00:00The Ministry of Homeland Security says Trinidad and Tobago is not running out of machine-readable passports
00:06and citizens can continue to apply for and receive passports as normal.
00:11Referring to recent media reports, the ministry issued its statement as opposition leader Penelope Beckles
00:17said in a statement on social media that, quote,
00:21the minister cannot use the proposed transition to e-passports as a shield against immediate accountability, end quote.
00:30The opposition leader expressed her concern that there is a growing passport crisis.
00:35Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said in an official statement, quote,
00:39the ministry has been planning this transition carefully to ensure that passport services continue uninterrupted
00:45while we modernize our immigration system.
00:48Citizens should be assured that there is sufficient stock to meet demand.
00:53Additional deliveries have been scheduled and the work to introduce a more secure e-passport is underway, end quote.
01:00Opposition leader Beckel said that reports now suggest that the ministry was warned since mid-2025
01:06that Trinidad and Tobago had approximately one-year supply of passport booklets remaining,
01:12estimated at between 80,000 and 100,000 documents.
01:16The Homeland Security Ministry said it received 50,000 machine-readable passport booklets in October 2025,
01:23followed by a further 12,000 passport booklets in June 2026.
01:28The ministry further said the immigration division currently issues fewer than 6,000 passports on average each month,
01:36ensuring that adequate supplies remain available to meet the needs of the traveling public.
01:41The Homeland Security Ministry said approximately 48,000 additional machine-readable passport booklets are scheduled to arrive in September.
01:49The ministry added that in 2026, the immigration division would receive a grand total of 100,000 machine-readable passport
01:57booklets,
01:58which it said would provide more than sufficient inventory to support uninterrupted passport services
02:04while Trinidad and Tobago transitions to the new e-passport system.
02:08With regard to the new e-passport system, the opposition leader asked what happened to the award report,
02:15reportedly made a Canadian banknote on whether that arrangement was cancelled in March 2026 without a secure replacement supply in
02:23place.
02:23The Homeland Security Ministry confirmed that in March 2026,
02:28it initiated the procurement process for additional passport booklets as part of its transition strategy
02:34and has simultaneously advanced the procurement of the country's new e-passport system.
02:40The ministry said an expression of interest of the e-passport system has already been completed
02:46and submissions are currently being evaluated as part of what the ministry called a transparent, competitive and accountable procurement process.
02:54The ministry said the new system will introduce an online application and appointment platform meant to be more efficient and
03:01user-friendly
03:02while ensuring what the ministry calls a fairer and more streamlined passport application system.
03:08The Homeland Security Ministry also said the e-passport will include an embedded electronic chip,
03:13making passports significantly more secure,
03:16while the next generation of machine-readable passports will incorporate Trinidad and Tobago's new court of arms,
03:22featuring the national instrument, the steel pan.
03:26Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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