MEMORY LAPSE – Former PM unable to remember reason for imposing visa restrictions on West African States

By Linda Straker

Former Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who also served as the last Foreign Affairs Minister during the National Democratic Congress administration, cannot recall why a decision was made to impose visa restrictions on a number of West African nations as of December 2012.

“I cannot recall why we did this, but something must have happened or come to our attention, as there got to have been a reason for this,” Thomas said when asked what was responsible for imposing the requirement on West African states, such as Nigeria and Ghana.

The visa at the time cost US$100 and took a maximum of six days to process, but there was no gazette published explaining the new regulations. The only evidence found is a four-page PDF document on the Grenada’s US Embassy website, which contains the names of all the countries whose nationals need a visa to enter Grenada.

Information at the Immigration Department revealed that upon taking over the administration of the country following the February 19 General Election, the New National Party, which is led by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, had a cabinet conclusion to repeal the requirement because of the questionable format in which it was instituted.

“First of all, there was no Parliamentary approval for the regulation,” said a Foreign Affairs official, who explained that although the law provides for the Minister responsible to pass regulations for the smooth and effective running of any legislation, there was not even a gazette publication with the date and time of the new regulation.

While confirming that as of March 2013 the requirement was no longer in effect, Head of the Immigration Department, Jessmon Prince, said that at present there is no need for Nigerians and those of other West African nations affected to have a visa prior to arrival, even if it is still seen on the embassy website.

“They are members of the Commonwealth and we respect that right for them to travel to another Commonwealth nation, unless or until visa requirement is imposed as a requirement prior to arrival,” he said.

A revised list is expected to be published as Grenada continues to build its relationship with sovereign states.

Though Grenada’s Nigerian and other West African population is small, the impact could have been felt most by persons from these states who are selecting St. George’s University to pursue university education.