The T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce believes the new UK visa requirement has the potential to affect key areas of bilateral engagement.

This includes trade, investment, tourism, student mobility, and cultural exchange.

This morning, British High Commissioner Jon Dean announced that T&T nationals will no longer be eligible for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and will instead need to acquire the relevant visas to either visit or transit through the UK.

The Chamber says “While immigration control remains a sovereign right of every nation, the T&T Chamber recognizes the concerns raised by local stakeholders regarding the timing and implications of this policy shift.”

It is urging the governments of T&T and the UK to work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition and minimize any unintended disruptions.

It also hopes the decision will not have a spiralling effect on T&T’s progress under the Schengen visa exemptions with the European Union.