The Opposition JLP has called on Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller to reconsider the impending hike in passport application fees.

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller

The increase in fees is to take effect next Tuesday.

The opposition is also calling for an increase in the quota limit imposed by The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), for the number of applications processed each day.

This, after hundreds of people have been turning up at PICA offices island-wide, since the start of this week, in a bid to get their applications processed ahead of the fee hike.

In an open letter to Mrs Portia Simpson-Miller, copied to the media yesterday, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness said the current situation, in respect of the recent increases in passport fees and the setting of a quota, is burdensome and inconvenient on the average citizen.

Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness

Mr Holness says The Opposition finds the situation troubling, citing calls to his office from concerned citizens, who raised objections to the new arrangement.

Meanwhile, Deputy Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Pearnel Charles Jr, says the rush on PICA’s offices yesterday in Kingston, caused the quota limit to be reached early.

He says this also left several people unable to be get their passport applications processed and may have resulted from persons being unable to access PICA offices in rural areas.

This as the rural pica offices were reportedly closed yesterday.

Mr Charles says the government should reconsider the current quota.