Moonilal: Visa waiver for China not a done deal

VISA waivers for the People’s Republic of China is not a done deal and will require collaboration and negotiation between that country and Trinidad and Tobago, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Roodal Moonilal said on Friday.

Dr Moonilal’s statement was in response to calls by the Opposition Senator and PNM Public Relations Officer Faris Al Rawi, who has asked for further details on the suggestion of Visa waivers for citizens of China entering Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Prime Minister said that one of the matters we are considering is a request made by the Chinese government which could allow us to have more Chinese visitors coming to Trinidad and Tobago,” Dr Moonilal said.

“The Prime Minister used the example of Jamaica, which has removed the Visa requirement for Chinese visitors and said that, as a first phase, we could look at persons who already have a visa to get into the United States or elsewhere, that those persons could come to Trinidad and Tobago so there would be some kind of first filtering process.”

Dr Moonilal pointed out that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar was very clear that no decision was made on the Visa waiver, and that consideration would be given to the request.

Dr Moonilal added: “In addition to agreeing to consider it, the Prime Minister was also very upfront about her priority being for Trinidad and Tobago citizens to enjoy a similar privilege. Her statement to the Ambassador of China was that ‘It is something we can look at. And of course we would want reciprocity. That is to say we would want to have likewise visa travel-free to China as well’.”