--MOH+Nursing+Registration)Licensing and Renewals/ (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Programs--MOH+Nursing+Licensing)Act and Regulations (PDF format)/ (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Welcome--Health+Website+PDFs/$FILE/NURSES%20AND%20MIDWIVES%20ACT.pdf)Nursing (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Nursing--MOHE+Nursing)/Forms/ (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Welcome--MOHE+Forms!Opendocument)Nursing Opportunities/ (http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/MOHE--Programs--MOH+NURS+Nursing+Opportunities)





Contact Us
Delancy Street, (opposite Ministry of Health exit gate)
P.O. Box N-9802
Nassau, The Bahamas
Telephone: 326-0553, Fax: 326-0537
E-mail: nursing@nursingcouncil.org




Prerequisite:









Attachments:






Original or notarized copies of qualifications obtained since last renewal.


Instructions:






1.Download and complete form. 2.Submit completed form with the prescibed fee and supporting documents to the Health Professions Council.3.All non-Bahamians must present a current work permit or contract along with application. (Only a notarized copy will be accepted if the original cannot be presented for verification.)


Fee:



$210.00 ($200-application fee; $10-licence identification fee)



Form:



http://65.75.74.99//images/pdf.jpg (http://65.75.74.99//documents/HEALTH_HealthProfessionsAnnual%20Licence%20Renewal %20form.pdf)



<A class=link_top_side href="http://65.75.74.99//faq.asp?fid=59">FAQshealthgeneral@bahamas.gov.bs
http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/health ("]



Contact:



HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MINISTRY OF
POINCIANA HILL
MEETING ST.
P. O. Box N 3730
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
[email="healthgeneral@bahamas.gov.bs)





And lastly regarding work permits:
http://www.the-bahamas-islands.com/immigration.html


Generally non-citizens may not work within The Bahamas. There are exceptions for those having skills not available from a Bahamian. The employer must show proof of exhaustive searching for a suitable Bahamian prior to applying for a work permit for the foreign candidate. Now there are many instances wherein the requirements are prerequisites determined by the employer based upon the candidate they have in mind already. To say it simply if someone wants you to work down here they will write the classified help wanted ad to demonstrate that only YOU could possibly fill the position. Many Bahamians having received higher education from Universities in foreign nations seek higher paid positions in other countries rather than their own.


However any ordinary position not requiring specialized skills will not readily qualify as an employment opportunity for a foreigner. For instance should a foreign national apply for a position as a maid they most certainly would be denied the application. There are no specialized skills, experience or higher education required to perform the associated duties and therefore many suitable candidates of Bahamian origin can be obtained from local advertising of the offered position.


The lack of four (4) year colleges (and beyond) within The Commonwealth of The Bahamas renders many citizens unable to obtain the furtherance in education necessary to fill positions mandating Bachelors and Masters degrees. The citizens who can afford to go abroad to further their education or those that receive scholarships are the minority of the overall population.


There are also privileged areas of employment wherein only nationals may fill the positions with few, if any, exceptions. The normal exceptions will be those that allow for educating Bahamians to the job skills associated with the position. Once a qualified replacement has been trained they should then take on the duty of further educating the population needed to surmount the demand in the job market.


Another particular that has changed over the past recent years is that it is now the responsibility of the employer to sponsor the work permit of the non-Bahamian applicant. Moreover the applicant may not be on Bahamian soil at time of submission of application for employment. In years past a foreigner might make application on his own for a work permit in a specific field and then seek a position. No longer is this allowed. The employer must first demonstrate that it has failed to yield a local Bahamian applicant despite all reasonable efforts. Therefore foreigners may not make a general application to the government for a work permit should he/she be unsponsored by an employer for a particular position.


Work permits can be costly and are assessed based on the value of skills. The field of teaching is an area of need and many teachers enter on work permits. The employers are not likely to readily contract with unnecessary foreigners as a work force as they must post a bond ensuring that the expenses of removing the non-Bahamian from the country are covered as well as any incidental damages the employee might incur indebting himself to the government for items such as medical care. The bond will need to be adequate to cover the employee's dependents as well. There is good cause to mandate a bond. Should an expatriate become seriously ill as a working resident he or she might become a burden to the government and detour resources from the citizens who are rightfully in need of such services. Therefore the employer should be bound to provide sufficient medical insurance benefits. Should the expatriate not have the moneys to move off of Commonwealth islands following termination of either work permit or employment he or she might further deplete the resources rightfully due the citizens.


Residency without the right to work may be gained both annually and permanently with an adequate real estate investment. An investment in real property is necessary to be considered for annual residency and investments over $500,000.00 for permanent residency.


To obtain an annual residency card you must make application to Immigrations, you will need to present evidence of financial independence (hence you do not need to produce an income to survive - mandatory); be prepared to submit signed letters from your local Bahamian bank of your average amount of deposits on hand, you must present proof of good and upstanding character. This can be presented in form of personal recommendations from judges, politicians, government officials as well as clergy and charity organization leaders who know you and can make a positive declaration on your behalf. You will also need to submit a police certificate evidencing that you have a clean criminal or arrest record and are considered an upstanding citizen in your local community (your local law enforcement department will understand the nature of your request when you present it to them) You will need to submit two passport photos with your application and a $25 fee for processing (non-refundable). You will be interviewed and if meeting acceptance upon approval you will need to pay $500 for annual residence, which can include your spouse and dependents. You will not be granted residency under these circumstances unless you are a homeowner or investor or spouse of a citizen.


Permanent Residency requires much of the same but furthers the financial information required to speak for itself that not now or in the foreseeable future would you require a position to receive income to continue your residency here.


Why all the red tape?


The Bahamas Immigration policy protects Bahamian jobs and ensures that Bahamians are considered first and foremost for all positions. It is not intended to deter foreigners however it is a policy that does not make it easy to gain employment in the Commonwealth.
Of serious concern are the large numbers of immigrants arriving from Haiti and Cuba. The US does admit many seeking asylum but has a screening process and certain criteria that must be met. The Bahamas is not as well equipped to deal with this crisis and moreover the workforce these folks bring forth is in direct competition with Bahamian

dp
12-11-2007, 07:35 PM
Bottom Line: The Bahamas is ultra-bureaucratic; afraid of foreigners (no matter the benefits); 3rd world in most respects; a bad place to go except to vacation. It is NOT paradise for expats who try to live here. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings...Merry Christmas!

Tolerance
12-12-2007, 07:42 AM
In reality (dp), the Bahamian laws described are almost IDENTICAL to the same laws in The United States. I know because I worked for a foreign owned company for more than a decade in the USA, and became very aware of US employment laws for foreigners.

Wonkee
12-12-2007, 10:20 AM
3rd world? in what respect, a Government decides to secure high paying, skilled labour jobs for its own people to keep its employment rates high, and they are 3rd world? If my family had power, and telephones and running water they would leave thier grass shack and give you a verbal thrashing. The Bahamas is a highly structured Democracy, that protects its jobs for its own people, there is nothing 3rd world about it.

Bottom Line: The Bahamas is ultra-bureaucratic; afraid of foreigners (no matter the benefits); 3rd world in most respects; a bad place to go except to vacation. It is NOT paradise for expats who try to live here. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings...Merry Christmas!

bahamassun
12-12-2007, 02:36 PM
Wow...we Have Arrived..third World..just Like Bush Country..pass The Kalik

HALF-A-HAMIAN
12-12-2007, 03:00 PM
For Sale: One Lightly Used Kerosene Tv. Needs New Wick. Telegraph Me At Cherokee Sound. Duties Paid.

Wonkee
12-12-2007, 05:38 PM
For Sale: One Lightly Used Kerosene Tv. Needs New Wick. Telegraph Me At Cherokee Sound. Duties Paid.
..---. .--.. --.. -..-...-- .---- ..-. ----.
translation "Ill take 2! and you wouldnt happen to have any Blinker fluid there would you? And how long before the nex Smack sails so I can watch for you?"
No it isnt really morse code, I just threw it in for effect