Category for citizenship to be expanded
MINISTER of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson says efforts to expand the categories of citizenship for Barbados will soon be headed to Cabinet.
He was speaking in the Lower Chamber on the Award Pride of Barbados Bill 2019, where he said it is only right to open up this category of awards of Barbadians citizens who reside overseas and are eligible for citizenship.
“We are also indebted to Barbadians or our families who by their remittances of foreign exchange have helped in the past to keep this country afloat,” he said, pointing to the influx of Barbadians who are expected to return to Barbados for We Gatherin’ 2020 initiative.
“One of the categories we will be looking to expand our citizenship to Sir, is to a person born outside of Barbados who has at least one grandparent who is a Barbadian. And so this has been done in other countries. Nothing new. But which would give the opportunity for many persons sir, born especially in England, Canada, America and other countries who have at least one grand parent who is a Barbadian citizen to be eligible and to take out Barbados citizenship. Because most countries in the world have dual citizenship and allow dual nationality.”
“This is important. This is fundamental. And many persons ask for this when you travel and you meet with them.”
Minister Hinkson also gave the assurance that efforts are also on the way to facilitate visitors to the island, through their first point of contact with the island at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).
“First impressions still count to a large degree. We have a duty as a government to make sure that that first impression is memorable.”
It is against this backdrop that the Minister noted that the kiosks which are in place at the airport are fully operational, revealing that the physical customs/immigration cards, commonly referred to as the ED card has been eliminated as of October 1.
“That was paperwork, time that had long since passed us and the kiosks are there now where you put in your passport, put in your biometic information and answer some questions. Cabinet has agreed for more questions to be put in which will be put in next month by the service provider of GAIA. And this whole platform will be ready for the start o the tourist season in mid December.”
“Cabinet of Barbados has also agreed in principle to an alternative method of booking into Barbados, the online ED card. Instead of pen and paper writing out, you would be able to go on your IT devices, whether computer, laptop, smart phone, no less than 24 hours before boarding the plane for Barbados, to fill out the ED card online, submit it to the authorities here.”
He gave the assurance that security checks will still be carried out to ensure that the national security of the country will not be compromised. “Cabinet will soon be requesting to approve the development of this online ED card system in full. The system is being finalised as we speak.”
The Minister told the Honourable Chamber that this is important given Barbados’ dip in the Ease of Doing Business Index and gave the assurance that government is putting the legislative instruments in place to address this challenge. (JH)