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 his 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, 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 transiting 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 a 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”, said Dean.

The British diplomat said there will be a short transition period until April 23 this year for visitors with a firm booking and an ETA.

“I understand many of you will find this news disappointing and that’s why I wanted to explain it to you personally. Of course, here at the British High Commission, we will continue to work hand in hand with our friends colleagues in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen our partnership, ” he said.

The British Home Office has reported a nine fold 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”, he argued.

Browne said it is in the interest of Port of Spain to work with London and that he has already indicated to the UK authorities “our eagerness to share with them additional intelligence information with respect to passengers who are moving…and to help resolve any burden …”

The CARICOM and foreign affairs minister said that it has become clear to Trinidad and Tobago that the asylum application system in the United Kingdom “might also benefit from some attention from their own authority because as it stands now, basically anyone can arrive in the UK from any country, throw their hands up in the air and say I am applying for asylum and that automatically triggers a process that by which for an extended period of time they become a ward of the state there….

“And so we know there is an internal debate in that country, it is in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Labour government is under some pressure …but this response is not propionate and it is very disappointing.

“Friends can disappoint each other sometimes and we are very disappointed. We are committed to working with them to review this decision as soon as possible. They said they will keep it under review and therefore today I will be going through a number of possibilities with the high commissioner”.

Browne said while the government here had been taken by surprise by the short official notice from London, Port of Spain had been meeting with British officials, including a team from the Home Office “very very recently, where we did discuss a number of observations including the issue of asylum etc.

“The issue of visa imposition was not raised, the prospect was not suggested and there was no collaboration around that matter,” Browne said, noting that while he would not use at all the language that Port of Spain was “slapped in the face” by the UK government, “we are deeply disappointed.

‘We are formally protesting that particular decision and it is our hope that by the engagement of diplomacy, the strengthening of our technical contact between our intelligence services and our counterpart immigration authorities that the underlying trigger for this decision as presented by the government of the United Kingdom can be appropriately resolved…”

Browne acknowledged that while there may be issues “on our side to be addressed, there is a considerable weakness and loophole on the United Kingdom side, which can be addressed and which can be resolved and the people of Trinidad and Tobago should not be expected after all these years to pay such a high price”.

He said a ticket to London is already very expensive and to be saddled with an “exorbitant and unfair burden” related to acquiring the visa.

He said the Cabinet had discussed the issue and the “government is deeply concerned and they wish to see a review …as soon as possible.

‘We have to be firm and we have to be clear, this is not something that fits well with Trinidad and Tobago at all,” Browne said.