As promised by President Jagdeo…
THE GUYANA Government yesterday demonstrated its commitment to advancing the regional integration process by delivering on a promise made to implement shortly the policy decision to waive visa requirements for Haitian businesspersons.
The waiver pertains to those businesspersons desirous of travelling to  CARICOM Member States outside of Haiti who are in possession of a valid United States of America, Canadian or Schengen visas.
Travelling on a Schengen Visa means that the holder can travel to any (or all) of the 15 Schengen member countries using one single visa, thereby avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country.
The 15 Schengen member countries, all European and signatories to a treaty by the same name, are Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Under The Schengen Agreement — signed June 14, 1985 aboard a riverboat on the Mosel River at the confluence of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, nationals of the 15 signatories are entitled to move freely between countries.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visa waiver for Haitians, which took effect yesterday, is another demonstration of the commitment of the Guyana Government to rebuild Haiti, by facilitating the island’s private sector to participate meaningfully and effectively in its rebuilding and development process.
The Heads of Government of CARICOM, at their 31st Meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica earlier in the month, agreed to put such an agreement in place.
It should however be noted that Guyana had earlier concluded a reciprocal Agreement with the Government of Haiti for the abolition of visas for persons holding diplomatic, service and official passports. This was another CARICOM Heads of Government decision taken some time ago.
Speaking at a press conference in Jamaica, President Jagdeo had promised: “I will leave this meeting, and get home and get it (the waiver of visas for Haitian nationals) done, and my immigration officials will respect that.”
Recognising that many immigrants enter countries to work and help develop those states, earn and return home, he said Guyana supports the Regional Travel Card System, CARIPASS, and expressed the hope that it will solve the issue of Caribbean citizens being made to check with and interviewed by immigration officials at regional ports of entry.
Speaking to the media in Jamaica, President Jagdeo said the free movement of people is a key element of a single economy of the region and believes that those who are eligible to travel should be allowed to do so freely.
He said while he does not subscribe to Caribbean nationals travelling to other countries and breaking laws, he condemns what he described as “inhumane, discriminatory treatment meted out by immigration officials at some ports of entry who act in authoritative ways toward citizens of other CARICOM sister-states.” (GINA)