20 new immigration kiosks installed at Sangster airport

Effective December 14, visitors coming into the island via the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James will experience a significant reduction in the waiting time at immigrations check points.

This as the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency(PICA) will be installing 20 state-of-the-art kiosks at the airport to boost efficiency and reduce waiting time at the immigration posts.

The new equipment will bring to 30 the number of immigration kiosks that will be in operation at the airport for the start of the upcoming winter tourist season, which begins on December 15.

The existing 10 kiosks are currently being retrofitted with state of the art software to bring them in line with the new ones.

Speaking following an examination and familiarisation tour of the equipment on Friday Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang lauded PICA for the initiative and recommended that the agency embarks on a publicity campaign to inform visitors of the availability of the additional kiosks.

Chang disclosed that approximately 40 immigration officers will be assigned to man the kiosks.

He said that it is unacceptable for the over three hundred thousand visitors who are expected to travel through the Sangster airport this winter season to be queuing up in long lines all because of the slow pace at the immigration checking counters.

“When a passenger comes off the plane it takes them at least an hour to clear customs and to add to their grief, they have to be queuing up in these long lines which only create chaos and confusion and I definitely don’t want the halls of the airport to be congested”, Chang argued.

“The process must be much smoother and better managed and as the country’s Minister of National Security with responsibility for PICA, I will ensure that these long waiting time at the immigration checkpoints become a thing of the past.”

Chang explained that visitors who will be using the Advance Passenger Information System-APIS will be allowed to fill out their customs form after they enter through the kiosks.

“Most of the tourists coming to Jamaica are from North America which means that they are APIS compliant which means they don’t need a visa to come here. So this new system would guarantee them a seamless transition for the plane through the halls of the airport to their taxi”, the security minister said.

Additionally, Chang said he will be speaking with the police high command in St James to see if additional police personnel can be made available to assist with traffic management and other operational functions at the airport during the winter season.

When the new kiosks are installed passengers will be asked to place their immigration cards inside the machine and once the machine gives them a green light they are allowed to go straight to customs and clear their luggage.

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