Decision expected soon on UK visa requirement for Trinidad and Tobago nationals
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| Published on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 |
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By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A decision as to whether Trinidad and Tobago nationals would have to apply for visitor visas to travel to the United Kingdom now rests in the hands of the British government.
The six-month period the Patrick Manning administration had to address the United Kingdom government's concerns about the integrity of the twin-island Republic's passports resulting from its Visa Waiver Test last year ended recently.
The Trinidad Express reported that it will take another few months before the British government informs the Manning administration as to whether the visitor visa regime would have to be applied for the first time ever to nationals of Trinidad and Tobago and those from ten other countries.
Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said in August 2008, the drug mules caught in the United Kingdom with Trinidad and Tobago passports were the main cause of the British government's concerns.
On July 18, 2004, the Express reported that British Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, told the British Parliament that nationals from Trinidad and Tobago, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Venezuela were then declared to pose an illegal immigration, crime and security risk.
All 11 countries had a six-month period to significantly reduce that risk.
"The mitigation period of the UK visa waiver test ended on 2nd November 2009," said Political and Communications Manager, James Dolan, and added that a United Kingdom government migration officer "who has a regional focus covering Bolivia and Venezuela" has been based in Trinidad since October so that the British High Commission can make a full assessment and work closely with the Trinidad and Tobago authorities to try and resolve UK concerns. | | | | Reads : 842 | | | |
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