Minister Responsible for Immigration - Bahamas Immigration.
The Honourable Alfred Michael Sears
Minister of Immigration and National Insurance
The Honourable Alfred Michael Sears, KC, MP, is a distinguished Bahamian statesman, lawyer, and educator with a career dedicated to national progress, justice, and education. He currently serves as Minister of Immigration and National Insurance and is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Fort Charlotte, a seat he first represented from 2000 to 2012 and to which he returned in 2021.
Minister Sears holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from Columbia University. He earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. His academic training and international experience have provided him with a broad perspective on governance, law, and development within The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
Before entering public life, he built a respected career as an educator and legal practitioner. From 1976 to 1992, he lectured in Caribbean Politics and International Relations at Hunter College, City University of New York. After returning to The Bahamas, he taught Labour Law, Business Law, and Hospitality Law as an adjunct lecturer at several institutions, while also gaining extensive experience in commercial, corporate, civil, and criminal law.
Minister Sears’ public service is marked by strong leadership and a commitment to modernization. As Attorney General of The Bahamas from 2002 to 2006, he chaired the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force between 2003 and 2004 and advanced significant legal and judicial reforms. As Minister of Education, Science, and Technology from 2002 to 2007, he championed literacy and technical training, established the Fort Charlotte Community Development Center, and oversaw the construction of T.G. Glover Primary School. Appointed Minister of Public Works and Utilities in 2021, he guided major infrastructure and roadwork projects supporting sustainable national growth. In 2023, he assumed responsibility as Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, leading policy direction and modernization initiatives to improve efficiency, transparency, and public service delivery.
Beyond Cabinet service, Minister Sears has contributed significantly to higher education governance. In 2012, he was appointed Chairman of The College of The Bahamas, where he played a key role in guiding the institution’s transition to the University of The Bahamas, expanding opportunities for Bahamians to pursue higher education.
Minister Sears is married to the accomplished attorney, poet, and human rights advocate, Marion Bethel.