Barbados moves to strengthen border security with new passenger screening law
Key Points(5)
- Barbados is moving to strengthen border security by giving immigration authorities greater access to passenger information before travellers arrive, under new legislation aimed at detecting security and criminal threats.
- The Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill , introduced in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, would establish a system for collecting, processing, storing and sharing passenger data for people entering or leaving Barbados by air or sea.
- Home Affairs Minister Gregory Nicholls said the legislation would shift Barbados from a largely reactive border security system to one that identifies potential threats before travellers reach the country.
- The system is intended to help authorities detect suspicious travel patterns and identify people who may pose risks linked to terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking, narcotics, firearms and fraudulent travel documents.
- Nicholls said the legislation would also strengthen cooperation with CARICOM and international partners in addressing increasingly transnational criminal activity.
Barbados is moving to strengthen border security by giving immigration authorities greater access to passenger information before travellers arrive, under new legislation aimed at detecting security and criminal threats.
The Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill, introduced in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, would establish a system for collecting, processing, storing and sharing passenger data for people entering or leaving Barbados by air or sea.
Home Affairs Minister Gregory Nicholls said the legislation would shift Barbados from a largely reactive border security system to one that identifies potential threats before travellers reach the country.
The system is intended to help authorities detect suspicious travel patterns and identify people who may pose risks linked to terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking, narcotics, firearms and fraudulent travel documents.
Nicholls said the legislation would also strengthen cooperation with CARICOM and international partners in addressing increasingly transnational criminal activity.
The bill includes safeguards aimed at protecting passengers’ privacy and preventing discrimination. Screening cannot be based on race, ethnic origin, religion, political opinions, health, sexual orientation or other protected characteristics.
Automated screening results would also require review by a human officer before authorities take action against a passenger or crew member.
Passenger data would be subject to retention limits, with Passenger Name Record information depersonalized after six months. Data would generally be retained for seven years before being deleted, unless it is connected to an active investigation, threat or prosecution.
Travellers would have the right to access their information, request corrections and file complaints with a designated data protection officer.
Nicholls said the legislation is not intended to create a “Big Brother” system but to provide authorities with stronger tools to manage modern border threats while protecting individual rights.
“This is not intended to be an immigration bill,” he said, describing it instead as a national security and border management measure designed to strengthen the integrity of Barbados’ immigration system while allowing lawful travel to continue efficiently.
The bill also establishes penalties for violations, with individuals given an opportunity to respond before penalties are imposed and the right to appeal decisions to the High Court.
