Bartlett wants single Caribbean visa

Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has again called for the implementation of a Caribbean visa regime that will allow for ease of movement within the region, for tourist purposes.

"We are going to have to decide if we are going to create freedom of movement within the Caribbean, and, in doing so, are we going to establish a special visa regime that enables touristic travel within our space?" he asked.

"We have had a little of that in the past when we had the World Cup [Cricket]. There was a CARICOM visa which allowed for the players and the visitors from all across the cricketing world to be able to attend. I think we could fine-tune that," he added.

Bartlett noted that other regions have put measures in place to allow for ease of travel, such as Europe with the Schengen Visa.

"So, we can have a Caribbean visa that will enable movement within the Caribbean ... not for immigration purposes and migration. We are not about increasing your population; we are not about bringing in people to live in their country and then to compete for the resources. We are talking about adding value; bringing visitors who consume ... and they leave, in the wake of that, billions of dollars," he pointed out.

Bartlett was addressing a special meeting with a delegation from the Cayman Islands on Wednesday at his ministry's New Kingston offices.

The meeting was aimed at exploring synergies that can be developed in air transport, and Cayman Airways' new non-stop service to Los Angeles later this year, with more routes on the horizon.