KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith says that there is a reduction in the number of Jamaicans denied access to Trinidad and Tobago.

“In respect of free movement of persons, thanks to Jamaica’s strong advocacy and the effectiveness of our technical team …there is a protocol to treat with community nationals being denied access at the borders, that’s being finalised,” Johnson Smith said at a press conference held at her ministry today.  

She said that her ministry is positive about the improvement in the number of Jamaicans denied access to Caricom member states, especially Trinidad and Tobago, which was a key concern. Johnson-Smith said that “460 Jamaicans were denied access in 2016, but this was reduced to 289 in 2017.”

 For 2018, only 63 Jamaicans have so far been denied access to Trinidad and Tobago, Johnson-Smith said, adding that there is a also a reduction in the number of complaints from Jamaicans entering other member states, with only one complaint this year regarding Barbados.

Meanwhile, the minister presented a new brochure available to the public and urged Jamaicans to use it as a guide on how to travel through the region as a skilled-worker.

Trudiann Cunningham