BARBADOS SEEKING EASIER PASSAGE

Barbados is seeking to become a preclearance port for entry into the United States of America.

 

Acting Prime Minister, Richard Sealy, revealed this recently while addressing celebrations to mark the 240th Independence of the United States of America, held at the Embassy of the United States to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS. 

 

Sealy stated that discussions are at the preliminary stage and government is “currently working on a letter of interest that would be submitted to the US Department of Homeland Security and the United States Customs and Border Protection Department, and in that letter of interest we are simply saying we are desirous of having that designation”. This letter will be sent by the end of next month, Sealy noted.

 

He further explained what becoming a preclearance location would mean.

 

“For those of you who don’t understand what preclearance is, it simply means that you would go through the exercise of entering the United States while on foreign soil. So once the plane lifts off, it is almost like a domestic flight. So just imagine for a minute the long lines that greet you at the Miami International Airport not existing. Just grabbing your bags and leaving like if it is a domestic flight. That is what preclearance means,” he explained.

 

Sealy pointed out that “there are currently 15 countries in the world that have preclearance from one or more of their ports. There are only three in the Caribbean- Bahamas, Bermuda and Aruba and the Department of Homeland Security wants to expand the number of countries that have preclearance and Barbados is submitting a letter of interest.”

 

Sealy added that the time is correct to take this step because Barbados is “doing other infrastructural works” at the Grantley Adams International Airport. He also said this step would encourage even more travel between Barbados and United States of America.

 

“It is about comfort. It is about convenience but it also very importantly, opens up all the gateways. Even airports that only have domestic flights, we can now access those airports from Barbados,” he said.

 

Sealy also spoke about the good relations between the two countries. This was similarly highlighted by the USA Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, Linda Taglialatela. She additionally voiced her intent “to keep environmental issues at the forefront of our agenda in this region and this Embassy will continue to lead by example”.