Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
A strong bilateral relationship with the United States has been touted as the main reason why this country was not among five regional countries that may be affected by purported US travel restrictions.
The travel restrictions, allegedly proposed by US diplomatic and security officials, were revealed in a New York Times investigative report.
The report stated that citizens from 11 countries, including Cuba and Venezuela, would be flatly barred from entering the US.
It also said that citizens of ten countries, including Haiti, Pakistan and Russia would have their visas heavily restricted, and 22 countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia would be given 60 days to clear up perceived deficiencies suggested by US authorities.
The report suggested that the classification was based on concerns over inadequate security practices for issuing passports, insufficient information sharing on travellers, and the “selling” of citizenship to citizens from banned countries.
All the Caribbean islands, given the opportunity to become compliant, have Citizen by Investment programmes that give foreign investors the opportunity to obtain citizenship.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne did not directly refer to the proposed policy, which is yet to be officially endorsed and implemented by the US Government led by President Donald Trump.
However, he sought to highlight this country’s positive diplomatic relationship with the US.
“What I can say on record is that Trinidad and Tobago has been working extremely closely with the United States of America on a wide range of matters,” he said.
“Our collaborations remain respectful and productive and have been recently further enhanced at certain levels.”
Browne said that he hosted regular informal meetings with senior officials of the US Embassy to ensure both sides were well informed of key developments.
“We have found our counterparts on the US side to be engaging, very focused on open communication, and receptive to our perspectives and priorities,” Browne said.
“The relationship is being responsibly managed and expanded in the best interest of our respective peoples.”
Minister complains to UK High Commissioner over sudden visa imposition
In a press release issued yesterday, Browne’s ministry noted that on Thursday, he held a meeting with United Kingdom High Commissioner Jon Mark Dean over that country’s recent decision to introduce a visa for T&T citizens seeking to enter the UK.
“Minister Browne took the occasion to make a formal complaint about the visa imposition on our nationals and included reference to the lack of appropriate notice and the absence of a truly collaborative approach from the United Kingdom toward solving their asylum-process observations,” it said.
It noted that Dean confirmed previous reports that the policy was implemented due to an increase in asylum seekers from T&T and gave an explanation for the lack of notice.
“The High Commissioner acknowledged that the imposition of the visa requirement was sudden, advised that his team would seek to provide as much public guidance as possible during and beyond this initial period, and emphasised that the visa imposition would be reviewed during the course of the year,” it said.
It said that both parties agreed to work collaboratively towards an action plan in an effort to address the situation that led to the visa imposition.