Passport collection is now much simpler for Barbadians.
That is because they now have the option of having their passport delivered by the Express Delivery Couriers of the Barbados Postal Service.
The new service, which costs Bds$16, was formalised with the signing of an agreement between the Immigration Department and the Barbados Postal Service this morning. Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams, lauded the service, describing it as “a perfect example of the one Government concept where we can work together for the benefit of the people of Barbados”.
Noting that members of Cabinet supported the move, Mr. Abrahams revealed that the Ministers had challenged the Postal Service and the Immigration Department to remove all the unnecessary processes and to make both departments as efficient as possible. “It shows what can be done if everybody agrees on a course of action, buys into it, sees the benefit and is committed to following through,” he said, adding there are other opportunities for collaboration between the two entities.
Acting Postmaster General, Valeta Best, in her remarks noted that the Postal Service was prepared to work with both public and private entities to offer safe, efficient and reliable courier services from among the whole suite that her department provides.
“We stand ready to help Immigration and any department of Government to deliver the kind of service they want. We know Barbados best and we will deliver for you,” she emphasised.
Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Margaret Inniss, who initialled the agreement on behalf of her agency, described the new service as “a global approach to service delivery”.
“It shows that departments and Ministries can come together in a time of a pandemic and deliver a cutting edge service,” she stated.
Ms. Inniss also emphasised the safety and security of the system, and cautioned customers that passports would only be delivered to the applicant upon presentation of a valid Barbados Identification Card or Driver’s Licence to personnel from the Post Express Couriers. She added that under no circumstances will passports be given to a third party, and after two unsuccessful attempts to deliver the passport, the undelivered package will be returned to the Immigration Department for the customer to collect.
Following the signing of the agreement, Minister Abrahams and other officials proceeded to the workplace of the first person to benefit from the new service, Kerry Ward, where they witnessed the delivery of her passport by a Post Express courier of the Barbados Postal Service.