New York Times commits to passport awareness campaign

Could someone please explain how difficult it is to get a passport? To comply with NY Times building Homeland Security, the required need of a passport for entering the US seems like a small price to pay. It is about time we have a standardized form of ID for all entering the country. 9–11 still took place last I heard.

I would also like to know why the New York Times is more worried about the Caribbean’s tourism than they are about releasing secrets regarding how the CIA and Treasury Department are tracking international banking transactions by terrorist operatives. It couldn’t possibly be because they get a tremendous amount of revenue from Caribbean tourism ads could it? Looks like another in a group that puts money and tourism over security.

OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED with the devastating effect the Western Hemisphere Passport Initiative will have on the region, the New York Times has committed US$1 million (J$65 million) to a Caribbean public awareness campaign.

Within six months, the initiative requiring all Americans to have a passport when traveling to the Caribbean becomes law, a challenge that the region’s closet competitor Mexico and Canada have not had to confront immediately.

The New York Times initiative comes after several letters of appeal, lobbying of the region’s ambassadors and senators which have not helped in leveling the playing field for the region.

“We have written to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State and several senators about the effect this law will have on the Caribbean, but we have got no response,” Alec Sanguinetti, CEO of CHA, told The Gleaner.

Research by the World Travel and Tourism Council has shown that the region stands to lose US$1.8 billion in revenue and 188,000 jobs in tourism.

Jamaica also stands to lose 58 per cent in visitor export and US$1,130 million in revenue if the region is not given the two-year extension Canada and Mexico have been allowed.

(Jamaica Gleaner)