-as reported in my Stabroek News…
Both a recent visit to the United States Embassy’s Consular Section in Kingston, Georgetown and that component of the American Election Season which was the Presidential Debates, prompted this brief piece.
Oh, the lure of a United States visa, or better yet, that Blue American Passport- a real or perceived international safety net for millions of the world’s poorer travellers – and the wicked and the wealthy running from their own native homes or to use America’s opportunities and eternal “Dreams”.
As I observed the applicants for a visa to visit the States in a disciplined “line” outside the Kingston Embassy, I bet myself that half of that packed hopeful crowd did not realise what the visa is. “Tonya get a ten year!” is the gleeful exclamation which too often mis-represents just what a visa is. Even the fortunate “Tonya” tends to believe that a visa entitles her to a ten-year stay! But no, dear applicants and aliens, a visa is just the permit which allows the would-be visitor to apply for entry into other people’s countries. The immigration officer at the airport, seaport or land-port then decides whether the person should enter – and for how long. That officer could very well refuse entry.
However don’t despair over my last paragraph if you’re a brand-new visa- holder- visitor. The Officer at the Port usually trusts the expertise at the local consulate and would often welcome you to enter the country for a specific stay.
A visit to Kingston
I do know how “serious it is for the thousands who seek to acquire visitors permits to get into the U.S. Those Guyanese throng the Consulate Section of the Embassy in Kingston, Georgetown daily. Anticipation and hope are often etched on their countenances.
Some genuinely wish to just visit the States to see loved relations – or merely to see the place, tourist wise. Whilst that latter category might be rare for the Guyanese visitor, American Consular officials are no doubt wary of Guyanese visitors, who intend to be immigrants, converting Holi-Day to Holi-Stay. So overwhelmingly numerous are the precedents. (Incidentally however, I wish the U.S. Consulates would change the vocabulary about having- or not having – “Ties to Guyana”.) Yes a Barbadian or St. Lucian qualifies more easily for American visas to visit than a Guyanese.
Discuss why…
So despite the “seriousness” of the applicants and their applications, I found much levity, so much to smile about amongst the visa crowd in Kingston the other morning.
When the Consular Officer shouted to “turn off all cell phones/take out the batteries” applicants gladly and swiftly obeyed. (You don’t want to upset those interviewers!) Inside the staid surroundings I experienced scores of applicants quite expectant, uncertain, tense and slightly stressed! They did not even chat! Only the children present and I seemed at ease speaking that morning (“7:30, 8:30, 9:30!”)
Trying to be light–hearted, I told those tensed–up near to me things like: “This place is much quieter than a wake”, “look, there are no ‘silence’ signs”, “cheer up man this compound is American territory, so even if you don’t get through, you’re already in America – right here in Kingston”.
Just a few laughed or smiled. But a few others actually agreed that “de Embassy should give back at least half of the $32,000 to those who don’t get through”. I wish you luck wherever you apply. Visit, and return so that others get treated fairly.
That airline ticket
So you have your treasured U.S. Visa and are all set to visit New York. Whether your relatives assisted, or you are quite financially self–reliant, the ticket seems so expensive. Oh but, witness the current “ticket battles” as competition brings down the cost of specific tickets. But do you know that the cost of the ticket (by) itself is quite reasonable? Sure.
Here is what can drive up the cost. Passing through Piarco in Trinidad? Well, your air ticket includes a T&T Concourse fee; at New York, there is a US Customs inspection fee; a US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection fee!; a US Immigration-User fee; a US Airport Passenger-Facility charge; a US Federal Security Tax; an Airline Fuel subcharge/security fee; oh, yes and our own Guyana Travel Voucher tax. All on the poor ticket.
See why some airports are fabulous?
*****************
Obama and Romney contend
Okay, you’re reading and hearing lots of assessment of the U.S. Presidential debates just ended. I caught all three (plus one). I won’t dare to analyse as others more competent have done. But I can dare to be different!
Even though an Obama man myself, I tend to be as fair–minded as I can be; as objective a critic as possible. I contend that Romney was right in his rebuke of Obama over the killings of the diplomats in Benghazi, Libya. When Obama mentioned “no act of terror” the day after the assassinations, he did not mean an actual terrorist attack on the mission. Which it was. The white house dithered on this for days. But poor Romney was overwhelmed by the semantic attacks.
And poor Romney, in the final debate, did not use Obama’s (microphoned) remarks to Putin, about discussions after the elections – – as Obama used Romney’s “47%” indictment, secretly taped.
In any case, Barack deserves a second term to correct the mess he inherited. (Why, even an Egyptian–born man used America’s freedom to make a silly documentary which caused poor Obama and America much harm. Obama must often reflect on Arab sentiment and psyche…)
As reported in my Stabroek…
Obviously, I’m a loyal subscriber and supporter of this Stabroek.
I welcomed it in the mid –eighties when the late President Hoyte allowed it. I became a man–in– the–street columnist since’93 and hope to celebrate twenty non–stop years next January.
So I often peruse the news items (for high standards of accurate reporting), the letters which SN introduced during the “rough” eighties, the editorials, the guest features, the regular OP–ED columns such as this. I’m often not at that journalistic level to appreciate some of the editorial prerogatives, but so be it.
Just two excerpts allowed recently, I explore (with some admiration): (Monday Oct.15 last) “According to one source, there will be no investigation into the scam as some of the players who had been identified had repaid whatever money they got in kickbacks. The source said that in his mind, that was the end of the matter, particularly because of the ranks who were involved.
“Some of those involved, the source said, were among the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force and that was the rationale behind them being given an opportunity to repay the stolen money as opposed to facing criminal sanctions.”
Do you – all know what the above implies? Within the force, boy!?
Then I liked the piece (SN, Wed Oct 10.) about Roraima Airways investigating itself: “Although the system was in place, Gouveia said airport employees continue to be lured by persons who give them money to break the law. `This matter is still before the courts… let the police and court system deal with that’, he said.”
So much I could say, but let’s see which entity’s employees are guilty – if any.
My point really is that my Stabroek does delve into issues, as far as its reporters are competent. But amidst the sensation (alism) of others, its editors tend to be responsible.
Til next week!
