The Ministry of Citizenship is moving to implement the online processing of visa applications for visiting non-nationals in order to make the process hassle-free and reduce cases of fraud.
Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix on Wednesday stated that up until September of this year, 1,163 visas were issued to nationals from 76 different countries in various categories.
The minister, however, noted that often persons are faced with traveling long distances to apply for permits to enter Guyana, given the location of the high commissions, embassies and consular offices in those countries.
According to the minister, who was speaking during the budget debate in the National Assembly, although there are plans to have an online system set up, connectivity remains an issue. He blamed the situation on the failure of the previous administration to set up fibre optic cable networks.
“The failure of those in opposition while in government to lay the fibre optic cable to cover all 10 regions for reasons we know of—they wasted billions of dollars. Work is nearing completion, connecting regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. That linkage will soon be assured between Mabaruma in the North West Region and Moleson Creek in the Corentyne. However, no such optimism can be harboured about linkages between region 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10. But this government will get it done,” he said.
Felix also spoke of the government’s goal of decentralising the passport issuing system, allowing applications to be processed right in the region and reducing the pressure at the central office in Georgetown.
That office, he related, processed 105,068 application up until November 25 this year, 14,456 of which were prepared for persons in the diaspora.
Felix noted that offices have already been opened in New Amsterdam and Linden, where monies have already been budgeted to have permanent structures set up and sights are also on the other capital towns of Mabaruma and Bartica. He stated that mobile services are also under consideration for regions 8 and 9.
