BVI to lift visa requirement for Guyanese ‘in short order’
Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Lorna Smith has announced that the BVI intends to lift the visa requirement that is currently in place for Guyanese travellers.
Minister Smith, who is part of a trade mission to Guyana, made the announcement in an interview with Guyana-based media, News Room.
“I’ve had discussions with the Premier. In fact, I’ve asked him very directly about the visa situation because Guyanese do require a visa to visit the BVI. He has authorised me to say that we are considering lifting that requirement and I expect that to happen very soon,” Smith said.
Guyana’s economy has been growing due to oil reserves found off its coast in recent years. As such, the BVI is one of the countries moving swiftly to build stronger connections with the country.
During the interview, Smith also said the visa requirement must be lifted if the BVI wants to build stronger trade relations with Guyana.
“If we are serious about building a partnership with Guyana, that is the first thing that has to be lifted. So, I have no doubt that is something that will happen quickly,” Smith added.
Many have been calling for the lifting of the visa restriction against Guyana because of the strong ties between BVI and that country. Based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census report released in 2014, Guyanese nationals make up the largest portion of the immigrant population in the BVI at 7.2 per cent;
Third District Representative Julian Fraser recently called for the visa restriction to be lifted given the significant contribution Guyanese make to the territory.
Guyanese are among a select group of Caribbean nationals — including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica — that require a visa to visit the territory. Nationals of more than 90 countries are on the list of citizens that require visas to enter the territory.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Big Big thank you to the VIP.
Now let’s ask them to see to unjust way that Guyanese are being treated in the BVI
Look at that deceitful woman who is all about herself. I hear she got her own government going on.
I still want back my vote.
The question should be asked as to why the visa restrictions were placed there in the first instance? so every country we want to trade with that has visa restrictions we are going to lift the restrictions? Help me to understand
The BVI is now a free for all. Whosoever will let them just come!
polotical favor and business moves. these next 4 years are going to be a masterclass in “How to give them a 6 for a 9”
Dem two down there running dah hotel for dah ex-teacher robbin he bline need to beh delt wit in short order. It is hurtful to see ah man wok so hard, build up some thing then two guyanese come an tek it over… Where he family? Dem brobbin an bin robbin he he bline.
It have other counties that live in this country as well Ms. Lorna don’t have no favorite. Do it for all countries.
Why not lift visa requirement for all Caribbean islands? We will need allies if we seriously thinking of going independent.
Lorna needs to go and sit in a dark corner! There is a good reason for the VISA requirement.
Lorna has proven to be a real Deceiver. She won’t do better for the BVI because she is not from here. What about opportunities for our unborn Generations.
Why not wait until the Census results? why not ask for Labour statistics on the number of BVI Employees versus other Countries? Nothing against Guyanese but even them are laughing at our stupidity. That was the most biggest mistake in our Elections, voting for this woman. It is the duty of every elected Official to look out first for the welfare of its Citizens. Do you think any other Country would ever put their Citizens second? Would BVI Citizens ever truly think about going Independant with such a bunch? Check the total Land mass of the BVI versus other Caribbean Countries. No wonder some of these people continue to bash us every chance they get, Just for our stupidity. Like I’ve said, I am not against no Nationalities as some of these people are with us and for us SOME, BUT how stupid can we be? What about our Generations to come? A few power hungry, greedy Hags will mess things up for us?
All she doing is spreading the red carpet for outsiders
Lorna you have just made your first mistake this is to show that you lack judgement the visa requirements was put in place for a reason, now you have a created a problem again, time will tell I don’t see this government lasting to long someone will jump ship if she continue acting as of she is the government. Natalio start looking for someone from the other side cause this woman is out of control .
It’s so funny you come on here to be bitter & hateful, and you can’t even use proper grammar.
Did we negotiate and reciprocal deals? Cheap oil for BVIEC?
When you are a tourist destination it should be so.
They been there from donkey years. It’s them he choose to work for him. So let them be. They only reaping from where they sow. How come you know what going on down there?
Send help!
Then you are feee to leave
once they find oil we cool with them.
It is called dialect. Check your verb tense while you are being critical, and since when ampersand is used as a word if you are so formal?
Do you say free for all when yall hise yall frock and go drop chirren in US places? Don’t be bias and don’t be ignorant.
You need Jesus in your life because judging is a sin, and you have a confession to make to Jesus.are you jealous over something like you feel so sad because he didn’t left nothing for you if you are worried about it please get down on your knee and pray miracles happen, because the ex-teacher is still alive, you never know you can be a part of it just pray.amen.
Guyana has oil ..BVI has what?
What do they have to offer? How much money will they be require to walk with? Are they coming to form their own isolated community..? Im not in support of bring those narty Indians here. They are very racist and is calling black people monkey
We bitch about a lot of things around here. Just about every thing. Do you realize that if you do not fill out and get an approval for an application to enter the United States of Amerika, their ESTA mess. You cannot even get on the ferry or plane to attempt to go there? Lifting visa requirements does not guarantee entry.
GUYANA HAS OIL….BVI HAS TOO MANY GUYANESE
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE VIP PARTY GOT GUYANESE LOVERS
What do we have to offer Guyana? Sand and Sea? Financial Services? The USD? Call your shot Guyana. Smdh
wait until the home office shut this down.
The sickening and evil mind set of some of the people who make these prejudicial comments, need to learn their history .
It was a Guyanese engineer who came here and built the first set of pitch roads in the BVI
It was the Wong’s among the first set of business men who came here and started local business with the BVI and help to build the economy .
We need to stop hating people and some of you cannot give a valid reason for your hatred . It is pure jealousy. We have to operate better as a people . Emancipation means freedom from mental bondage
I think the VEYEP would have done a much better job this time around if Frazer had taken the Deputy Premier’s seat. This is one of the biggest mistakes for VIP and the territory as a whole. This woman is a Government unto herself. Its a SHAME to see what our BVI has resort to. Lord Jesus, hear our cry and send help. Lord, we need you now more than ever. Mighty God, we need your intervention. Protect us Lord from the snares of our Oppressors. Open our Eyes and Hearts Lord to discern what is good and what is evil. Most of all Lord Jesus cover us under your Blood and deliver us from the Clutches of Power hungry Men and Women. Lead us in the paths of Righteousness for your name sake, Amen.
BVI can get help medically from Guyana too. Imagine if you have to do radiation therapy it cost twenty thousand dollars in Antigua NHI paying 80% of that so you copay just four thousand but that does not include transportation, accomodations nor food. Now in Guyana the cost for the same radiation is less than eight thousand dollars this too does not include transportation, accomodations nor food. But do the math NHI and save some money you need to start sending persons to Guyana the government can make arrangements with the Guyana government for some sort of cheap accomodations, food and transportation is very cheap. Note some other Caribbean countries are already sending persons there for radiation therapy and kidney transplant etc. They have a heart institute there too.
Thanks but been there, done that. I would not trust No Hospital in Guyana especially the main one with my Health. Why so many Guyanese Nurses rushing to BVI? If you go to their main Hospital with a Headache, you bet your bottom dollar your next stop is the Morgue. Guyana has the highest Maternal Deaths in the Caribbean. Guyana’s health care system is one of the lowest rated. I am not saying all this this to be mean. I am speaking from experience. Why our NHI didn’t partner with Guyana like they did with others? hmmm. Guyana has some of the most intelligent people But it also has its share of Hoodlums just like Jamaica and BVI. BVI is still struggling with Crimes and Security and needs to first come up with a Plan to curb such. Guyana’s Oil Production does not really benefit the wider Communities as they have an independent Government mostly corrupt and still has a high Poverty rate. No Pun intended.
lots of people rush out of Guyana because their salary are small compared to other countries they go to. its not just nurses. there are teachers, doctors and both skilled and unskilled workers. as per the poverty line I see the government working to fix this Rome wasn’t build in a day. the radiation therapy thing is ran by a private company but its way cheaper than Antigua and Puerto Rico that NHI is using.
I thought she had more sense than that but she is just a sellout. SHAMEFUL
We need to be careful opening our small island so freely without proper checks. History has shown us, when that happens, all the unwanted will show up! All the criminals and persons who no longer need to be checked will be on the island.
Ayo really crazy. So when more gun and drugs come an place get worst. what the place going be then?