Work permit cards to help speed people through the airport

FRIDAY, APRIL 20 UPDATE: A new Fast Pass Card to help guest workers clear customs quickly and efficiently has been unveiled by government.

The Association of Bermuda International Companies has hailed the move.

The credit card sized pass will replace the old paper work permits, but contain all the same information.

The cards will begin to be issued from May 1.

A pilot group of workers with periodic limits like business consultants, who make working visits for a few days or weeks at a time, will be the first to be provided with the new cards.

National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief said that the majority of paper work permits would move to Fast Pass Cards.

But he did not specify within what period of time that would happen.

He said: “This credit-card sized option is a durable, user-friendly alternative to the paper permit.

“The card is machine-readable and stores all information necessary for border control purposes at Bermuda’s points of entry.

“Card holders can pack away their passports once on the plane and simply present their Fast Pass card on arrival at LF Wade International Airport.

Competitive

The National Security Minister added: “The cards will be produced in Bermuda and costs will be minimal.

“This is intended to keep Bermuda competitive and promote economic growth.”

The Corporate Services section, which is responsible for work permits, deals with 6,043 standard one to five year work permits.

There were a further 5,210 temporary three-month and periodic work permits processed in 2011.

Patrice Minors, Economy Minister, said: “We see this as a great benefit for those guest workers in our community who possess work permits, particularly our friends and partners in the international business sector.

“We certainly applaud the introduction of the Fast Pass Card as being a hassle-free and convenient way for our guest workers to enter in and out of the island.

“We view this initiative as yet another demonstration of this Government’s commitment to foster a more harmonious and efficient relationship with our business partners and our guest workers in all areas of our economic sphere.”

George Hutchings, chairman of the Association of Bermuda International Companies, welcomed the move.

He said: “The card will provide our members with an easy alternative for quicker processing through immigration at the airport as well as eliminating the need to preserve a paper document.

Excellent

“We look forward to the Ministries extending this user friendly tool to not only all work permit holders but also to spouses of work permit holders, spouses of Bermudians and/or any other person who has a close connection to Bermudians or work permit holders and requires documentary evidence of that connection. This is an excellent example of a welcome change that will make the island more business friendly, efficient and reduce bureaucracy.” n

THURSDAY, APRIL 19: The Bermuda Employers' Council (BEC) joins with ABIC to support the pilot test for new periodic work permit security cards and aeroport system which may be extended to additional persons.

It is another important development in building an improved, friendlier operating environment for International Business.

BEC members in a recent survey stated that one of the top priorities of Government should be to cultivate a friendlier business environment in order to attract International Business and to keep business in the Island. Every positive effort will help the Island compete internationally.