The St. Kitts and Nevis government has passed legislation to put in place the Advance Information Bill 2017 to facilitate the provision of advance information relating to passengers and crew members of an aircraft or vessel to share information with other states.
The information will identify persons who may be risks to security and safety.
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris said the sharing of advance information which came into being in 2006, has now become an international best standard practice in relation to travel, and more and more countries have become involved with the provision of advance passenger information to ensure the safety of receiving member states.
He noted that in 2014 the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) became a United Nations (UN) member state requirement when “Resolution 2178 was adopted by the United Nations Security Council.”
The Advance Passenger Information System is an electronic data interchange system which provides identification details from passport and basic flight information and commercial and other carriers and vessels in advance to the destination or country and whether there is a risk to their national security.
The APIS was established by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) The system enhances border security by providing officers with pre-arrival and departure manifest data on all passengers and crew members.
