Caribbean Visa Legacy - Jan 2007

The furore over a Caricom visa for Cricket World Cup visitors highlights yet again several weaknesses in the Caribbean when it comes to doing business with the rest of the world - either as single nation states or collectively. Although nation states have been pulling out the stops, our weaknesses, acting as a single regional entity, are going to be exposed in this event. That is to be expected, but at least let us exercise damage limitation, learn the lessons and reap lasting benefits of going through the process. We still appear to work in "last minute mode" in the Caribbean. The rest of the world we are trying to do business with needs to plan ahead, not at the last minute, because time is literally money in their world. The visa charge should have been bundled into the tour operators' packages for on-sell to the customer. Additionally, it should have been available immediately and painlessly on arrival in the Caribbean at any first port of entry. The greatest legacy that could accrue to the Caribbean would be a demonstration of the ability to function as a single regional entity in areas where it is beneficial to act thus. For example, a single Caricom visa process giving unhindered movement across borders would be an excellent and productive measure, giving a process with enduring benefits to the Region. That would be a worthwhile aspect of Cricket World Cup (CWC) legacy. Instead, I understand the Caricom visa is to be implemented only for the CWC period and not beyond. Crazy! If we really need the money that badly, one can make provision for the tourist to have the option to buy it on arrival at any Caribbean airport (then and there). But for goodness sakes, make the process of doing so customer-friendly, hassle-free and not time-consuming. I would suggest that the visa is too costly an idea to implement without adverse impact. People might pay it grudgingly, but will not want to return to the region. These are people who would ordinarily not come to our beautiful Caribbean - Indians, Pakistanis, Australians, New Zealanders, Chinese, etc. You get only one chance to make a first impression! Stamp all tourists' passports with a distinctive CWC Caricom visa logo for free. A souvenir! Pursue a Caricom visa as a longer-term objective tied into the regional integration process for the movement of people, including tourists.