Cole Bay:--- Workers handling the BTA extension process and security guards at the Salvation Army building in Cole Bay saw quite a number of people who were seeking information and the necessary application forms to extend their Brooks Tower Permits on Monday. While the forms are being distributed at the Naturalization and Immigration Building on AT Illidge Road and the Philipsburg Police Station as well as at the Salvation Army Building the BTA project coordinator Tiara Hasselhoef said that they need to be careful with the distribution of the forms so that no one gets the opportunity to exploit the applicants. Hasselhoef said the forms can also be downloaded on the Brooks Tower Website.Hasselhoef in an interview with SMN News said that this week the team of workers handling the BTA extension process would have to spend more time giving out information to the persons that has to renew their permits. Hasselhoef further explained that the applicants should to stick to the requirements to renew their permits and no one should not take the extra time to look for additional and unnecessary documents, Hasselhoef warned applicants to make sure they walk with a valid and authentic passport since they would not be accepting anyone's file if they do not have their passport. "There is no need to walk with the old passports because the BTA team is not checking stamps. All we need the last and valid passport that the applicants have in their possession."She said every person who is given a number must see the Marechaussee and the police that are inside the building with them to verify their passports before they are allowed to submit their extension application.
This week the BTA team will be processing the Category 1 (A) persons who are working for an employer. Those persons are required to have the declaration forms which must be filled out by the employer before going to the Salvation Army Building to submit their extension request. Person's who fall under Category 1(B) and are self employed has to also pick up the necessary forms to go to the Chamber of Commerce to register as a Sole Proprietorship prior to submitting their application.Up to late Monday the BTA team only completed 6 of files which will be renewed Hasselhoef said.
Hasselhoef said on Monday they took a number of the people who showed up at the Salvation Army and informed them how to get the necessary forms and the lists of other documents that is needed for the extension.
