THE EDITOR, Sir:
Why is Paul Pennicook worried about United States citizens obtaining a passport to travel to Jamaica?
Doesn't he know that in the U.S. it takes a maximum of three weeks to obtain a passport regardless of the six-week allowable time span and that you can go to any government building or post office to complete your application?
As a matter of fact, you can now get your passport pictures taken at the post office to complete the application process and you do not have to take a whole day off from work or stand in long lines to do so. For a small fee you can also get your application expedited if you produce your travel itinerary.
As a Jamaican, who is a naturalised U.S. citizen, I have never travelled to Jamaica without a passport. No Jamaican can travel to the US without one, so I do not disrespect my country that way.
Instead of being concerned about the need for American citizens to have a passport to come to Jamaica, he should be concerned about the US$10 landing fee that has been imposed on them starting May 1.
Isn't imposing an extra US$10 in addition to the astronomical Air Jamaica fares a bigger deterrent to visitors from landing in Jamaica than having a passport to do so?
I am, etc.,
B.E.S.
corglo@juno.com
Wilmington, U.S.A.
Via Go-Jamaica
