Caribbean Net News: Antigua-Barbuda PM receives first machine readable passport

ST. JOHN�S, Antigua: Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer on Monday accepted the first Antigua and Barbuda new machine-readable passport during a brief ceremony at the Passport Office in St. John�s.

Chief Passport Officer Ms. Paulette Otto presented the first Diplomatic Passport to the Prime Minister following a tour of the facility which is producing the new travel document.

The Government last year initiated the process of producing Machine Readable Passports which are essential to meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO global objectives designed to minimize delays in border-crossing formalities and to safeguard international civil aviation operation against acts of unlawful interference.

In accepting his new passport, Prime Minister Spencer said that he is delighted that the preparation process was a success and noted that the new design of the document not only meets international security requirements but with the addition of the CARICOM logo on the cover, it signifies Antigua and Barbuda�s commitment to regional integration.

Ms. Otto noted that new applicants for the document will begin receiving them from early next week and pointed out that persons who are in possession of valid passports should continue using them until the phased-out process for the old passport is announced.

Governor General Sir James Carlisle and Lady Carlisle and Mrs. Jacklyn Spencer, wife of Prime Minister Spencer were also presented with the Antigua and Barbuda Machine Readable Passports on Monday.

The passports are being issued in three colours and categories: Regular Passport � blue in colour; Official Passport � green in colour; and Diplomatic Passport � red in colour. The passports bear the CARICOM logo, which identifies Antigua and Barbuda as a member state of the regional grouping and the coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda on the front cover of the document.

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