PICA to offer mobile passport service at Diaspora Conference

KINGSTON — Jamaican nationals overseas, who are attending the June 15 to 17 Diaspora Convention at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, will be able to apply for or renew their passports.

Director of Customer Service at the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Carole Saunders-Hammond, said that the agency’s mobile passport service will be offered to accommodate the Diaspora.

“We recognise the short time the delegates will be in attendance at the Diaspora conference and we also recognise that there may be a need for the service, so we want to extend ourselves to the Diaspora and this is a very good opportunity to be able to do so,” she said.

She explained that the service will be available from June 14 and persons, who submit applications up to June 15, will be able to pick up their new passports on June 17, as long as all the supporting documents are in order.

“Persons will be able to submit their applications, pay for the services and… we will be delivering the passports to delegates, who have applied,” Mrs. Saunders-Hammond informed.

Those, who make submissions on June 16 and 17, will be required to collect their passports at the PICA office at 25 Constant Spring Road in Kingston.

Applicants will need a completed passport form, which can be obtained at the agency’s website at: www.pica.gov.jm.

The application must be accompanied by an original birth certificate or Jamaican citizenship certificate; a marriage certificate or the divorce decree; deed poll or naturalisation certificate.

Applicants will also need two passport photographs, one of which should be certified by the person certifying the application form. A fee of $4,500 is applicable for the seven-day service; $6,000 for the three-day service; and $7,000 for the next day service.

Jamaicans from the United Kingston, the United States and Canada will meet for the fourth biennial convention, which is being staged under the theme: ‘One Nation: Jamaica and its Diaspora in Partnership’.

The event, which seeks to expand partnerships between Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora, was last held in 2008. This year will mark the first time that the conference is being held outside of Kingston.

Activities will include plenary sessions, as well as panel discussions and presentations by members of government, regional Diaspora representatives, and specially invited presenters.

Key topics will include governance and operational structure of the Diaspora, engaging future leaders as well as national economic and social initiatives and the Diaspora contributions.

By CHRIS PATTERSON, JIS Reporter