Despite a clear directive from the government agency responsible for handling the issuing of passport forms, that they should not be sold, one company in Montego Bay, St James has been doing just that.

Speedy Support Services on Market Street near Sam Sharpe Square, sells passport forms for $50 each, even with the marking on each form ‘NOT TO BE SOLD’ clearly printed.

Citizens of the area complained to the Jamaica Observer that the company had been selling the forms for $50 and questioned the legality of the practice.

One citizen, accompanied by a Jamaica Observer member of staff, went to the company on Thursday, May 19, and bought a passport form for $50.

The following day, the Jamaica Observer employee went there. “Do you sell passport forms?” the employee asked a clerk in the establishment.

“Yes, we do,” the clerk answered.

“What’s the cost for one?” the Jamaica Observer employee continued. “$50”, the clerk responded.

“May I have two”, the Jamaica Observer representative asked, to which the clear replied “Yes, $100.”

“Do you give receipts?” the newsman asked. “Not for those,” the clerk stated.

It was not immediately clear if the forms being sold are originals, or photocopies, although a worker who spoke with the Sunday Observer on Friday brushed aside this newspaper’s query as no big thing.

“Yes, we sell passport forms,” the employee said. “We photocopy them and sell them for $50 per copy. Although the form says ‘not to be sold’ there is nothing wrong with us photocopying the forms and doing that,” the employee said.

The worker declined to give her name.

But, according to communications officer of the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) Angela Hamilton, the selling of passport forms whether in original or photocopied form, remains prohibited.

Asked if PICA was aware that the forms were being sold by agencies that assist people in the application process, PICA, in a written response, stated:

“The organisation is unaware of this unauthorised practice. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. We are extremely interested to know which agency is impugning the reputation of the Government of Jamaica and, in particular, the Agency by conducting this unauthorised activity.

Asked further if the act was punishable by law, PICA responded further:

“There is a notification on each form which states “not to be sold”. If we obtain evidence that the form is being sold then we will seek to take appropriate action. PICA is therefore urging persons to discontinue the practice.”

Among the complaints put forward by those seeking to apply for passports is that PICA does not allow an individual more than one form. This, observers have said, could pose a problem, as if mistakes are made, there is little room for making the appropriate correction.

However, PICA insists that there is no clampdown on the issuing of forms.

“Typically, each applicant receives one form for each family member. So, if a customer says that he is collecting forms for all five members of his family, then he will receive five copies. Customers are usually advised that they are able to obtain additional copies via PICA’s website www.pica.gov.jm “, Hamilton said.

PICA said that it was not against the making of copies as long as certain guidelines are followed.

“Copies of the application forms can be made, similar to how these can be obtained from our website, provided that:

• All of the information requested is included and presented to the Agency

• The writing on the form is typed or handwritten, with original signatures

• The data on the copied application is visible and not faded,” PICA responded.