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Concerning the unfair allocation of a higher airfare tax charged by the UK, to those travelling to Ja. (and other Caribbean nations).
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...Caribbean stakeholders have vehemently opposed the increase, which is based on somewhat arbitrary bands that assign a higher rate to the Caribbean than other destinations which are actually further from the UK, including many areas of the US.
Bartlett said the US transit visa, which costs US$150 per person, is onerous, especially for families, and can easily make potential visitors veer elsewhere for their vacations in the case where other transit options not routed through the US favour competing markets. Asked whether there had been any lobbying efforts made to seek redress from US authorities on the matter, Bartlett said it was a diplomatic issue that would need to be approached at a diplomatic level in coordination with other Caribbean nations
Where the APD is concerned, Bartlett said his team had spearheaded discussion on the matter and that the ministry had appointed UK-based lobbying firm Caribbean Council of Britain led by David Jessop and that phase I of the lobbying effort was completed with the debate on the matter by the UK's government, and that phase two, which would be implemented over the coming year, would see a stronger institutional lobby from global trade bodies like the WTO and a continuation of political pressure in the UK, primarily from constituencies of high Caribbean populations and among ministers of Caribbean heritage. Bartlett pointed out that members of the Jamaican Diaspora had collected 60,000 signatures for a petition against the policy, and that the EU Parliament had taken interest in the matter.
Bartlett said the momentum of the lobbying campaign will increase once the UK Parliament resumes sittings, as research has shown that some 100 constituencies will be affected.</div></div>
A call to lobby your local MP on the matter, or send letter to PM's office
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...Caribbean stakeholders have vehemently opposed the increase, which is based on somewhat arbitrary bands that assign a higher rate to the Caribbean than other destinations which are actually further from the UK, including many areas of the US.
Bartlett said the US transit visa, which costs US$150 per person, is onerous, especially for families, and can easily make potential visitors veer elsewhere for their vacations in the case where other transit options not routed through the US favour competing markets. Asked whether there had been any lobbying efforts made to seek redress from US authorities on the matter, Bartlett said it was a diplomatic issue that would need to be approached at a diplomatic level in coordination with other Caribbean nations
Where the APD is concerned, Bartlett said his team had spearheaded discussion on the matter and that the ministry had appointed UK-based lobbying firm Caribbean Council of Britain led by David Jessop and that phase I of the lobbying effort was completed with the debate on the matter by the UK's government, and that phase two, which would be implemented over the coming year, would see a stronger institutional lobby from global trade bodies like the WTO and a continuation of political pressure in the UK, primarily from constituencies of high Caribbean populations and among ministers of Caribbean heritage. Bartlett pointed out that members of the Jamaican Diaspora had collected 60,000 signatures for a petition against the policy, and that the EU Parliament had taken interest in the matter.
Bartlett said the momentum of the lobbying campaign will increase once the UK Parliament resumes sittings, as research has shown that some 100 constituencies will be affected.</div></div>
A call to lobby your local MP on the matter, or send letter to PM's office