Three new passport offices to be up and running by the end of 2019

Oct 05, 2018 News

Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix discusses the construction of the building and parking facility for the passport office, with engineers and technical officers.

Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix yesterday disclosed that his Department is working to establish passport offices in Regions Two, Seven and Nine by the end of 2019 fiscal year. This is in keeping with the Administration’s vision of decentralising vital public services in capital towns.
The Minister visited the Essequibo Coast to get a first-hand look at the plot of land identified by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) in the town of Anna Regina where the Region’s passport office will be located.
“Last year, at an outreach conducted by the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, the issue of passports and the challenge to travel to Georgetown was raised by many residents and I made a commitment that all efforts will be made to remedy this situation in keeping with President’s wish to have Government services easily accessible in Capital towns,” said Minister Felix.
The identified plot is centrally located. The Anna Regina Police Station, the GLSC Office and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Office are within close proximity.
“Since Anna Regina is a Capital Town we will bring the service to Anna Regina. This will cut out the unnecessary travelling to Georgetown; it will bring the service to Essequibians, thereby, reducing the time they have to wait as well as the cost involved in travelling,” Minister Felix stated.
Meanwhile, the new passport offices at Linden and New Amsterdam are serving residents well and have significantly reduced the hassle and crowds at the Georgetown office.
The Minister recalled that only a few years ago, the lines at the central location would extend all the way to Barrack Street, Kingston.
He said that upon entering Office, President David Granger created the Department of Citizenship and directed that one of its first tasks must be to eliminate this unnecessary everyday struggle.
Since then, more equipment was procured for the Immigration Office to improve efficiency and the decentralisation programme commenced.

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