PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday reiterated its “disappointment” at the decision of the United Kingdom to impose visa restrictions on nationals from the oil-rich twin island Republic with immediate effect.
CARICOM and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Amery Browne, speaking on a local radio programme, gave the impression that Port of Spain might have been blindsided by the decision from London, even as he acknowledged that the UK had given a 48 hour notice before making its position public.
“We were given two days’ notice. On Monday of this week, the government of the United Kingdom conveyed correspondence to the government of Trinidad and Tobago informing of the imposition of a visa regime beginning on Wednesday of this week,” Browne told radio listeners.
“Yes, there was some notice, but just two days, which really is insufficient time, certainly when dealing with friends to deal with a matter of this import. Their decision had already been made and simply was being conveyed to us in those circumstances.
“So, I don’t need to tell you that there is a long history between the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago…and we have strong ties, productive and positive ties over the years which have resulted in connections with the diaspora”.
Browne said that apart from family members and people with medical conditions, there are also many students studying in the United Kingdom. “London is also an important transit point for Trinidad and Tobago nationals who are seeking to go further afield or who are proceeding to European destinations,” he said.
London said that Trinidad and Tobago nationals would need the visa to travel to or transit the UK including on short visits, as well as to travel to the UK for the purpose of work, study and settlement.
“There will be a six-week transition period until 15:00 on 23 April 2025, during which time visitors who booked their travel and obtained an ETA (electronic travel authorisations) before the changes can still enter the UK without a visa. There is also a transition period for passengers who are transiting via the UK to an onward destination,” London said in its statement.
The British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, John Dean, said the UK regularly reviews its visa and immigration policies to ensure that they remain effective.
“On this occasion there has been significant increase in the number of unjustified asylum applications by Trinidad and Tobago nationals at the UK border. Unfortunately, the actions of a small minority have meant that our ministers have had to take the difficult decision to introduce a visa requirement”.
The British Home Office has reported a ninefold increase in asylum applications from the Caribbean Islands. It said claims rose from an average of 49 a year between 2015 and 2019 to 173 in 2022 and 348 in 2023. There were a significant number of 439 claims in the last year alone.
Browne said that he is scheduled to meet with Dean later on Friday “and will present the government’s formal protest of this visa imposition”.
“In this case, the government of the United Kingdom did not leave it to us in this country to speculate as to their rationale for imposing the visa regime.
“They said it in their correspondence and the High Commissioner said it in a public communication, it is because in their view there has been an increase in unjustified asylum applications.
“The government of Trinidad and Tobago does not see this as a logical or supportable justification for basically punishing and inconveniencing …potentially an entire population. We are of the view that there are other measures than can and should be taken and we have always been disposed to working very closely with our UK counterparts to resolve, or solve any challenges that they may be facing with their immigration system”.
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