(Antigua Sun) – The long queues of non-nationals on Redcliffe Quay stretching to St Mary’s Street hoping to renew their status will be a thing of the past, the cabinet approves a number of recommendations put forward by a committee set up to review immigration issues.
The three-member committee chair+ed by Minister of National Security Dr Errol Cort conducted a series of discussions and has recommended that no extensions be granted to non-nationals after their allotted stay in the country has expired.
The hot button issue was the highlight of the consultations with non-nationals complaining bitterly about the aggravating process.
According to Committee Member Attorney E Ann Henry, when a visitor arrives in at the port of entry and declares he is in Antigua and Barbuda on a visit, the immigration officer should have discretion to grant a period of stay not exceeding six months having giving regard to the period requested by the visitor, the capacity to take care of himself while in the country and the frequency in which the person visits.
“When you come into the country and the immigration gives you a prescribed period of time that is it, at the end of that time you would be required to leave.”
Henry said over the past 10 to 15 years, a growing number of would-be immigrants, on arrival in Antigua, inform the immigration officers that they are here on a visit.
The immigration officer would permit entry for a specified period, on the expiration of which the person would go to the Immigration Headquarters and seek an extension of time to remain, this process is repeated until the person applies for, and obtains, a work permit or otherwise disappears from view and simply remains in Antigua illegally.
She, however, adds that consideration would be given to individuals with special cases.
“The immigration officer having exercised his discretion, the visitor should not be entitled to have the period of stay extended except, if during the visit he is hospitalised, then the period should be extended until he may be discharged and be able to travel, and in circumstances which, in the opinion of the chief immigration officer, as approved in writing by the minister responsible for immigration matters, are appropriate.”
