Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter

The Costa Rican Embassy has attributed the imposition of a visa regime for Jamaicans entering that country to the protection of its borders.

Last week, the embassy announced that, effective Friday, June 15, all Jamaicans wishing to travel to the Central American country would need to obtain a visa from the Costa Rican Embassy.

A spokesperson from the embassy told The Gleaner yesterday that the imposition of the visa was due to security reasons. The spokesperson could not, however, say whether this security measure was crime-related.

Meanwhile, the Jamaican Govern-ment said it has not been privy to the reason for the latest move by the Costa Ricans.

Financial Implications

Delano Franklyn, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said the Government has taken the decision as is, and would be studying the situation before making a statement on the matter.

He said the Government was currently in the process of finding out the financial implications it will have on travellers. Up to yesterday, the embassy still could not say what the visa would cost.

"No Government is ever happy when any country imposes visa restrictions," he told The Gleaner yesterday. "But we have to recognise that it is the right of a country (to impose visa restrictions)."

The embassy further advised that all persons wishing to enter Costa Rica must have a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. Jamaicans who have a valid visa to enter the United States or countries within Europe are excluded, the embassy said.

Visa payments must be made to immigration authorities at the port of entry on arrival in Costa Rica.

Attempts to determine the level of trafficking between both countries were unsuccessful.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com