BVI News

Guyanese visa regime should be revisited — Fraser

Fraser

Third District Representative Julian Fraser has called for a revision to the visa regime that has been applied for Guyanese travellers to the BVI.

Fraser made the call recently as he offered condolences at a gathering over the loss of 19 students who died tragically in a dormitory fire in Guyana two weeks ago.

Fraser explained that a review was done years ago for Guyanese visitors entering the territory. However, he said he was unaware of the criteria used at the time. He insisted, however, that the criteria must still exist somewhere, since the visa regime remains in place.

“But that review that was done several years ago and the criteria that was used that caused the Virgin Islands government to impose a visa regime on people from Guyana coming to the Virgin Islands should be revisited,” Fraser said. “And I leave it with you to take that up with the authorities in the Virgin Islands.”

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.

Based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census report released in 2014, Guyanese make up the largest portion of the immigrant population in the BVI at 7.2 percent; St Vincent and the Grenadines, seven percent; Jamaica, six percent; United States, 5.5 percent; and the Dominican Republic, 5.4 percent to round out the top five.

A visa waiver was extended in 2012 to citizens of Taiwan who wish to visit the territory for less than six months. The waiver was offered to Taiwanese nationals after it was determined that the BVI already has a substantial international business engagement with the Asian region.

In 2016, the BVI government implemented a Visa Exemption Programme, allowing nationals of certain countries with valid UK, USA, or Canadian visas to enter the territory for work, business, tourism, and related matters for stays of less than six months. This initiative aims to streamline entry, promote economic growth, and ensure national security.

Visitors entering the BVI, including UK citizens, must have a valid passport, and if required, a valid visa for entry into the Virgin Islands.

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31 Comments

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  1. Oil Magnet says:

    Why Guyana and not other countries all of a sudden? Just why?

    Like 12
    Dislike 3
  2. Here we go again. says:

    The yellow site posted the same thing and the amount of hate and bitterness that was spewed at Guyanese were disturbing but not surprising. And I’m guessing this post will produce the same hate against them SMH

  3. THEY DESERVE IT says:

    BECAUSE THEY ARE WELL BEHAVED IN THE COMMUNITY…none in our jail….thank you Fraser for your observations!

    Like 7
    Dislike 11
  4. They says:

    Want to invest in Guyana now, so just like the UK LIFT the visa thing, they want to follow! Guyana has oil now, and they want a piece of the pie to.

  5. Hmmm says:

    Like Fraser forgot his * is an Guyanese

  6. Go sit dung Frazer says:

    I think the visa requirement should remain. Guyanese will take, take, take never give. Guyanese are also very underhanded, do we need a better example than the insurance guy? That’s the worst one ever.

    Like 18
    Dislike 11
  7. Strange says:

    Most black folk always cry about racism, but the truth is some of y’all ARE racist towards others. Make it make sense!

    Like 10
    Dislike 2
  8. SMH says:

    Visiting is one thing. Staying and living is a whole different ball game. BVI is only so large and we are out numbered. I done speak! Who vex, not my problem!

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
  9. @SMH says:

    so it’s just Guyanaes populating here, vincy has the largest number. Why Don’t you pick on them, or you hating because your man with GT woman like the Ministers?

  10. hmm says:

    Guyana didn’t had so much haters when they send a plane load of supplies after Irma to help the people here. a lot Guyanese didn’t get anything from those supplies some didn’t even know that supplies were sent here by the Guyana government. Guyanese are so not good people to you all yet the Schools are packed with Guyanese teachers and hospital with health workers and don’t forget the construction teams.

    Like 12
    Dislike 0
  11. WOW says:

    I hope that the more yall hate on the guyanese that the more God will bless them cause yall are some hateful and bitter people. Racism is real and living right here in the BVI.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  12. @hmm says:

    To be honest none of the indo guyanese got supplies after the hurricane because of their race and the sad thing about it is that mean hog W¡ntz is a fellow guyanese but she gave to who she wanted to. Racism is everywhere SMH

  13. Virgin lander says:

    sir thats a can of worm that i really think that you don’t wants to open, not because you attended the vigal service for those 20 kids that died from the fire,doing that it must be across the board

  14. Father Time says:

    @Go sit dung Frazer:

    The people of Guyana are not a monolith. Just because you have met a few bad apples, does not mean they are all terrible people. 🙂

    Hope this helps you inbred, ignorant nasty set of Virgin Islanders understand. (Doesn’t feel good to be grouped up does it?)

    Take a long walk off a short one. You guys are always complaining about people from other islands when really, you should be worried about the Europeans coming here, buying up the lands and raising the property value so high that not even your born and bred kin, can afford it. I have never in all the years of my life encountered such an entitled set of people with such misdirected aggression! I am speaking GENERALLY when I say this. You are all the same kind of entitled in a different font. Please unclench and realize that people from other Caribbean islands add flavor and worth to an island.

    Like 5
    Dislike 2
  15. the third says:

    Fraser is busy with everything other than the matters in his district

  16. Bugs Bunny ? says:

    Yeah that way Lola ? and the ilk can swarm our shores and spread the happy lotto vibes!

  17. Anonymous says:

    How many marriages they broke up with their obeah?

    Like 3
    Dislike 4
  18. Can Noot1 says:

    Two words for you Mr Fraser, D__A–

  19. Father Time says:

    @Anonymous

    I implore you; please shut up.

  20. Redstorm says:

    I don’t believe most noted that the census was 2014. Most of those people came during that time has returned. there are not that many now living in the BVI. After COVID , many people returned to their home country few from the yachting industry , teachers retired,single parents, and the others.

    Many BVI residents relocate to the UK after the hurricane, Manchester has many of them and their children. So, I would said that it’s not an over population here, it’s just a repeat statement of people who did not check the facts of the issue.

    Many of the older BVI residents are still living and working here.

  21. Racist to the core! says:

    That same W*nt* woman is one miserable piece of $h¡+ and yes racist towards other races!

  22. @@hmmm says:

    I agree with you. I hear fish and all that came. But who are we to complain. It have a Guyanese man right here in BVI said he do not like indo Guyanese.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  23. Jill says:

    Nothing needs to be revisited. They should remain just as they are, as it may be a deterrent for the not so worthy.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  24. @@hmmm says:

    If you want to see and experience overt racism in the Caribbean,apart from the Dominican Republic ( the most tragic)Guyana is the land.. They are also famous for murder to the nth degree.. whether it has to do with Obeah or some other darkness who knows but when they kill, the more gruesome the better, one of the faves is to chop up a victim with a cutlass in a ” million” pieces.

  25. Faithful says:

    You must be one of them. Who the cap fits, let them wear it.

  26. Really says:

    First time i am hearing of that. i guess the government take it all.

  27. watch you says:

    you single out po Lola so quick like yuh man tek she:)

  28. Really says:

    Marriages dont break up just so. yuh get leff so shut up

    Like 0
    Dislike 0
  29. Really says:

    Guyanese are the best wherever they go. no. 1 – you must be jealous. who know obeah than BVIslanders -even to the expremier and he senegal man that he owe money. BVI worst for obeah and drug smugglers.

  30. @..@@hhhh says:

    So you saying Guyana obeah is very good and I should go there to cure my incurable diseases???

  31. Can you read says:

    You misunderstood the entire article. He is saying to make it less of a hassle for Guyanese to come to the BVI for work etc. No one is picking on them. Wowww

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