Marks urges US to revise visa rights for Jamaicans
Published:Wednesday | August 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
More Jamaicans could soon get the chance to visit Uncle Sam as the United States Department of State has promised to press for a review of that country's visa policy on Jamaica in order to pump up the number of locals who can acquire visitation rights.
The decision of the State Department is in response to a request by Jamaica's ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, who has been vigorously campaigning for an increase to the visa approval ratio.
Expressing concern that the approval ratio was unacceptably low, Marks yesterday solicited the support of Pamela Bridgewater, the woman expected to be her counterpart in the local diplomatic community.
Marks has been insistent that she wants the US to review its visa policy on the country.
She has even gone to the State Department to press her case in the short period since she assumed responsibility for Jamaica's diplomatic affairs in the US.
The US visa policy was among a host of issues Marks raised yesterday, while she hosted a courtesy call from Bridgewater, the US ambassador-designate to Jamaica.
Declining approval
Marks pointed to the declining approval rates for the issuance of visas to Jamaican nationals.
The new ambassador contended that Trinidad and Tobago enjoys a visitor-approval rate nearly three times as a high as Jamaica's.
But there are indications that this is not the first time Marks has raised the issue since she was appointed Jamaican ambassador last month.
Marks told Bridgewater yesterday that she had initiated discussions with relevant officials in US State Department, who have promised to push for a review.
According to Marks, she had raised what she characterised as the worrying trend of declining approvals.
She disclosed that the US State Department had divulged that the US looked at a variety of factors, including the economy of the sending country, as well as the state of the US economy.
Economic growth a good sign
In response, Marks referred to what she characterised as the positive economic indicators in Jamaica, which showed that economic fundamentals were heading in the right direction.
Bridgewater, who is expected to be formally in her position by next month, assured Marks that she, too, would meet her consular team in Jamaica to address the issue to the satisfaction of both countries.
A seemingly upbeat Bridgewater expressed confidence that, given the positive signs, a solution would be hammered out shortly.
She said one of her priorities would be to work towards the strengthening of the business sector, in particular the manufacturing sector.
This should come as welcome news to that sector, which has been reeling from the effects of the global financial woes and antiquated machinery for many years.
Bridgewater suggested that, given the many positives, there were avenues in which new business opportunities could be forged.