Despite the services being decentralised to two regions, long lines of applicants for passports have returned to the Central Passport and Immigration Office in Georgetown.
The recent return of lines has seen the central office processing close to 300 applications per day according to Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (DCIO) Superintendent Dennis Stephens.
Though a specific reason has not been advanced for the spike in applications, Stephens opined that the rise can stem from two factors: either from expired passports or the need for a passport as a form of identification.
On Tuesday it was observed that scores of persons were waiting outside the office on Camp Road to have their applications processed. The line ran onto the roadside, a sight that was customary before the decentralisation of services.
Stephens said that a gradual increase in persons applying for passports had been noticed since January and they have observed persons flocking to the office, mainly on Mondays and Tuesdays, to apply for a new one.
However, he said that systems have been implemented to ensure effective service, and COVID-19 safety measures are in place. Apart from the measures implemented, he explained that a time slot has been allotted for applications and a different time slot for pick up.
“We have made the decision that persons can apply for passports between 7 am and 11.30 am while picking up will be between 1 pm and 3 pm daily. This will limit overcrowding and not having too many people present at the office at one time,” he said.
He said too that they have developed a system to process 100 applications per day.
However, he explained further that while measures have been implemented to ensure social distancing and adherence to sanitisation guidelines, members of the public seem to be more focussed on getting their business done rather than observing protocols.
“We have to appeal to persons coming to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines all the time. We have the measures in place but they are not adhering to these guidelines. They seem to be more focused on getting the passport,” Stephens lamented.
He said too that they have observed persons from the other regions visiting the central office to process their applications and advocated that they utilise the offices in Berbice and Linden rather than travel to the city.
“The entire West Berbice and Corentyne should be using the New Amsterdam Office while persons travelling from Region 9 via the trail and Region 10 should make use of the office in Linden,” he informed.
He added that there are pick-up options across the region and persons should tap into the service.
This service is available at Springlands Corentyne, Parika, Anna Regina, Mabaruma, Lethem, and Mahdia.
