Linden to get Immigration, Passport Office by June

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix (second from left) helping to turn the sod.(DPI photo)
Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix (second from left) helping to turn the sod.(DPI photo)

Residents of Linden and nearby communities in Region Ten will soon benefit from a $30M Passport and Immigration Office.

A sod-turning ceremony was held in Linden, Region 10 yesterday in this regard, a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) said.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, Regional, Chairman of Region 10, Renis Morian and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Abena Moore, officially broke ground to mark the start of construction.

The office will be located at Lot 43 Mackenzie, Linden situated on the right side of the Demerara River.

Felix highlighted that the office will begin to process other services such as births and deaths among others.  He noted improvements made within the immigration sector over the past two years and added that the government is in the process of digitising all of its services, including the immigration department.

In his remarks, Regional Chairman, Renis Morian said: “It will remove a lot of stress and hassle from residents especially those coming from Kwakwani and soon we might have a sub-office in the Upper Demerara/Upper-Berbice area,” According to Morian, 15 years ago residents made the call for such an investment into the region and “today it has been answered.”

June 2018 is the date set for completion of the new Passport and Immigration Office. The current office is being housed in the Linden, NIS building.