Guyana completes legislative requirements for CWC hosting
Kaieteur News
February 1, 2007
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the duties of President, last evening assented to four Bills passed in the National Assembly to allow Guyana to participate fully with nine other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries in a Single Domestic Space for Cricket World Cup (CWC).
The domestic space, which comes into effect today, was created to meet the challenges of CWC, which the Caribbean will host from March 4 (inclusive of warm-up fixtures) to April 28. The attendant legislations will remain in force from today until May 15.
Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago inked agreements last December to establish the single space.
Grenada went to Parliament on Monday to give effect to the legislation; the other countries had gone to their Parliaments in December.
Nationals from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Spain, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, and all CARICOM Nationals, except Haiti, will be allowed to access the space freely.
However, other nationals will require a Caribbean Community Special Visa before being allowed entry.
There is to be a special arrangement for persons coming to Guyana for the Rio Summit. They will be issued with an entry permit that would allow them to enter the single domestic space.
Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, moved a motion to suspend the Standing Orders allowing for the harmonised pieces of legislation to be placed on the Order Paper of yesterday's sitting and for the Bills to be taken through all their stages.
Minister Rohee piloted the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2007, the Caribbean Community Special Visa Agreement Bill 2007 and the Pre-Clearance (ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007) Bill 2007, while Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh piloted the Customs (Amendment) Bill 2007.
Both sides of the House supported Minister Rohee during the Parliamentary debate, and this despite the Minister making a minor amendment to the Immigration (Amendment) Bill.
However, during the debate on the Customs (Amendment) Bill, Alliance For Change Member of Parliament, Khemraj Ramjattan, vehemently criticised the Bill as giving too much power to the Minister.
He argued that the AFC could not support that Bill since unlike the other three Bills, it did specify an expiry date and that the proposed amendment was duplicating what has already been enacted.
Dr. Singh, in his rebuttal told the National Assembly that he is “flabbergasted” by the attempt of the AFC to create a “storm in a teacup.”
He stated that the Bill was drafted by regional experts and was similarly enacted in other member-states that signed the agreement in December last year establishing the single space.
The AFC then proposed amendments to the Bill, but these were disallowed by Acting Speaker Clarissa Riehl on the grounds that adequate time had not given for the proposed amendments to be considered.
The Bill was subsequently passed as printed.
SECURITY CONTROL
Minister Rohee in piloting the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2007 said Guyana is on the verge of a very momentous occasion and through harmonised legislation, the country was seeking to enhance security capabilities for CWC, through an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).
The Bill seeks to insert a new Section 8A into the existing Immigration Act and will now require the master of a vessel, either an aircraft or a ship, to declare cargo on board before arriving in Guyana or before entering the single space.
The Bill sets out a summary conviction fine of $20 million for intentionally failing to transmit the required information or for transmitting false or incomplete information.
Minister Rohee identified this aspect as being critical to the sharing of information.
He alluded that Guyana will be sending a member of the Guyana Police Force to serve at the “fusion centre” in Trinidad and Tobago, while two members of the force will be sent to serve at the Joint Regional Communications Centre, which will be established in Barbados.
Minister Rohee stated that additionally, two members from the regional security body will be in Guyana to help ease some of the communications dilemma that may arise between member-states.
Minister of Works and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, in support of the Bill stated that the APIS will enhance passenger safety for the games. He told the House that consultations were held widely with many local stakeholders including the Civil Aviation Authority and experts at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
He downplayed concerns expressed about Guyana's porous borders creating problems for other countries in the single space by reporting that other islands have problems protecting their borders too.
People's National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) frontbencher, Basil Williams, said that his party wholly supported all the Bills and alluded to the APIS as a guardian against terrorist attacks and shooting, which took place at two previous mega sporting events.
ENTRY VISA
Minister Rohee stated that assessments are currently being conducted by CARICOM Operations, Planning and Coordinating Staff (COPACS) at the Moleson Creek and Lethem ports of entry to ensure that they meet the basic requirements to issue the CARICOM Special Visas.
He alluded that Guyana has had to suspend other visa agreements with 11 countries.
In total, some 23 countries will be affected, the majority of which Guyana had existing no-visa agreements.
Responding to questions raised by AFC MP Raphael Trotman, Rohee stated that for the countries whose citizens will not need the visa, CARICOM considered bilateral agreements, investments made to CARICOM and the long-standing relations.
According to CARICOM, nationals of countries who would normally need visas but who already enjoy a form of legal status valid on February 1 conferred by any of the 10 countries which form the Single Domestic Space, will also not require a CARICOM Special Visa.
Diplomats to be accredited, Government officials and persons providing technical assistance to Member-States, and representatives of International and Regional Organisations will be issued with a Special Entry Permit.
A CARICOM Special Visa does not permit a person to work or study. Persons requiring a work permit or student visa should apply directly to the competent authorities in the relevant Member State.
Work Permits or Student Visas must be issued for a minimum period of six months during this timeframe.
The visa fee of US$100 or Euro 80 will be waived for Children 12 and under, Non-accredited diplomats or persons traveling on diplomatic or official passports, Cuban Nationals, Seamen and airline crew entering to join vessels/aircraft, and Teams, Officials Media and Sponsors (TOMS) and their spouses and children.
The CARICOM Special Visas are being issued in Australia, Canada, India, United States, United Kingdom, Europe, China, and Venezuela.
EASY TRAVEL
The Pre-Clearance (ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007) Bill 2007 specifically allows for unambiguous travel of Teams, Officials, Media and Sponsors during the event.
Under the legislation, the Minister will have to designate a pre-clearance area at the Cheddi Jagan International (CJIA) airport to facilitate TOMS, who are subjected to the country's entry rules and regulations.
Minister Rohee explained that this will assist in keeping the wheels of the country turning since it will allow regular travel to continue unhindered by disallowing co-mingling of passengers.
PNCR-1G backbencher, Aubrey Norton, expressed the hope that the policy will extend into Guyana's foreign policy and help to reduce the hassle that Guyanese face when travelling to some CARICOM countries.
He alluded that the Bill seeks to have immigration officials from other countries working in Guyana at the designated pre-clearance areas.
Under the legislation, a person is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $160,000 if they enter or leave a designated pre-clearance area.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION
Throughout the debate, Speakers lamented that it took cricket to achieve what regional leaders failed to achieve for decades and that was to create the basis for community integration.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, and Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, shared the view that the single space being created and supported by legislation, was the stepping stone for real integration.
This view was also expressed by Rohee, Williams, Norton and Trotman.
On November 2, last year, Guyana with support from both sides of the House, enacted the Sunset Legislation, which seeks to protect official sponsors from ambush marketing.