KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Jamaica is to sign an agreement with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), to recognise and accept the entity’s travel document when presented by officials at the island’s borders, Information Minister Sandrea Falconer has said.
She said Cabinet had approved the documents comprising an e-Passport Booklet and an e-Identification Card (ID) identifying the holder as an INTERPOL officer, and granting him/her special immigration status when travelling on official duties to participating member countries.
The aim is to reduce response times for personnel deployed to assist with transnational criminal investigations, major events or emergency situations, by waiving normal visa requirements.
Falconer noted that the INTERPOL travel document would be accepted in cases where the official is from a country that would require him/her to have a visa; and where they are presented with a letter of invitation from the relevant authorities in Jamaica, and a valid national passport.
She said that the agreement is to be reviewed in three years.
“As you are aware, INTERPOL is mandated under international public law to ensure and promote mutual assistance between all the police authorities within the limits of the laws in the different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,” she said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kevin Blake, said the document, which is of international standard and bears 29 security features, will reduce travel time for INTERPOL officials.
“Without the INTERPOL travel document, what happens is that there is a significant portion of the time for logistics planning and to get INTERPOL officials into member states, that is taken up by applying for visas, the cost and all of that,” he said.
Blake said Jamaica is the 68th INTERPOL member country to recognise the travel document, adding that the organisation is aiming to reach 100 states for its 100th anniversary in November.
INTERPOL is an inter-governmental organisation facilitating international police collaboration.
