THE EDITOR, Sir:
PLEASE ALLOW me to express my agreement with the idea of Jamaica establishing a visa regime. I'd also like to take it a step further and offer a few suggestions as to how this visa policy could be formed.
Category 1 The Principle of reciprocity: With the imposition of a Jamaican visa, all countries that do NOT require visas of Jamaican nationals should, through reciprocity, be exempt from the visa requirement.
Category 2 Exemptions given out of national interest: There is a valid concern that a strict reciprocity policy would act as a deterrent to potential visitors from countries that though require visas of Jamaican nationals, are vital to our economic development. Out of national interest, visitors from such countries could either be granted visa exemption or allowed to apply for 'visa on arrival' at immigration posts at airports or at other points of entry.
Category 3 All others: Nationals of all countries that do NOT fall into category 1 or 2 above should be required to apply for a Jamaican visa before entering the country.
Additionally, visas should be required of workers, full-time students, visitors who decide to stay longer than the length of time (maybe 60-90 days) initially endorsed at the point of entry. In the case of category 3, such visitors should be required to apply for visa extension. This of course, does NOT include nationals of any CARICOM state, unless in the most unfortunate case, that a CARICOM state can no longer be identified as in category 1.
These categories should be regularly revised and possible changes made in the best interest of the country.
I am, etc.,
CALBERT GRAHAM
calbert_g@yahoo.com
Kanagawa
Japan
Via Go-Jamaica
