Require visa reciprocity

This will introduce a system of reciprocal treatment instead of the existing one in which visitors, for example Americans and Canadians, can fly in and out of this country merely on the presentation of a passport, but Trinbagonians are not permitted entry at their ports except visas have been issued. To reciprocate, according to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, means to “respond to (a gesture or action) with a corresponding one”.

Entry visas to the United States of America have been in operation from time immemorial as the US sought to protect itself, generally. The tragic incident of September 11, 2001, in which New York’s World Trade Centre was reduced to rubble by terrorists has heightened the need by the United States for security measures. As a result, it is that much more difficult for foreign nationals, with few exceptions, to obtain US entry visas.

There was a time however, when although as now Trinidad and Tobago nationals seeking entry to the US needed visas, US citizens were permitted to land here not even on presentation of a passport or otherwise valid travel document, but with a driver’s permit! Those of us, who are old enough to remember will, undoubtedly, recall the time when a notorious criminal, possessing only a US driver’s permit, flew into Trinidad and Tobago at the behest of the late and unlamented Michael X, murdered an Englishwoman, Gail Ann Benson, and flew out. Canada, a fellow Commonwealth member country, imposed clearly defined entry restrictions in the 1980s to Trinidad and Tobago nationals. Following on this, all Trinbagonians wishing to travel to Canada from here had to apply, not merely for a multiple entry or otherwise visa, but for permission to enter Canada once. And as is the case of an application for a US visa, a fixed fee had to be paid along with the application. In addition, should the applicant fail to obtain entry permission no portion of the fee was recoverable.

While several Trinidad and Tobago citizens have cavilled over the years at both the American and Canadian measures both the United States and Canada have the right under international law to these instruments and to apply them, as any sensible person would agree.

This column wholly agrees with the entry requirements of the two countries.

Trinidad and Tobago, however, should institute not dissimilar measures, which would insist on US and Canadian citizens requiring visas for entry to Trinidad and Tobago. There should be exceptions though for tourists coming on board cruise ships, including stopover visitors who are continuing on the cruises, and for persons who are in transit.

Exceptions should be made as well for US and Canadian investors, who are coming here, specifically, to hold discussions on investment, to investigate the possibility of investing or to have a look at or hold talks on their existing investments. There should be other exceptions as, for example, persons invited to deliver lectures or to hold discussions with Government officials. There should be no need for this column to mention accredited diplomats.

We cannot have a situation where what is good for the proverbial goose is not seen as good for the gander.

The issue here is one of reciprocity. Admittedly, both the United States of America and Canada have had to deal with an unquestioned problem over the years, that of illegal migrants and/or persons who while landing legally and clearing Immigration have, nevertheless, overstayed their allotted time.

All too often this has led to these persons seeking and obtaining jobs on the US as well as the Canadian labour market in competition with nationals and/or landed immigrants.

Because they do not have the necessary documents they are prepared to accept jobs at wages somewhat below the officially set minimum wage and in the process displace nationals and landed immigrants.

This column appreciates this aspect as well as the concern of the authorities. Indeed, the tackling of the problem begins, and understandably so, at the level of the US Embassy and Canadian High Commission in Port-of-Spain. Nonetheless, the argument of reciprocity remains.