More than 37,000 visas have been issued to persons who now enjoy the privilege of relatively hassle free travel throughout the CARICOM Single Domestic Space. As of April 15, 37,664 persons had received their visas. Recipients of the visa are entitled to move freely through the 10 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries comprising the Single Domestic Space which was established to facilitate visitors for Cricket World Cup 2007. Air and sea passengers travelling between Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago now do so with minimal delays at the immigration counter. The measure remains in place until May 15, 2007. Stringent screening procedures have ensured that only valid, thoroughly-screened applicants receive visas. As a consequence, 732 applications have so far been denied. According to Chairman of the CARICOM Security Sub-Committee and Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, the CARICOM Visa has been one of the key measures put in place to ensure a safety and secure environment during CWC 2007. The measure is working in concert with an Advance Passenger Information System which has helped in the close monitoring of visitor movements into and within the region. With heightened interest in the closing phases of CWC 2007, CARICOM diplomatic missions have been mobilised to respond promptly to visa applications and the Help Desk at the Port of Spain-based CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) remains open on a 24/7 basis. “The CARICOM visa has been an effective mechanism that has played a great role in helping us feel more at ease while the world not only looks on at us but, indeed, is with us to share the World Cup moments,” Minister Mottley said. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com