​

By Aaabigayle McIntosh

The government is actively considering implementing a temporary solution to address congestion issues in the arrivals lounge at VC Bird International Airport, particularly on weekends when multiple large international flights land close to each other.

Cabinet members received a report from technicians representing the (Immigration Department) and the  Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, along with officials from (ZEN), a technology company interested in providing a solution to reduce passenger wait times.

Currently, passengers arriving in Antigua and Barbuda must complete an E/D Card upon arrival, which is then processed by Immigration Officers.

The proposed system from ZEN would allow passengers to input their information up to 48 hours before arrival, streamlining the process and reducing wait times at Immigration.

Under this system, passengers would simply swipe their passports, undergo a camera check, and proceed to Customs.

Cabinet members discussed the cost and security implications of the proposed solution but made no decisions.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas clarified that while this could serve as a temporary fix, a more permanent solution is being sought from Canadian Bank Notes (CBN), the company responsible for supplying machine-readable passports.

The permanent solution from CBN is expected to include kiosks and electronic gates at the airport, further reducing waiting times.