PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC -The Trinidad and Tobago authorities expressed its disappointment Wednesday at the UK authorities’s choice to impose, with quick impact, a visa requirement for Trinidad and Tobago nationals desirous to journey to or transit the UK, together with on quick visits.
London stated that that is along with the established necessities for acquiring a visa to journey to the UK for the aim of labor, examine, or settlement.
“There can be a six-week transition interval till 15:00 on 23 April 2025, throughout which guests who booked their journey and obtained an ETA (digital journey authorization) earlier than the modifications can nonetheless enter the UK with out a visa. There may be additionally a transition interval for passengers transiting through the UK to an onward vacation spot,” London stated in its assertion.
However, CARICOM and International Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne stated that whereas London is inside its proper to take such motion, “we don’t see it as a proportionate response to what UK authorities conveyed to us, which was their commentary {that a} comparatively small variety of Trinidad and Tobago nationals had been misusing the UK immigration system by being processed for an ETA within the regular current course of after which abruptly making use of for asylum after arrival.
“We aren’t of the view that common vacationers to the UK needs to be negatively affected by a comparatively small variety of individuals who’ve been making an attempt to abuse the British immigration system,” Browne added.
The British Excessive Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, John Dean, stated the brand new requirement signifies that all Trinidad and Tobago nationals “should receive a visa” to journey to the UK.
“Trinidad and Tobago nationals will not be eligible to journey underneath the digital journey authorizations scheme, and people planning to transit the UK will now want a direct …visa. In any nation, together with the UK, safety and border safety should be our precedence.
“We usually overview our visa and immigration insurance policies to make sure they continue to be efficient. On this event, there was a big improve within the variety of unjustified asylum purposes by Trinidad and Tobago nationals on the UK border. Sadly, the actions of a small minority have meant that our ministers have needed to take the tough choice to introduce a visa requirement”.
The British diplomat stated there can be a brief transition interval till April 23 this yr for guests with a agency reserving and an ETA.
“I perceive lots of one can find this information disappointing, and that’s why I needed to clarify it to you personally. In fact, right here on the British Excessive Fee, we are going to proceed working with our associates and colleagues in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen our partnership.
‘As a part of that, we would like you to proceed to journey to the UK as a lot as Brits do to Trinidad and Tobago to find the very best of each nations,” he added.
The British House Workplace has reported a ninefold improve in asylum purposes from the Caribbean Islands. It stated claims rose from a mean of 49 yearly between 2015 and 2019 to 173 in 2022 and 348 in 2023. There have been a big variety of 439 claims within the final yr alone.
