Minister with responsibility for information Robert Morgan said the Government continues to advocate for visa-free travel for Jamaican citizens to international countries.

The Minister was responding to a question about Jamaica not being included among 13 countries where known travellers will now be allowed visa-free access into Canada.

“States are free to make their assessments as to who they allow into their country. But Jamaicans, I think, need to also recognise that there are several challenges that we have as it relates to us as a country,” said Morgan.

He noted that Jamaicans, in their pursuit to enter international countries, often present problematic documents or participate in illegal migration. Furthermore, he shared that a large number of Jamaicans applying for visas to countries such as Canada often have criminal records or are guilty of overstaying.

“What I do know is that our minister of foreign affairs, Kamina Johnson Smith, constantly has engagements with various partners, and we have a very good relationship with the people of Canada and the Government of Canada,” he declared.

He then sought to assure that “this government will continue to work to advocate on behalf of our citizens to find ways for ease of travel across the world”.

The visa-free travel has been extended to known travellers from Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts-Nevis, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Morocco, Seychelles, Thailand, and the Philippines.

A known traveller is someone who holds a Canadian visa, obtained one over the last 10 years, or holds a valid United States visa.

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