During the budget debate on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Steadroy Cutie Benjamin outlined plans to enhance the welcome experience for visitors arriving in Antigua.
He expressed a commitment to working collaboratively with other ministers.
“I want to hold the hand of my member for St. John North when you speak about kiosks. We, the immigration, work with you to make certain that when you arrive in Antigua, transiting immigration and customs will be something that is seamless. We are working towards that, my dear friend, so very shortly,” Minister Benjamin assured.
The minister stressed the government’s dedication to improving the ease of doing business and making the overall experience more pleasant for individuals arriving and departing.
He shared that the Prime Minister from St. John City West emphasized the duty to make life better and easier for everyone.
“Listen, our duty is to make life better, to make it easier for all persons coming and leaving to feel welcomed,” Minister Benjamin emphasized during the session.
He acknowledged the importance of addressing the conduct of some immigration officers, highlighting that visitors should feel welcomed and not encounter situations that make them feel unwelcome.
The minister expressed concern for individuals who are hesitant to go through immigration processes and promised a change.
“There are some people, you know, who are horrified to go to immigration. All that is going to stop because you’re going to be evaluated to make certain that you treat all visitors to this country with the kind of smile that comes from all of us here – the type of love that we all demonstrate. This must be reflected also by our immigration officers,” he declared.
Minister Benjamin assured that steps would be taken to evaluate and improve the conduct of immigration officers, ensuring that visitors receive the warmth and hospitality that Antigua is known for.
As part of the Ministry of Legal Affairs’ agenda, Minister Benjamin outlined upcoming initiatives aimed at further enhancing the visitor experience, making Antigua a more welcoming destination for tourists and business travelers alike. T
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Who greet me with a smile when I go to Anguilla, St.Marten, St..Lucia, Barbados? or any other country for that matter. Chupez
I would rather be greeted by a GENUINE smile than a RICTUS one … Gassssston is king of FAKE smiles 🤤
Greet visitors with a smile and remain as grump as hell to locals as if dem bex you min goo way.
Forget about the smile .. just tell them not to be rude …and this you should be applied to “ALL” of the ministries.. …
” Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients” ….RICHARD BRANSON.
Can you imagine an immigration officer not only underpaid but paid late every month being ask to smile…really? The minister can smile because he is overpaid and underworked. I am asking the government to follow the advice of the great SIR RICHARD BRANSON
Professional behavior must start from the top, and should not only be where visitors is concerned, we have a city where we are over populated with vagrants and mentally challenged individuals on the streets, I haven’t heard anything regards to this problem In St. John’s , yet we have caring people that lead without a heart and compassion , don’t just address the problem with trying to make visitors happy, start from your own and everything will fall in place easier. Charity begins at home, respect your people , respect everyone !
I am a little embarrassed to say this but we often hear traveller’s to Antigua especially those from certain Caricom countries speak about our immigration officers and how they are “rude and nasty.” I have personally witnessed some not too pleasant situations with immigration officers and incoming passengers.
If we are to grow our tourism product we have to ensure that those persons working on the front lines are courteous, friendly and welcoming. Sadly our immigration officers are not mostly known for this.
I have traveled extensively all over the world including to all the Caricom countries and the immigration and custom officers was nothing but kind, friendly and courteous. We still have much work to do here in Antigua.
Stupez. So because a person jump in a well, must you do so too? If the ministers are trying to make ANU a better place for for welcoming visitors then let them be. And go sit down somewhere in the back🤔
Well said Audley
How about if Cutie supply the department with proper stamps. The stamps are deplorable and embarrassing to Antigua.
Having extensive, first hand experience and training in customer service,the way to put a smile on an employee’s face is to ensure they are happy with the working environment, adequate living wages/ salaries and feeling ownership in the business/job. You have to take care of people and they will take care of you. The employer must listen to the concerns of the employees.
With that said, periodic monitoring of performance is indispensable to maintain proper standards compliance.
What the hell does Shamu Benjamin know about customer service? Competent people must be employed to supervise, independent of clowns like Steadroy Benjamin who just has a history of piss poor performance in whatever ministry he is assigned.
How about they STOP asking dumb ass questions WHAT GIFTS YOU HAVE / BRINGING….
How about saying hi 1st
How about ANTIGUA STIP USING IMMIGRATION FORM
How about STOP searching ppl well organized bags and use scanners to see what you trying to see?
When I come in …I go local line and I MUST SAY EVERYTIME I WAS PLEASANTLY GREETED it’s the custom officers who do the most when checking your bags before saying GO AHEAD
How about Cutie stop putting the immigrants over the actual officers. How about ministers stop intervening when officers do their job and deny persons who broke the law. How about cutie stop intervening?????? Everytime an officer does their job, here comes the minister overriding it….. STOP LETTING THE OFFICERS FEEL LIKE SHIT. Stop scolding the officers for doing their Job. Equip the officer with the recourse to work cutie . Signed a fustrated senior immigration officer…
And what about letting people greet the visitors into the arrival area, instead of outside, with the police officer known has “Stick man” treating people like animals!!!
Good. Hopefully they stick to it and stop only being friendly with white tourists! Everyone is here to enjoy the island and should be treated as such regardless of what ‘status’ you feel they may have.
Infact this should be extended to the WHOLE tourism industry!
Take a page from APUA. Don’t know if it’s just me but despite all the challenges faced with actually providing the utilities (especially the wettest one) the APUA customer service and staff are very courteous
Totally agree @ My 2c
How about you improve the work environment and stop having the ppl.dem working 4 different shifts in one week.
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