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Mobile Passport Service For Jamaica Diaspora Convention

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) will be offering a mobile passport service at the Diaspora Convention, to be held from June 15 to 17 at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

Jennifer McDonald, chief executive officer of PICA said the special service was being offered to accommodate Jamaicans living in the Diaspora who sometimes find it difficult to access the service because of distance.

“We will be able to accept applications for passports and deliver them before the end of the Convention,” she said.

She explained that for persons who submit applications at the Convention on June 14th and 15th, PICA would return the new passports on June 17, providing that all the supporting documents are in order. Meanwhile, she said that for applications submitted on the 16th or 17th, the completed passport can be collected at the PICA office at Constant Spring Road in St. Andrew.

Miss McDonald said applicants will need a completed passport form, which can be obtained at the Agency’s website address at: www.pica.gov.jm. And, the application must be accompanied by an original birth certificate or Jamaican citizenship certificate; a marriage certificate or the divorce decree, if formerly married; Deed Poll or USA naturalization certificate, if the person changed their name on naturalization in the USA.

Applicants will also need two passport photographs, one of which should be certified by the person certifying the application form; and a fee of J$ 6,000.

In response to the initiative, Earl Jarrett, chairman of the Diaspora Preparatory Committee, has lauded the special service to be offered by PICA. “This mobile service that will be offered by PICA is a welcome one,” Mr. Jarrett said. “And, I am sure delegates attending the Convention will make use of the service.”

Mr. Jarrett further pointed out that the delegates will not only meet in a more relaxed atmosphere, making reference to the change of venue, as from its inception, the convention has been held in Kingston; but, that they will also be able to access a useful service.

This is the fourth staging of the Convention, which was postponed last year due to social unrest in Kingston.

The theme of the Convention is: “One Nation: Jamaica and its Diaspora in Partnership.”
Mr. Jarrett said, “Under this theme of “One Nation,” the wider society will hear from members of the Diaspora; and, delegates will collaborate to devise a working programme that can stimulate true economic and social opportunities for Jamaica.

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