Its time we pull out of the commonwealth too!

[Willi]

These fees are unconscionable!!!!! Outrageous


United Kingdom visa fees on the move
Published: Saturday | July 4, 2009


The United Kingdom has increased the fees to enter the region for Jamaicans effective July 6.
The British High Commission, in a release, reminded Jamaicans that payments were to be made at the Worldbridge Visa Application Centre, 34 Trafalgar Road, at the time of application by cash or bank draft only.

The draft, the release said, must be for the exact amount, in Jamaican dollars, made payable to the "British High Commis-sion, Kingston". Personal cheques or credit cards are not acceptable and visa fees are non-refundable.

Category

J$
Handling fee for Commonwealth and Overseas Territories applications

$5,700
Forwarding fee for Commonwealth and Overseas Territories

$10,100
Direct airside transit

$7,400Visitors in transit join ship or aircraft$7,400Visit - single and multiple visits up to 6 months$10,700Visit - long-term multiple visits, 5 years$64,000Visit - long-term multiple visits, 10 years$80,000PBS Tier 1 General, investor and entrepreneur$108,000PBS Tier 1 Transitional$40,000PBS Tier 1 Post-study applicant$42,400PBS Tier 2 Skilled Worker$42,400Visit - longer-term multiple visits valid for 1 or 2 years$34,400Visa for other purpose, including employment$34,400Certificate of entitlement to right of abode$34,400PBS Tier 4 student and child student$23,200PBS Tier 5 temporary worker and $23,200Youth Mobility Scheme$20,000
Permit-free visas for entertainers,

voluntary workers and sports persons

$20,000Settlement; marriage (fiancé(e)$93,600Vignette transfer$12,000
Consular rate of exchange: £1 = J$160

[Willi]

More from a bredrin in the UK:

Guys

I am not sure if you have seen this documentary. It’s a series being run on ITV prime time television here in the UK by Sir Trevor McDonald (former ITV newscaster).

Now, what has irked me, is that the Jamaican government allowed him access to the island, and the only places of interest to him was Coronation Market, Nannyville , Fort Augustus prison and a run down coffee farm in Blue Mountain. He emphasized that Jamaica is the drug capital of the Caribbean and has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

However, when he arrived at Barbados , he showed the lovely Sandy Lane Hotel , and a white Barbadian millionaire called Sir Charles and portrayed Barbados as a paradise.

Now, I have no idea what Sir Trevor McDonald motive is for doing this documentary series, but once again the Jamaican govt. has allowed foreign journalist to walk into Jamaica and portray a totally negative picture of the island to the world.

It’s also interesting that Sir Trevor hasn’t visited his place of birth, which is Trinidad , which has a very high crime rate, a serious drug problem, racial problem, and has on record an attempted coup to there name.

Our sleeping politicians need to wake up.


http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/thesecr...d/default.html

[Gamma]

nutten new...they sent michel foote to the overseas territories to review the viabiklity of the offshore territories, particularly the offshore jurisdictions...why? to see what impact would be on the uk if the so called IFC's were to be closed.

[Historian]

Jamaica's Response

More from a bredrin in the UK:

Guys

I am not sure if you have seen this documentary. It’s a series being run on ITV prime time television here in the UK by Sir Trevor McDonald (former ITV newscaster).

Now, what has irked me, is that the Jamaican government allowed him access to the island, and the only places of interest to him was Coronation Market, Nannyville , Fort Augustus prison and a run down coffee farm in Blue Mountain. He emphasized that Jamaica is the drug capital of the Caribbean and has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

Caribbean strikes back at UK portrayal of Jamaica
Published: Tuesday | July 7, 2009
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer



Mcdonald

WESTERN BUREAU:

Trinidad-born journalist Sir Trevor McDonald's three-part television series portraying Jamaica as a poverty-stricken country blighted by violence and drugs has come under heavy condemnation from the Ministry of Tourism and the Caribbean diaspora in the United Kingdom.

The production, tagged Secrets of the Caribbean, which was aired on British television channel ITV on Sunday night, describes Jamaica as the most vibrant country in the Caribbean, but also the most violent island in the whole region.

"It has a dark side, and I arrived at the Kingston airport full of anticipation, but also trepidation as to what I would discover," said the broadcaster, whose programme could have a devastating effect on the island's lifeblood industry, tourism.

Outraged
Since its airing to millions of homes in the UK, the Caribbean diaspora has been outraged by the overly negative portrayal of Jamaica, including statistics on the unemployment rate in the capital city, Kingston.

Shocked by McDonald's depiction of a people dependent on tourism, Jamaica's tourism ministry responded that it was appalled that a Caribbean national could do such a derogatory piece about one of the countries of the region.

No local interviews
The series featured Cuba, Barbados, The Bahamas and Jamaica with McDonald speaking glowingly, except when it came to Jamaica.

He spoke of a Jamaica that has regions of extreme affluence, "Like the Beverly Hills district with its luxurious mansions, but in the valleys, life is very different. Debts run up in the 1990s have spiralled out of control and the country is in economic ruin. Many areas have been plunged into poverty and are run by dangerous gangs, resulting in a soaring murder rate which is 30 times higher than it is in Britain."

Berl Francis, the ministry's director of communications, expressed dis-appointment at the portrayal.

"He never attempted to speak to the ministry, and offers of assistance were turned down. Moreover, he speaks of social conditions which are prevalent throughout the region," said Francis, who noted that the matter was first brought to the ministry's attention earlier this year by Jamaica's public relations agency in the UK, McCluskey International.

"They have been working with ITV in an effort to manage this project. We were advised that ITV worked with Sarah Manley as their local production company for logistics, etc," said the communications director.

Describing the programme as a clear sign of colonial conditioning of "divide and conquer", Diane Flemming, a national of St Kitts and Nevis, in a letter to the Jamaica Tourist Board's visitjamaica website, said she was gutted by the portrayal of Jamaica.

Divide and conquer
"How such a professional, celebrated journalist could present such a biased, unbalanced view of Jamaica while pitting it against the perception of idyllic utopia of wealth and luxury of The Bahamas and Barbados, as if no crime, and/or poverty driven activities exist there, were clear signs of our colonial conditioning of divide and conquer," she said.

Another concerned member of the diaspora, Chantal Miller, said after looking forward to the hotly anticipated programme for weeks, she was utterly disappointed at what was aired.

"Have I somehow misunderstood the purpose of the programme or perhaps the word secret has misled me ?" she asked.

"The Caribbean is so much more than sun, sand and sea and Jamaica is certainly more than a haven for drug pushers/con artists and gang warfare," she noted, adding that McDonald and ITV had succeeded in letting her down and, most important, the Caribbean.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com


'He never attempted to speak to the ministry, and offers of assistance were turned down. Moreover, he speaks of social conditions which are prevalent throughout the region.'

Berl Francis
Director of communications Ministry of Tourism