Prime Minister Lester Bird said to the Antigua Sun that there will be changes immediately in the passport office in relation to personnel, systems and training.
“While the interim report has concluded that there is no evidence of any criminal collusion with anyone in the passport office, it has decided that there was negligence in the issuance of the passport.
“I intend to act immediately to implement the task force’s recommendation that the examination and vetting of applications and supporting documents are done by staff who are trained to detect forgeries and false documents,” the Prime Minister said.
“The issuance of passports is a serious matter, it provides the bearer with the protection of the state of Antigua & Barbuda and is a testimonial to other states that the bona fides of the passport holder are true and accurate,” the PM added.
“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that all who carry our passports are entitled to do so. I want every national of this country, and every state in which an Antigua & Barbuda passport is presented, to be assured of the legitimacy of our documents,” he said.
Bird revealed that apart from the serious matter of the passport, he was also deeply troubled that the task force had reported other documents it obtained gave rise to concern regarding John Allen Williams’ activities while he was in the country.
“As a nation, we must no longer assume that we are immune from criminal acts that we see in other parts of the world. There is clearly a need to bolster security measures here and elsewhere in our region,”Prime Minister Bird said.
“I will also be taking up this matter in the National Security Council here and with my colleague heads of government in the Caribbean,” the PM said.
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Source: Antigua Sun 11.04.02
