Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2003 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Author: Warren Hoge, NYT BRITAIN: VISAS NOW REQUIRED FOR JAMAICANS The government announced that Jamaicans must now obtain visas to enter the country, saying that of those who entered as vistors, an unacceptably high number - 150 a month - failed to leave as required after six months. The measure was part of a tough new immigration policy that denies support to asylum seekers within Britain who cannot explain how they entered the country. Jamaica is a particular concern to British officials, who estimate that 10 percent of travelers from there are "mules" used by smugglers to ferry cocaine into the country. Jamaican officers have been stationed at airports there and at Heathrow outside London to try to screen out drug couriers. Warren Hoge (NYT) - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D