ST JOHN’S, Antigua -  In an effort to cut the cost associated with the issuance of letters to members of the public, the Ministry of Edcuation has instituted a $20 fee for persons wishing to obtain immigration letters and other letters issued by the ministry.

The fee system, the first to be undertaken by the ministry, takes effect today.

Communications Officer within the ministry, Phil George, told OBSERVER Media that previously the lettters were granted free of cost once the individual/individuals would have fullfilled certain requirements.

He said due to financial constraints this practice has to be discontinued.

“Due to the economic sititiuation in the country and the fact that monies are just simply hard to come by, the ministry has taken a descision that (for all letters) requested by members of the public there will be a $20 fee attached to that request.”

With immediate effect, parents applying for immigration letters for their child/children will also be required to present the students’ passports, which will be kept for a short period for verification purposes, before the letter is issued.

George said this would in no way impede the application process at the Immigration department.

He said the verification process would take only a day or two.

“That verification period, where the director will verify, that time would only take a day or two the individual would then be told to come back for the letter and the passport on the same day,” George added.