Cayman Islands visa restriction lifted for some Jamaicans

The Cabinet agreed last week to exempt Jamaicans under the age of 15 and older than 70 from visa requirements to travel to the Cayman Islands.

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Wednesday November 16, 2011 - Cabinet has agreed to relax the visa restriction for some Jamaicans.

It last week approved an amendment to the Immigration Regulations (2010 Revision), which means that Jamaicans under the age of 15 and older than 70 would be exempt from visa requirements to travel to the Cayman Islands.

However, the status quo which has been in place since 2005 would be maintained for Jamaicans who do not fall within the two age groups.

“Notice of this amendment has been disseminated to the airlines, the Cayman Islands Department of Immigration's Visa Office in Kingston, and to the International Air Transport Association for its Travel Information Manual - a global travel advisory,” a government statement said.

Cabinet had been mulling the proposal to ease visa restrictions since earlier this year.

Two months ago, Governor Duncan Taylor said he would not support an across-the-board waiver of the visa requirement citing risks to internal security.

He said the territory’s Immigration Department does not have the capability to identify fraudulent visas for the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)