Visa regime strains ties to 'Mother Country'
published: Monday | January 13, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WOULD like to express my absolute concurrence with the notion that the traditional 'Mother Country' ties between Jamaica and Britain will be frayed under the new visa regime. A visa requirement to enter another country carries with it a certain stigma. The seemingly open arms and welcoming sense of the British have now disappeared as strict scrutiny and more speculations now hover over everyone who decides to travel to that country and needs to apply for a visa.
Surely these sentiments will flow over into the Jamaican Diaspora, which exist abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada, given that they too, even with their residency status, have to now go through the inconvenience of getting a British visa to enter that country. One no longer reserves the privilege to travel to a more affluent country and feel welcome with just their very own 'Blue Book'. Our gateway to Europe has been shut and the value of the Jamaican passport once again slightly devalued.
It is unfortunate but true that many fellow blue book holders are now turning to the black books of America, Canada and even the red book of Britain. Under these circumstances, it is hard to see how the 'Mother Country' ties can be retained.
I anticipate in the near future, further calls to make our valuable island nation a republic, given that the 'Mother' has fully absconded.
