Tobago stakeholders urge UK to review visa requirement for Trinidad and Tobago citizens

TOBAGO stakeholders are calling on the British government to reconsider its decision to implement, with immediate effect, a visa requirement for all Trinidad and Tobago nationals travelling to the UK.

In a three-page statement on March 12, the British High Commission said the decision was taken to combat the increasing number of TT nationals seeking asylum in the UK.

Responding to the development, the Tobago Business Chamber urged the British High Commission to immediately review the policy, owing to the fact that many nationals go to the UK for business, vacation and educational purposes.

It also called for urgent discussions between the governments of TT and the UK.

“There is so much connectivity between Trinidad and Tobago and the UK that we, of the Tobago Business Chamber, view this as really a step which we hope would never have been implemented and we urge that there be bilateral discussions at the highest level to seek its urgent and immediate removal and reversal because we see it as a backward and retrograde step for TT,” chamber chairman Martin George said in a WhatsApp video on March 12.

“This is not something anybody can celebrate or rejoice or even poke fun at. And one would hope that the Opposition would close ranks and join forces with the government and present a united stand to the UK on this to say, ‘We are not at all happy with this decision and we would certainly like to have discussions on it with a view to its urgent and immediate review and its reversal.”

Describing the news as devastating, George said citizens had enjoyed the privilege of visa-free entry to the UK for decades.

He said the recent introduction of the electronic travel authorisation was basically a routine application.

“But now with the requirement of a visa, it means that you basically have to go through the same type of process that is required for entry for Trinidad and Tobago nationals into the US and into Canada whereby you have to go to the US Embassy, you have to go to the Indian High Commission and now, in this case, you have to go to the British High Commission to apply for the visa.”

George added while citizens could apply for the visa online, “It creates an unnecessary next step which we Trinidad and Tobago nationals did not have to go through at all, and I think it creates a fear for certain people that the same way for the US or Canada that they can be denied the visas, then I imagine that people will be equally concerned in terms of travel to the UK they could also possibly be denied visas.”

He continued, “It is really something I think we would have to raise at a government to government level. One would imagine that Dr Amery Browne, who is our Minister of Foreign Affairs, would already be in discussions with the UK High Commissioner because we would like to see this policy reversed.”

The Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce believes the introduction of a visa requirement will have immediate and long-term effects on various sectors, particularly those that depend on trade, travel, education and professional exchanges.

In the area of tourism and hospitality, chamber president Curtis Williams said TT has a strong UK diaspora.

“The added visa hurdle could reduce the number of visitors, impacting airlines, hotels and travel agencies,” he said in a release via WhatsApp.

Williams also lamented that business operators travelling to the UK for trade expos, supplier meetings and negotiations must now factor in visa processing delays and costs.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on UK partnerships could experience slowed operations due to visa-related administrative burdens.”

The visa requirement, he said, also can affect citizens’ educational and professional development.

Williams said students and professionals travelling to the UK for study, research and training will now face added costs and potential visa denials.

“Academic and corporate exchanges may decrease, affecting talent development and collaboration opportunities.”

He said while border security is a legitimate concern, “the blanket visa policy affects law-abiding travellers, students, professionals and business persons, potentially straining diplomatic ties between UK and TT.”

Williams added, “The decision raises questions about whether alternative measures, such as more stringent screening at UK entry points could have addressed the issue restricting legitimate travel and business activities.”

THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris, meanwhile, described the move as “deeply disappointing.

“While I acknowledge the UK’s sovereign right to secure its borders, this decision carries significant consequences for our citizens, affecting travel, business and cultural exchanges between our two nations,” he said via WhatsApp.

Beyond individual inconvenience, Morris said, the policy also poses a serious threat to Tobago’s tourism sector.

“A key factor in sustaining direct airlift between the UK and Tobago is the viability of servicing routes in both directions. If Tobagonians face greater difficulty travelling to the UK, it reduces their ability to utilise return flights, potentially undermining the economic sustainability of these routes.”

He said given the long-standing importance of UK visitors to Tobago, “any disruption in air connectivity could have far-reaching economic implications.”

Morris continued, “It is particularly regrettable that, as the UK itself has acknowledged, this decision places the burden of a disproportionately small number of asylum seekers on the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.”

He urged the UK government to review the policy.

“It is my humble and respectful hope that the UK Government will review this policy in short order and explore alternative approaches that protect the integrity of its immigration system without unduly penalising legitimate travellers and critical economic sectors.

“As Minority Leader, I urge all parties to engage in constructive dialogue on this matter and trust that the strong historical ties between our nations will guide future discussions toward a more balanced solution.”