Jamaica imposes visa requirement on Cayman Islands nationals

Monday,  November 28, 2005

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands:  According to a press release issued on Friday, November 25, 2005, by the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, nationals of the Cayman Islands will require visas to enter Jamaica, with effect from Thursday, 1st December 2005.

The Ministry says it has informed the Cayman Islands Government of the decision of the Government of Jamaica by way of letter to Mr. Donovan Ebanks, Acting Chief Secretary from Permanent Secretary Ambassador Douglas Saunders.

Both Prime Minister Patterson and Foreign Affairs Minister Knight, in reacting to the decision of the Cayman Islands Government to introduce visa requirements for Jamaicans, from 1st November 2005, had recognised that government’s right to take such an action. Mr. Patterson and Mr. Knight had also indicated that this was a right which Jamaica could exercise.

Responding to this announcement, Deputy Chief Secretary, Donovan Ebanks said that the Cayman Islands Government remains committed to maintaining positive relationships with its neighbouring island and will facilitate the introduction of their visa requirement in every reasonable way.

He added that while all new systems experience initial glitches, entry visas are no longer the exception in today’s security-conscious world.

“Meanwhile,” he noted, “we are conscious that Caymanians seeking US visas are currently required to visit the Jamaican-based US Embassy to pursue their applications. While government will be looking at the feasibility of making alternative arrangements, in the interim, we remind Caymanian passport holders that it is possible to travel to the US on a waiver issued by our own Passport Office.”

Mr. Ebanks also reminds Caymanians who hold British passports that they are eligible to enter the US without the need to obtain either an entry waiver or a visitor’s visa.

The Cayman Islands Government introduced a new visa requirement for visitor visas for residents of four countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Jamaica, with effect from November 1, 2005. These countries joined some 112 other countries whose nationals are presently subject to visa requirements for entry into the Cayman Islands.

Speaking to a concern about a link with increased crime, the Cayman Islands Chief Secretary George McCarthy said: “There is worrying evidence to suggest that nationals from some of these countries may be involved in gang-related activities.”

Some local observers have commented that, whilst the imposition of a visa requirement by the Cayman Islands in respect of Jamaican nationals was done in response to a perceived security risk, there is no equivalent risk to Jamaica from Caymanian visitors.  The action by the Jamaican government is therefore widely perceived as retaliation pure and simple.

Visas for Cayman nationals will be issued by Jamaica’s Honorary Consulate in the Cayman Islands. Facilities for the issuing of visas are in place.

The Ministry has also informed the Caymanian authorities that their proposal for a delegation to visit Jamaica for talks is under consideration.

Meanwhile, in accordance with a request from Cabinet, the Ministry is preparing a review with respect to all other countries which currently require entry visas for Jamaican nationals.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version