By Halshane Burke
Government says breaches of the visa-free transit for Cubans has resulted in the decision to remove the privilege.
At present, Cuban nationals are allowed to transit through Jamaica for up to three days without the need for a visa. This courtesy is set to end on March 13.
A release from the Ministry of National Security says while a visa has never been required for transit through Jamaica with return tickets, data shows that over the last three years, and in particular, over the last year, there have been significant breaches of this arrangement by Cuban nationals.
The Security Ministry says based on the abuse of the transit arrangement, the Government took the decision to equalise the visa arrangements for Cuban nationals visiting and transiting Jamaica.
A visa regime has always been in place for Cubans entering Jamaica and this remains unchanged.
The Ministry says between July and December last year tens of thousands of Cuban nationals transited Jamaican ports en-route to Central America and did not return.
It says return has always been part of transit arrangements.
The ministry says the country will not be used as an illegal transit point, whether perceived or detected, for people or contraband.
The release adds that Jamaica continues to enjoy a positive relationship with the Government and people of Cuba, with all programmes and partnerships continuing uninterrupted even as measures are pursued to strengthen bilateral and regional security mechanisms.
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