Report presented on e-visa system for persons travelling to Guyana

The panel at yesterday’s handing over of the E-Visa Report by the European Delegation to the Ministry of Citizenship. (From left): Lucas Guedes, IOM consultant; Jermaine Grant, IOM Programme Officer; Patricia Bell, IOM consultant; Dr Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health; Winston Felix, Minister of Citizenship; Jernej Videtic, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana; Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Business; Dale Alves of the Department of Immigration and Ingrid Primo, Head of the Immigration Support Services.

Having been presented with an outline of policy and recommendations for the implementation of an electronic visa system, the Ministry of Citizenship is on its way to creating a more robust, simplified, and secure visa application system for migrants.

The E-Visa Report, which was handed over to Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix yesterday by Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana Jernej Videtic, was put together through consultation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The document forms technical advice to the ministry, and will inform the way forward for the institution of the E-Visa service.

Felix described the move to implement such a system as the Ministry “seeking to harden the soft parts of the immigration system.” Although he could not yet state the anticipated timeline for implementation, Felix noted that there are key areas he is likely to focus on in the near future, but that that decision will be dependent on advice. One such area deals with the issuance of employment visas and work permits.