PICA recruiting more immigration officers: Targets border control, service improvement
Published:Friday | January 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Correction & Clarification
The Chief Executive Officer of the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency is Jennifer McDonald and not Beverley McDonald as carried in this story "PICA recruiting more immigration officers" on January 28, 2011.
We regret the error.
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Beverley McDonald, chief executive officer of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), says the Ministry of Finance has given permission to hire another 40 immigration officers.
PICA is also advertising executive positions, including property and operations management.
"These positions were always there to be filled and we have received permission to fill them," said McDonald.
PICA, an executive agency since 2007, is expected to send surpluses in income back to the Consolidated Fund.
Its operational charter, which says it should "operate as a self-funding agency and generate surplus revenues for the Government of Jamaica", also requires it to create "a properly resourced organisation which has the staff, funding and equipment which is capable and competent to support national security initiatives."
It apparently aims to fulfil this mission in 2011.
The organisation, which last implemented fee increases of 80-380 per cent in November 2009, has an annual operational budget of J$1 billion, says corporate services manager Cecil Bailey, of which amount 70 per cent comes from internal sources.
PICA was slated to receive J$268.2 million from central government for fiscal year 2010-11, to supplement its fee income, according to the estimates of expenditure.
McDonald says the agency plans, at some point, to be "self-sufficient ... As an executive agency this has always been our aim, and we are working towards doing just that."
Candidates for the post of immigration officer, PICA's website notes, will be required to contribute to Jamaica's border security by monitoring the movements of persons entering and exiting the island.
That requires having "sound knowledge" of Jamaican immigration laws and regulations, as well as interviewing and analytical skills.
PICA is responsible for the processing of incoming and outgoing air and sea passengers and crew. The unit also processes applications for unconditional landing as well as extension of stay for visitors, students, work permit holders and holders of marriage exemption certificates.
Additionally, it considers applications for entry visas and permanent residence.