Barbados going after US pre-clearance status

BARBADOS HAS INITIATED discussions with the United States to become a pre-clearance port for entry into that country.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Sealy made the disclosure last night at a US Embassy reception in honour of the 240th anniversary of US independence. He said the discussions were preliminary and the actual letter of interest would be submitted next month.

Pre-clearance is the system through which  entry into the United States is processed on foreign soil, thus facilitating seamless passage through the intended US port.

There are presently 15 countries, including Bahamas, Bermuda and Aruba that already have US pre-clearance from one or more of their ports. Sealy said inasmuch as the Department of Homeland Security wanted to expand the number of countries that have the system, Barbados was making its bid to be one of them. (GC)