THE POSSIBILITY of Barbados offering immigration pre-clearance services into the United States could be a potential game changer for the Grantley Adams International Airport. Security and travel facilitation will be the key factors to be considered, but at the end of the day, it will be primarily a commercial decision.
Even without all the pros and cons of the entreaty as outlined last week by Minister of International Transport Richard Sealy, being considered, it is an issue which should create some discussion. Understandably, some will see it as nothing more than an intrusion by the Americans.
If Barbados were to be successfully considered, it would mean the US Department of Homeland Security paying much closer attention to what happens at Grantley Adams International. It will also require establishing or upgrading existing facilities to meet certain standards. Barbadians must also appreciate that there will be no third party outsourcing while US Customs and Border Protective Service personnel will operate here.
There will be financial implications in order to introduce and operate this process. Barbadians need to know whether the costs will be carried by local taxpayers or by the Americans. Sealy must also explain if this country is successful in getting the status, whether the process will also relate to US public health and agriculture inspections before boarding the aircraft. He must also address that now thorny issue of biometrics and whether this will be a necessary requirement and if aviation security screening will also be part of the pre-clearance checks.
It is obvious the Barbados Government wants this project to become a reality since it can bring certain economic opportunities. If Barbados is successfully considered by Homeland Security officials, it is unlikely that they will then consider having a similar facility elsewhere in the Eastern Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago or Guyana. This means that Grantley Adams International can become a hub for regional aviation to the US.
The US airlines are supportive of pre-clearance, since it can work to their advantage. The airlines operate in a very competitive environment and want to make the customer experience as seamless as possible. More important, pre-clearance offers the airlines greater flexibility. They can shift their flights away from the big busy airports, which may make it cheaper for the traveller, and also encourage new airlines to consider flying to Barbados.
Yes, there will be some scepticism about the pre-clearance programme. Some critics argue that it is meant to stop asylum seekers from landing on US soil and even take some of the security risks away from mainland US. But, there is growing interest by many countries in having pre-clearance status. The Bahamas has had such a facility for many years without any breach to its sovereignty. For Barbados, getting pre-clearance status is simply about the economic advantages and the passenger experience.
