The government of Jamaica says they are ending all visa-free transit for Cubans. As it stands, nationals are allowed to transit through Jamaica for up to three days.

The Ministry of National Security said that the allowance will be discontinued effective March 13 and all other visa requirements for Cubans entering Jamaica remain the same.

The Ministry did not explain the reason for the move.

Last November, The Gleaner newspaper in Jamaica reported that the Government was seeking to curb an influx of Cubans who appear to be using Jamaica as a transit point to Central America in an attempt to illegally gain entry into the United States

At that time, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang said that he was aware of the Cuban matter.

“There is concern that a number of them are using that facility to transit to Nicaragua and then on to the United States through the southern border. We are aware of the challenge, and we’re looking at how that problem can be corrected,” he added.