Prior to the year 2009 my passports were valid for 10 years, but for reasons which are unclear, the validity of passports was reduced to five years.
Thus, in one fell swoop, the workload of the passport office was doubled causing chaos and confusion at passport offices throughout T&T, with queues on Frederick Street from early morning. The decision was announced recently that T&T is reverting to 10-year passports once again. The public I believe would appreciate an explanation from the Chief Immigration Officer of the rationale for the five-year and the 10-year validity.
The public might mistakenly believe that vaps more than common sense had prevailed. US visas are valid for 10 years, but Canadian visas expire with the passport, incurring cost and the humbug of getting a new visa in a new passport.
To avoid the anticipated pain and anger when current five-year passports come up for renewal I am suggesting that passports be extended for five years by an official "extension" endorsement in the passport, at a reduced fee, saving citizens and immigration officers the bureaucratic horrors. And since money today is scarce, avoiding the expenditure for the new passports.
Michael Jay Williams,
Maracas Valley