Cayman Visa Office in Jamaica may be illegal

Thursday,  November 10, 2005

The Cayman Islands Visa Office, which is located in Jamaica, might not receive recognition from the Government of Jamaica, as the Cayman Government did not follow the proper protocols before opening the office, according to officials there.

Cayman Net News has learnt that the procedures required when opening an office of that nature by any country were not followed and the Government of Jamaica is looking at a response to this.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said that the Ministry is aware of the situation but he could not say what the government’s reaction would be.

“We know that the office is there but the Minister [of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade] will have to say what actions will be taken,” he said.

The Immigration Department here announced that as of 31 October the office would be opened for business at The Towers on Dominican Drive in New Kingston.

The office serves as a processing point for visa applications although the Cayman Immigration Department here will approve and issue the visas.

As of 1 November, Jamaican nationals are required to obtain a visa before entering the Cayman Islands. In what seemed to be an apparent rush to put in place the physical mechanism to support the visa system, the Cayman government has reportedly opened the office without going through the proper process.

Moreover the office does not have a Tax Registration Number (TRN), which all entities operating in Jamaica are required to have.

TRN is a unique nine-digit identification number assigned to each individual taxpayer, business enterprise, organization (non-profit, partnership, charity, etc.) – in Jamaica – by way of an automated system.

Taxpayers need this number when they visit any of the Revenue Departments to transact business to: prevent duplication of information on taxpayers within the Departments: help to broaden the tax base and so increase tax revenues without the Government having to increase tax rates; and Create and maintain accurate files for taxpayers.

Checks made by the Cayman Net News at the TRN Office located in downtown Kingston revealed that the Visa Office does not have a TRN. The information department at the TRN Office said that all entities taking funds must have one regardless of what they are.

However, it is unlikely that the Jamaican Government will close the Cayman Islands visa office anytime soon on account of it not having a TRN. Businesses can apply for TRN after they have begun operations: the information department said that there is no time limit as to when a business operator has to come in and register.

Cayman Net News could not get comments from the Chief Secretary Hon George McCarthy who holds the portfolio for Internal and External Affairs, nor his office – as he was in Cabinet.

Net News was told to contact the Department of Immigration  as we were informed that they are dealing with the office in Jamaica’. Unfortunately however we received no response from Immigration up to press time.

Meanwhile, a few Cayman nationals have complained that they came under extra scrutiny at the ports of entry in Jamaica; however, Director of Immigration in Jamaica Leighton Wilson has denied that Caymanians are being singled out for any such action.

Mr Wilson noted that he cannot give an account for the actions of all his officers at the ports of entry and there is a system in place to deal with complaints and so far, he has received none officially or otherwise which would suggest that Caymanians are being singled out for extra scrutiny.

“However, if an immigration officer is uncomfortable with the reason given by anyone who wants to enter his country he has the right to put that person before his supervisor for further interview,” Mr Wilson told the Cayman Net News.

He added that there is no change in the immigration policy.

Back in Cayman, a number of Jamaican nationals – some arriving for the Pirates Week celebration – were turned away at the airport, some reportedly even before the November the date when visa restrictions began.

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