The Advance Passenger Information System, more affectionately known as APIS looks set to bottom out in Antigua, one of the only islands that had attempted to introduce the system in the first place.
Sources close to government have indicated that this hugely unpopular and impractical piece of officialdom is being “suspended until further notice”. The legislation requiring yachts to submit, via internet, their arrival details prior to reaching their destination is part of a Caricom endeavor to track movement between the member islands. Originally introducted for anti-terrorist measures during the World Cup Cricket event earlier this year. Although aircraft submit flight plans, the same procedure for yachts is just not feasible – as mentioned in previous articles, a yacht leaving the Canary Islands cannot possibly state what time it will arrive at its destination. There is always an element of doubt as to which day they will arrive, let alone which hour, and unforeseen weather or other circumstances may dictate an entirely different destination that first assumed.
Like many islands in the Caribbean, Antigua relies heavily on the marine industry, from mega yachts to homely cruisers, and with last season’s changes in taxation laws and customs clearance procedures, the potential impact of further inhospitable bureaucracy was intensely worrying.
The Antigua Barbuda Marine Association (ABMA), working alongside marine associations throughout the islands, have been in discussion with government ministers and immigration officials to try to resolve this issue. The news, therefore, that APIS is to be suspended shows just how much the government of Antigua and Barbuda support the marine industry. In fact the Ministry of Tourism is going one step further by employing Hospitality Officers for the yachting sector to meet and greet visitors, and assist with immigration and customs clearance.
As whole fleets of yachts lie ready to travel thousands of nautical miles to the Caribbean, Antigua can heave a huge sigh of relief that it will yet again be welcoming old friends and new arrivals with open arms.