Ports
as e e it at e d d us n
e of rof e m, er vy s o as o
n e ts of n it
o longer provisions in place for passport renewals, as one has to apply for a completely new passport on the expiry of the old one, few seemed to be aware of this fact. The word “renewing” was thrown around quite frequently, even by the immigration officers, perhaps because it is a term many are familiar with when it comes to the passport application process.
“The service needs to be better, people now renewing and applying should be in different lines instead of this jumble,” a Bent Street resident had commented.
Another man said he was told that regardless of the nature of the transaction, they were “all applications.”
One woman seemed appalled that the fees for the two transactions were the same.
No place for senior citizens
It was close to 08:00hrs on July 12 and near the front of the line to the shed stood an elderly man. He too was there to ‘renew’ his passport. Although it does not expire until September, at least six months’ validity is needed for travel.
His number was 292. In obvious frustration, he stated that there was “no system” and that “people doing a lot of crap,” pointing out that there were no provisions for senior citizens. He, too, had been forced to run for shelter when it began to rain.
This man was 70 years old, and had arrived there around 05:30 hrs after traveling from Mon Repos. He informed that he had met a man who boasted of being first in line, having arrived since 23:00 hrs on July 11.