00:00As TNT takes steps to upgrade machine-readable passports to e-passports,
00:05Guyana has successfully enabled passengers with internationally acclaimed electronic
00:11identification cards issued by regional countries to enjoy passport-free travel
00:17using facial recognition and fast-track processing.
00:21The system is powered by Novo's border management systems and e-gates technology
00:27and allows passengers to be processed in, get this, under 20 seconds.
00:33One Caribbean Media is a minority shareholder in Novo.
00:37Novo has implemented Guyana's new e-passport issuance system and booklets,
00:43processing a minimum of 400 to 600 e-passports per day.
00:48From July 1st, citizens of Barbados and Guyana will be able to travel between the two countries
00:54using their national identification cards under a new bilateral arrangement.
01:00In a joint announcement issued on Monday, the governments of the two CARICOM countries
01:05described the move as a major stride towards deeper regional integration
01:10and closer people-to-people relations between the two CARICOM nations.
01:17While Barbados and Guyana move toward passport-free travel using national ID cards,
01:24Trinidad and Tobago says it's not considering a similar arrangement at this time.
01:30Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Motley has hailed a new travel arrangement between Barbados and Guyana
01:37as a breakthrough for regional integration.
01:40On Sunday, Motley became the first person to enter Guyana using only a Barbadian national ID card
01:47instead of a passport during celebrations marking Guyana's 60th independence anniversary.
01:54You would have seen that when I landed just now, I was able to use our Trident ID card
02:00and be able to have that replace what would otherwise have been a passport.
02:05The arrangement between Barbados and Guyana officially takes effect from July 1st
02:11and is expected to allow citizens of both countries to travel more easily between the two states.
02:17Motley says she hopes other CARICOM countries will eventually adopt similar measures
02:22to make regional travel more seamless.
02:25We trust and pray that others will follow and others will work with us
02:29to expand the category of CARICOM citizens who can benefit from this.
02:34This is not for full freedom of movement.
02:37This is just for passage in your normal rights as a citizen coming to visit countries.
02:42So we hope that in addition to this, that the app which has been developed,
02:49which is a Trident Arrow app, and which will eventually be available as well beyond the individual cards,
02:58so long as the phones sync with this card, you will also be able to use a smartphone going forward
03:07to be able to move between the two countries.
03:10Motley described the initiative as a practical step towards making Caribbean integration
03:14a lived reality for ordinary citizens.
03:17But in Trinidad and Tobago, government says there are currently no plans to introduce a similar system.
03:23Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Sean Sobers, says,
03:27At this point in time, Trinidad and Tobago is not considering a similar operation,
03:33and in any event, it would have to be a matter that is discussed and agreed at a cabinet level.
03:41The TV6 People Meter, brought to you by XL Health TT, the official supplements of the CPS.
03:49That takes us to our People Meter.
03:52We ask, should all member states give priority to having ID card travel by citizens within CARICOM?
04:00To vote, text yes or no to the number 766-4886 or 766-4TV6,
04:06and we'll have the results for you at the end of the newscast.
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