Both houses of the U.S. Congress are expected to vote by the end of the week on a proposition to extend the deadline for the use of passports for travelers re-entering the United States from The Bahamas, the Caribbean region, Mexico and Canada.
The new proposal seeks to introduce the U.S. border protection measure in June 2009 rather than the January 1, 2007 date that had been envisioned for The Bahamas part of the plan. It would be the second delay in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, if approved.
Such a decision would hearten officials in the tourism and travel sector, like the Bahamas Hotel Association, which had itself proposed a postponement to 2009.
Between 68 million and 70 million U.S. citizens hold passports – about 27 percent of the population – according to data from the U.S. State Department. More than 10 million passports were issued in 2005.
American lawmakers have expressed the concern that the implementation next year of the passport requirement could likely disrupt the balance between security and free trade.
“It seems clear that the federal government will not be able to meet the current deadlines without causing a significant disruption in trade and tourism,” Sen. John Cornyn, (R-Texas) was quoted as saying.
Other special interest groups in the U.S. applauded the proposed delay while some said it would be wise to use the extra time to implement the technology; train personnel; conduct economic impact studies; and explore possible alternatives to the passport requirement.
Additional reports said trade groups such as the Border Trade Alliance applauded the suggested move.
House and Senate lawmakers have reportedly agreed to the recommendation and added a provision to the Department of Homeland Security’s appropriations bill. The vote could come by the end of the week.
U.S. authorities have agreed to do more to get the message out to Americans that they will soon need to have a passport to reenter the United States after traveling to the Caribbean, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell told the Bahama Journal in an earlier interview this week.
Minister Mitchell said that assurance came Monday when CARICOM foreign ministers met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in New York.
“I must confess that there was not much comfort given to moving the deadline back,” Minister Mitchell said. “Instead, they talked in terms of trying to make sure that people know that they have to have passports and that the delivery of passports is more efficiently done.”
He was scheduled to raise the issue in an address to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday.
The fast approaching implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) has fueled much concern for tourism stakeholders, who feel that not enough has occurred to sufficiently sensitize the U.S. traveling public about the pending changes.
The plan is designed as a means of border protection from terrorism. The WHTI would require – with some exceptions – that Americans, as well as Canadians, Mexicans and Bermudans present a passport to enter the U.S. when arriving by air or sea from any part of the western hemisphere, including The Bahamas.
The State Department’s website indicates that in addition to a passport, other secure accepted documents, which establish the bearer’s identity and nationality, will also be permitted.
Bahamas Hotel Association President Earle Bethell wrote a letter to American authorities asking them to reconsider the implementation date. In his letter to the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Mr. Bethell said members of his association believe that insufficient time and resources exist to sensitize the public and support the processing of large numbers of passport applications.
In various promotional efforts, some resorts and travel agencies have made offers on a limited basis to foot the passport bill for potential travelers who patronize their businesses.
Tourism stakeholders are not the only ones expressing concern. Government officials admit that an early implementation date will also have an adverse effect on trade, yet another argument Minister Mitchell is expected to present to U.S. officials.
By: Tameka Lundy, The Bahama Journal
