Mostly positive reviews for new Port of Spain passport office

THERE were mostly positive reviews from people using passport services at the new Richmond Street, Port of Spain office.

In a media release on June 5 the National Security Ministry announced that passport services had resumed (they had stopped because of covid19 restrictions) and as of June 8, the Immigration Division office at 67 Frederick Street, Port of Spain had been relocated to 3-9 Richmond Street (Government Campus Plaza).

The release was posted on the ministry's Facebook page. The old office has been boarded up and up to Monday a few flyers were still stuck to the boards announcing the relocation.

When Newsday visited the Richmond Street offices on Monday afternoon security guards were telling people to practse social distancing and to wear masks. Outside the building a sink and hand sanitiser dispenser had been set up and people were seen using it.

Curtis Lopez from El Socorro told Newsday he learned about the change in location when he was checking something on the internet.

"I said, 'Wait, nah, they moved'."

He described the service as very friendly.

"I got through really fast."

Another male customer said the service was "real good.

"Easy sailing. In about five minutes I got through."

He found out about the change in location from a co-worker.

But a female customer said she had arrived at 5 am and only got inside at 12.45 pm.

"It is always bad."

She claimed people arrived after her but got through before she did. She said some of them had appointments, but some did not.

She also said the process took longer because of the covid19 restrictions.

Another female customer, who asked to be identified as Miss Christine, said the process was good and only took five minutes.

"Out of ten I give them a nine. They are doing very well."

She learned about the change in location when she saw the sign at the old Frederick Street office. Miss Christine said she recently made an appointment and was given a date of July 22.

In January Newsday reported that TT had the longest wait time in the Caribbean for passport applications, with some people waiting almost five months. Contacted in January, Minister of National Security Stuart Young told Newsday he had received a report from his permanent secretary that attributed the long wait times to the implementation of a call centre.

Young subsequently gave a commitment to have wait times down to a month and in early March Newsday was able to confirm that passport appointments were being given within the same month.