Jamaica to scrutinise Middle Eastern visa seekers

Vernon Daley, staff reporter

bin Laden

Local immigration authorities have issued instructions to Jamaican consulates overseas to apply razor-sharp scrutiny to visa applications coming from Middle East countries, following recent terrorist attacks in the United States.

The Immigration, Citizenship and Passport Department, which falls under the Ministry of National Security and Justice has already contacted overseas consulates urging them to take greater care in issuing visas to persons coming from the Middle East.

"We have sensitised our people to exercise extra vigilance but normally such applicants would be pre-screened, anyway," Carol Charlton, Department director, told The Sunday Gleaner last week.

She added that Jamaica has always been very cautious about visa applications from certain countries, including those in the Middle East but that given the recent attacks in the United States there was need for greater scrutiny.

Instructions to the consulates came amid charges by U.S. authorities that the terrorist attacks were carried out by the Islamic fundamentalist group, al-Qaeda. The group is headed by Saudi Arabian dissident, Osama bin Laden, who is said to be hiding in Afghanistan.

Last week news also emerged from neighbouring Cayman Islands that a local boat captain had warned Government officials that three Afghans who had landed in the country seeking asylum, were part of Mr. bin Laden's group and had let slip plans of the attacks.

On September 11 terrorists crashed two planes in the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and another into the Pentagon building in Washington. A fourth plane, which was reportedly heading towards the White House, went down in a field in Pennsylvania.

The attacks have left scores injured and more than 5,000 feared dead, including several Jamaicans.

Mrs. Charlton explained that residents of several countries, including those in the Middle East, need visas to come to Jamaica but that these applicants are usually put through a rigorous pre-screening test.

"Our missions abroad know how those applicants should be treated," Mrs. Charlton said.

There are some 80 Jamaican consulates overseas, including offices of honorary consuls. The Sunday Gleaner was unable to determine the average number of visa applications Jamaica receives from Middle East countries each year.

But according to Ministry of Labour records, more than 30 work permits were granted to persons from that region to take up jobs in Jamaica between 1998 and 1999.

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