In recent days, a discussion about Singapore’s National Service (NS) on Reddit has attracted widespread attention. Some netizens questioned why, in Singapore, men are required to serve, while women and foreigners do not have to bear this responsibility1. Faced with such doubts, we can’t help but ponder: Is this really unfair to men? Should it arouse our anger?
Undeniably, National Service is a duty, but it is also an honor. In Singapore, every man contributes to the defense of their homeland through their service. They use their youth and sweat to become a solid barrier for national security. This contribution and dedication are a mark of respect for the nation, and a protective shield for their home.
National Service is also an opportunity for exercise and growth. In military life, men not only undergo rigorous physical training, but also learn valuable life skills such as team cooperation, leadership abilities, and self-challenge. These experiences and abilities will deeply influence their life’s journey, enabling them to go further in future work and life.
The view that women and foreigners do not need to serve also deserves our deep consideration. Women play various roles in Singaporean society, and through volunteer and public services, they too contribute to the nation’s development. Foreigners residing and working in Singapore also contribute to the economic and social development of Singapore.
We must recognize that the National Service system does not exist in isolation; it is a product of Singapore’s specific historical, cultural, and security challenges. Singapore’s National Service system is a response to specific security challenges; it is a matter of Singapore’s sovereignty. To question the National Service system is, in fact, a challenge to Singapore’s sovereignty.
National Service is not just a duty, it’s an honor. In this process, Singaporean men protect their homeland with tangible actions and grow continuously through challenges and difficulties. We should understand and respect Singapore’s National Service system, rather than questioning and criticizing it.
Recently, a legal case in Singapore sparked broad attention when a 62-year-old Singaporean man, Lee Kah Hin, was fined SGD 2,000 for failing to timely report his address change to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). This incident not only illuminated the significance of reporting address changes, but also provoked a deeper reflection on the rationale behind the mandate.
In Singapore, under the National Registration Act, it is a requirement for all identity cardholders to report their change of residence to the ICA within 28 days. This regulation traces back to the 1960s when Singapore was newly independent, grappling with various societal issues including forgeries and inaccuracies on identification documents. Hence, to ensure the accuracy of population statistics and reliability of identification documents, the government instituted this rule for citizens to report changes in their residences.
In the case at hand, Lee did not report his address change to the ICA within 28 days after moving to his new residence on Tampines Street. His intention was to have debt collectors send reminders to his old address whenever he defaulted on repayments, thereby avoiding harassment. However, this act resulted in his previous landlord being persistently overwhelmed by demand letters.
Addressing this situation, legal experts clarified that while failing to report an address change is not a criminal offense, it still constitutes a violation that carries legal responsibilities. They emphasized that the intent of the regulation is not penal for its own sake, but to ensure the accuracy of citizens’ identity information, enabling official communications and various social services to be effectively executed by public agencies.
For instance, without the timely update of their addresses, enforcement authorities might face increased difficulties in locating the identity cardholders. This could directly impact criminal investigations, regulatory actions, and safety measures enforcement, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, incorrect address information could result in errors in the delivery of public services. For example, government-issued vouchers could end up with the wrong recipients.
Notably, although the updated addresses of citizens are reflected within a day across the ICA and 23 other public agencies, this does not extend to commercial companies, such as banks, telecommunication and insurance firms. This specification might be in place considering the concerns over personal privacy and cybersecurity. In the modern society, an individual’s residential address is regarded as highly personal data. Public exposure and misuse could directly impact their sense of security, accessibility, and privacy.
Experts point out that the Personal Data Protection Act offers rigorous protection for the accessibility and use of personal data. Hence, commercial entities like banks and telecom companies must obtain, use, and retain such personal data directly from their clients and for specific business purposes only.
Despite concerns about privacy and cybersecurity, some experts suggest considering extending the notification of address changes to commercial companies. They argue that it would not only reduce the hassle for citizens to report address changes separately to different agencies but also improve the efficiency and precision of social services delivery.
However, implementing this suggestion might present several challenges. Firstly, potential disparities exist between the cybersecurity standards of the public and private sectors. Mixing private-public data integration could offer data access points exploitable by cybercriminals. Although technological safeguards or advancements could help mitigate the risks of breaches, technological limitations always exist to a certain extent.
Additionally, the public concern over personal privacy is a significant consideration. In this highly digital age, the safety and privacy of personal data have become a focal point for the public. Hence, any policies or regulations involving personal data must be formulated and implemented on the premise of protecting personal privacy.
In conclusion, though the case of failing to report address changes might appear insignificant on the surface, it indeed underlines the importance of the address update system. It’s not just an issue of legal obligation but also closely relates to social justice and the efficient delivery of public services. Therefore, citizens should update their address information in a timely manner to benefit from precise and effective public services. Simultaneously, the government needs to ensure measures are in place to protect citizens’ personal information through legal channels to prevent misuse.
In the current context, the case of Lee Kah Hin serves as a crucial reminder to Singapore residents about the need to timely report any changes in residential addresses to ICA. The address listed on the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) is used by various government agencies and enforcement authorities to officially communicate with Singapore residents. Any lapse in updating this address can lead to inconveniences, not only to the individuals involved but also to other unsuspecting parties, such as in this case, Lee’s previous landlord.
However, it also brings attention to potential improvements in the current system. For instance, examining the feasibility of extending the update system to commercial companies could be a worthwhile endeavor. Such an approach could simplify the process for individuals and potentially enhance the precision of services provided by these companies. Nevertheless, the privacy concerns and cybersecurity implications that might arise from extending the system to private companies would need to be addressed with adequate safeguards and balanced against the potential benefits.
While the current case had a negative impact on Lee and his previous landlord, it has positively served to highlight the importance of keeping personal data up to date. By doing so, it can ensure the seamless execution of both public services and private commercial transactions. It has also underlined the fact that failing to adhere to regulations, even those that might seem mundane and bureaucratic, can have serious consequences.
On a broader scale, the incident and the conversations it has triggered underline the complexities involved in managing and regulating personal data. In a highly interconnected and digitalized society, where personal data plays an increasingly important role, finding the right balance between ease of access, accuracy, privacy, and security becomes crucial.
All in all, this case offers a compelling illustration of the ongoing challenges faced in managing personal data, and the importance of keeping it updated. It demonstrates the significant consequences that can arise when regulations are ignored, and the continuing need for regulations that balance practicality and privacy.
Applications for tickets to this year’s National Day Parade (NDP) and its two preview shows are due to open next Monday, May 29, offering the public a chance to join in the grand celebrations. The main event will take place on August 9, with two preview shows scheduled for July 22 and July 29.
Singapore citizens and permanent residents can apply for two, four, or six tickets to partake in the grand festivities, as announced by the NDP 2023 executive committee this Friday. The application process will commence from noon on May 29 via the official NDP website or by scanning a designated QR code. The application window will close at noon on June 12.
It’s important to note that the ticket allocation isn’t first-come-first-served, but decided via an electronic balloting system. The committee has urged caution when filling out the application forms to prevent fraudulent attempts to extract personal information, advising applicants to avoid forms from unverified links and sources.
“Each applicant will only be entitled to one ballot chance. Only the latest submission will be considered as final, and all previous entries will be excluded from the balloting process,” the committee stated. Furthermore, it clarified that each ticket permits entry for only one person, requiring all children, including infants, to possess a valid ticket for admission.
Successful applicants will be informed between June 23 and June 28 via email, dispatched from ndp2023@hapz.com. The committee has warned against phishing attempts, urging the public to be wary of similar notifications from other email addresses.
This year’s NDP, themed “Onward as One,” will be held at the Padang for the first time since 2020. Preceding the main event, community celebrations will be held on August 5 and 6 in stadiums at Bedok, Jurong West, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, and Our Tampines Hub.
The theme aims to encourage Singaporeans to face the future confidently and rally together to build a shared future as one united nation. “We look forward to seeing Singaporeans unite around our shared future, moving forward as one,” said Colonel Terence Ho, chairman of the executive committee.
With a host of exciting performances and activities planned to celebrate the country’s multicultural identity and resilience, this year’s NDP promises to be a captivating spectacle of national pride, unity, and optimism as Singaporeans, together, embark on another year of progress and prosperity.
SINGAPORE – At Northpoint City mall in Yishun, 73-year-old Lim Cheng Kiat had ill intentions, having violated three girls between the ages of 13 and 15 in a single day.
The unemployed Singaporean pleaded guilty last month to three counts of public indecency and is currently awaiting sentence. His sentencing hearing was postponed until later due to the need to review a correctional training and preventive detention report. This report would allow the court to consider severe punishment involving long-term imprisonment. The victims’ identities cannot be disclosed due to a court order.
On the afternoon of February 23 this year, the first victim, a 15-year-old girl in her school uniform, was walking around the second basement level of the mall with a friend when they encountered Lim. He intentionally walked towards her, bumped into her left cheek with his right shoulder, and pinched her chest over her blouse before quickly leaving. Feeling disgusted, she reported the incident to a staff member at the mall’s service counter, who assisted her in filing a police report.
According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Kiera Yu, after the incident with the first victim, Lim encountered the second victim, a 13-year-old girl in her school uniform, on the first level of the mall. He walked towards her, bumped into her with his shoulder, and pinched her chest over her blouse before quickly leaving. Shocked, the second victim told her mother, who subsequently brought her to the police station to file a report.
The third victim ran into Lim while buying food in a Subway sandwich shop. She, a 15-year-old girl, was also in her school uniform. While she was looking at the menu, Lim forcefully nudged her with his right shoulder and gripped her chest over her blouse, then swiftly left the shop.
Following Lim’s departure, the girl immediately began crying to her friend about what had just occurred. She later went to a police station to report that she had been molested.
Lim was eventually identified through closed-circuit television footage and was arrested at 11:11 p.m. on the same day. During the police investigation, he admitted that he intentionally touched the victims and referred to these incidents as “trivial” because he did not “rape” the victims. He also admitted to deliberately bumping into each victim while simultaneously touching their chests, trying to make it appear accidental.
When asked by District Judge Eugene Teo if he wanted to submit a mitigation plea, Lim responded that to “mitigate is to become a coward” and that “it is okay to die in prison.”
In the prosecution’s address on sentencing, Deputy Prosecutor Yu stressed the severity of Lim’s crimes and his obstinacy, pointing to the need for a deterrent sentence proportionate to his criminal behavior.
SINGAPORE, May 18, 2023 – With the backdrop of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increase and mounting inflation, Singapore’s supermarket chain, Giant, is stepping up to alleviate some of the financial pressure on consumers. The supermarket chain has announced that it will absorb the 1% GST hike, striving to keep prices for essential groceries as low as possible.
More significantly, in a bid to provide customers with additional savings on their shopping, Giant is rolling out a new voucher campaign. From now until 7 June, customers can download an unlimited number of vouchers from Giant’s Facebook page or official website. These vouchers, with denominations of SGD$3, SGD$5, and SGD$20, can be used to offset respective amounts on their grocery purchases.
To make use of these vouchers, shoppers need to meet a certain spending threshold in a single transaction. For the SGD$3 voucher, a minimum spend of SGD$30 is required; for the SGD$5 voucher, the minimum spend is SGD$50. The SGD$20 voucher, exclusively for yuu Rewards Club members, requires a minimum spend of SGD$100.
It’s noteworthy that only one voucher can be redeemed per transaction per customer, and they cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions, including senior citizen discounts. Moreover, the vouchers cannot be used for online purchases, as they are redeemable only at manned cashier stations in physical Giant stores.
While these vouchers are applicable on most products, certain exclusions do apply, which include tobacco, cigarettes, newspapers, magazines, infant milk powder, phone cards, Dairy Farm gift vouchers, lottery tickets, and purchases from concessionaires.
With this campaign, it’s the perfect time to stock up on all other essentials such as groceries and household items. You can locate a Giant outlet nearest to you via the store locator on Giant’s official website.
In a chilling incident that recently unfolded in Singapore, an 11-year-old boy was stabbed by his own mother in a moment of anger. The cause? The child used his mother’s phone without her permission. This tragic event offers a stark reminder of the grim reality of domestic violence and its devastating effects, particularly on children. Simultaneously, it compels us to examine how mental health conditions like depression can contribute to such horrifying actions.
Domestic violence, an often-overlooked issue, carries devastating psychological and physical consequences for its victims, especially when they are children. Children growing up in homes marred by violence can develop a range of emotional, psychological, and behavioral problems. They may also struggle with feelings of fear, guilt, shame, and confusion. This incident in Singapore is a stark illustration of such a reality. The young boy, subjected to a violent act by his own mother, has endured not just physical harm but also an unimaginable psychological trauma that could potentially scar him for life.
Depression, a complex mental health disorder, is another key element in this sad narrative. The mother in this case suffers from major depressive disorder of mild severity. While depression can severely impair a person’s mood and behavior, it is important to note that it doesn’t justify violent actions. However, understanding the role of depression in such incidents is crucial for preventing similar situations in the future.
Depression can manifest in a variety of symptoms, including persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and in severe cases, uncontrolled emotions and even violent behavior. It’s a condition that requires empathy, understanding, and appropriate treatment. In this case, the mother’s depression might have contributed to her loss of control and the violent act she committed. But again, it does not excuse her actions.
The incident is a call to action for all of us. It underlines the need for a multi-pronged approach to address domestic violence and mental health issues. Awareness and understanding of domestic violence must be enhanced. Mental health conditions like depression need to be recognized, and those afflicted must have access to the necessary support and treatment. Moreover, the stigma associated with these issues must be combated, ensuring individuals and families are not deterred from seeking help.
This tragic case is a stark reminder of the harsh reality of domestic violence and the intricate role mental health conditions like depression can play in such situations. As we reflect on this incident, let us resolve to take action, to educate ourselves and others, and to work towards a society where such heartbreaking incidents are a thing of the past.
DBS Bank services have been experiencing frequent issues lately. Following a large-scale service disruption in March, another disruption occurred today (5th), affecting ATMs, online banking, and other services. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the implementation of another round of additional capital requirements for DBS Bank later that evening.
MAS stated that the new round of additional capital requirements, combined with the requirements implemented in February of the previous year, means that DBS Bank will need to face a total of approximately SGD 1.6 billion in additional capital requirements.
Since DBS Bank’s services were disrupted in November 2021, MAS had proposed in February 2022 to raise the additional capital requirements to 1.5 times the bank’s operational risk assets. Now, it has been raised to 1.8 times.
In an announcement, MAS said that after the service disruption in March, DBS Bank had established a special committee to review the bank’s information technology. This review was conducted by independent third-party experts.
MAS subsequently instructed the bank to conduct a comprehensive review, including assessing the management of digital banking services, employee capabilities, operational processes, system resilience, and the architectural design of digital banking services. Now, MAS also requires the bank to include today’s service disruption event in the scope of the review.
“MAS also requires DBS Bank to take immediate measures to enhance the resilience and recovery capabilities of the existing system, including strengthening monitoring and more comprehensive testing, to minimize the impact on customer service.”
Ho Hern Shin, Deputy Managing Director (Financial Supervision) of MAS, said in a statement, “DBS Bank has failed to meet the MAS’s expectations for banks to provide reliable services to customers, and causing inconvenience to the public repeatedly is unacceptable.”
“This additional capital requirement highlights the seriousness with which MAS views this issue, and DBS Bank must spare no effort to address the root causes of these disruptions.”
DBS Group CEO Piyush Gupta apologized for the recent digital service disruption events.
“Our customers rightfully have higher expectations of us, and we are committed to doing better. After the event on March 29th, the bank established a special board committee, and independent external experts conducted a comprehensive review of our technological recovery capabilities. We will treat this review as the top priority and promptly implement all recommendations.”
“Populism” became a focus of last week’s parliamentary debate on the government’s policy guidelines, and in a rare move, on the final day of the debate, opposition leader Pritam Khaira Singh agreed with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong that everyone should say no to populism. Clearly, no politician will admit to pursuing a populist path, so we can only listen to their words and observe their actions.
But what is populism? In the context of parliamentary debates, populism is obviously bad and detrimental to the healthy development of democracy, and therefore unanimously rejected. Tracing its roots, it has various definitions. As used in the general news media today, populism refers to politicians who exploit certain issues to incite public sentiment, oppose those in power (the establishment), and the elite class, in order to gain votes. Therefore, former US President Trump and former Brazilian President Bolsonaro, for example, are populist politicians.
What is populism in the context of Singapore’s recent parliamentary debate? In the past, our understanding of the term was straightforward, referring to politicians who propose various voter-pleasing and sensational ideas, such as free education and healthcare, to win votes. This time, Lawrence Wong provided his own clear definition. He said, “Populism is politics that suppresses, conceals, and falls into post-truth, and twists facts for political gain. It falsely claims that complex issues have simple solutions when that is not the case. If populism takes root in Singapore, parties implementing populist policies may gain some short-term benefits, but in the long run, it will cause great harm to Singapore and Singaporeans.”
He went on to say, “As far as the government is concerned, our position is very clear. We reject all forms of populism and uphold honesty and integrity when formulating policies. If the government does not meet these standards, we expect the opposition to point it out. Please do so. You must do so. We expect you to do so. Conversely, if the opposition proposes ideas and policies that we consider populist, we will also point out and emphasize our concerns, as we should. I hope this is our consensus on how to advance Singapore’s political and democratic development.” Pritam Khaira Singh immediately expressed agreement. This is an important reference point for “observing their actions.”
In fact, Lawrence Wong expressed this expectation on the first day of the debate. He hoped that during this debate and for the remainder of the current government’s term, the opposition would propose realistic alternative policy options, rather than opportunistic or populist ideas that slowly erode public trust in the government, and should instead present rigorous alternative guidelines as a potential alternative government.
The so-called gradual erosion of public trust in the government, or “salami slicing” in popular terms, is a powerful political tactic, as it operates in the gray area. It is not easy to label it as populist. For example, if you say that the government should only use half of the net investment income contribution from reserves, and someone else asks why not use 60%, it may be debatable whether this is populist, but it is definitely “salami slicing” and can easily win voters’ hearts. Similarly, if you insist on raising the consumption tax, others may argue for raising taxes on the wealthy or corporations instead, which could also win over some voters.
The most deadly aspect is the amplification effect of social media, which makes “salami slicing” tactics even more potent. Because one person can form a cyber army, stirring up noise for various opposing voices. However, Pritam Khaira Singh did not take the bait to Lawrence Wong’s direct attack but adopted a temporary avoidance strategy, admitting that the Workers’ Party is not yet able to form an
alternative government and expressed the desire to continue learning and growing. He also emphasized that the Workers’ Party’s goal is to provide constructive feedback and to ensure that the government is held accountable.
In this debate, both the government and the opposition agreed to reject populism, emphasizing the need for responsible and honest policy-making. This consensus is crucial for Singapore’s political and democratic development. As citizens, we must not only listen to politicians’ words, but also observe their actions, to ensure that they are adhering to the principles they claim to uphold.
Going forward, it is crucial to maintain a healthy political environment in Singapore, where parties and politicians focus on substantive policy discussions and strive to provide pragmatic solutions to the challenges faced by the nation. In this way, Singapore’s political landscape can continue to mature and evolve, ensuring that the country remains resilient in the face of a rapidly changing global environment.
SINGAPORE — With the recent cooling measures doubling the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for foreigners and increasing it for Singaporeans and permanent residents, property analysts predict a likely jump in rental prices.
Various factors contribute to this expectation, including foreigners choosing to rent instead of buying a home, and flat owners renting before upgrading to a private property to avoid paying the duty.
Close to midnight on Wednesday (April 26), the Government announced its highest ABSD rate increase since it was first introduced in 2011. Foreigners who buy any residential property here will have to pay 60 per cent of the property’s purchase price, up from 30 per cent. Singaporeans buying their second residential property pay 20 per cent, up from 17 per cent. The changes took effect on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Finance, and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) highlighted growing demand for property among investors locally and internationally, stating that the cooling measures aim to “promote a sustainable property market.”
Property analysts expect housing rental charges to spike. However, some believe the increase might be muted, in line with MAS’ forecast of the rental market released on Wednesday in its macroeconomic review. MAS mentioned in its bi-annual report that growth in rental prices would dampen in the second half of the year due to an influx of new residential units potentially slowing rental demand.
As for potential private property buyers, analysts said that the latest cooling measures would not affect the sale of mass market condominiums. Most housing hunters would be first-property buyers not affected by the higher ABSD. One analyst from real estate agency PropNex Realty mentioned that its internal data suggests that only 1.5 per cent of transactions involved foreigners.
Ms Christine Sun, OrangeTee and Tie’s senior vice-president of research and analytics, said: “(Private property) sales volume will usually drop for about three to six months (after a cooling measure), but it will rebound after that.” These market shifts will “take effect immediately” after the ABSD increase, alongside a slowing growth in property prices, she added.
Historically, prices have never fallen after an increase — only when the Total Debt Servicing Ratio was adjusted, she observed. Last revised in September 2022, the Total Debt Servicing Ratio stipulates that all debt obligations, including housing loans, cannot exceed 55 per cent of a person’s income.
The higher ABSD is expected to push up rental prices for various reasons. For instance, 60 per cent is likely too high for some foreigners who may choose to rent while waiting to obtain citizenship or permanent residency — allowing them to avoid the ABSD or pay a smaller amount. This increased demand for rental housing will then drive up prices.
Mr Lee Sze Teck, senior director of research at real estate firm Huttons Asia, said: “Anecdotally, there are foreigners who rent, with an option to purchase the home once they become a permanent resident or citizen.” He estimates that rental charges will grow around 10 per cent this year.
Ms Sun also mentioned that owners of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats may rent short-term while waiting in the period between selling their flat and buying a private property, to avoid paying the ABSD. “Some may find the upfront ABSD payment to be too high. Therefore, those who wish to upgrade may need to sell their flat then rent somewhere first, resulting in higher costs incurred.”
Ms Tricia Song, head of research for Southeast Asia at real estate firm CBRE, said that the overall rental market may be further affected in the long run. “As investment demand is likely to be altered by (the cooling measures), there could be fewer private homes for rent in the longer term. Demand could then spill over to commercial operators such as co-living or serviced apartments,” she added.
Analysts who spoke to TODAY are not expecting the latest changes to significantly impact the demand or prices of mass market condominiums. Mr Ismail Gafoor, chief executive officer of PropNex Realty, said: “The impact of the latest measures will not be evenly felt, with foreign buyers in particular taking a bigger hit. We think the impact of the ABSD rate hike on the mass market will not be significant as foreigners accounted for only 1.5 per cent of the private home purchases in the mass market in the whole of 2022.”
Another analyst agreed, saying that unlike investors who may adopt a wait-and-see approach, buyers who are primarily getting a property for their own occupation may still be active in the mass market, especially first-time buyers.
Mr Mohan Sandrasegeran, senior analyst for research and content creation at One Global Property Services, said: “Overall, affordable private properties, such as condominium units that are priced within their budget and offer desirable amenities in accessible locations, may still be in demand, albeit at a slower pace.”
However, experts had mixed views on the impact on the HDB resale market, with some predicting that there may be no significant shifts. Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property technology company Mogul.sg, said that there may be higher demand for bigger or better-located HDB flats once people ditch their plans to own and live in private housing as a result of the new changes.
Alternatively, some of these “upgraders” may delay plans, which may lead to a lower resale volume of HDB flats “for a few months,” he added.
Ahead of the Good Friday long weekend, Singaporean drivers heading to Malaysia faced heavy traffic congestion at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, leading to travel delays. This time, both checkpoints heading into Johor experienced heavy traffic, with congestion even affecting the departure points in Singapore. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) warned travelers to expect delays and advised them to check traffic conditions before setting off.
Real-time camera footage showed heavy traffic congestion at both checkpoints on Thursday afternoon. Estimated travel times using the Beat The Jam app indicated that travelers heading to Johor at the Causeway could expect to spend between four to six hours to enter Malaysia, while crossing at Tuas would likely take between three to five hours.
This year, Good Friday falls on April 7th and is a public holiday in Singapore. Another possible reason for the traffic congestion could be the Qing Ming Festival, which began on April 5th. In earlier updates, the ICA mentioned that there was heavy traffic entering Johor at both checkpoints and advised travelers to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey to Malaysia.
Due to the Qing Ming Festival and Good Friday weekend, heavy traffic at the land checkpoints is expected to continue. The ICA reminded those planning to cross the land checkpoints between April 3rd and April 11th by car or bus to factor in additional time for immigration clearance. Over one million travelers crossed the land checkpoints during the Good Friday weekend in 2019.
