PICA gets more immigration officers

The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) has expanded its complement of immigration officers to 237.

Twenty-nine officers, comprising Batch 20, graduated last Friday during a ceremony held at the Caribbean Military Academy, Up Park Camp, Kingston. State Minister in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, charged the new officers to serve with integrity – doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

“You are all being entrusted with protecting confidential information. It means refusing improper favours,” she said. Cuthbert-Flynn further underscored the importance of preserving one’s integrity, noting, “always remember that even after you have righted that wrong, people will never see you as the same”.

Meanwhile, she encouraged the new immigration officers to apply laws, policies, and procedures in a fair and professional manner.

“In public service, you must learn to serve with honour, serve with integrity, serve with professionalism and always remember the responsibility that comes with the uniform that you wear,” Cuthbert-Flynn said. She explained that immigration officers represent Jamaica at the highest level as public guardians of the island’s borders. She reasoned that the way they interact with returning residents and foreign nationals, as well as the manner in which they carry out their duties, will influence how Jamaica is perceived through their eyes.

“We want people not just to know us for our beaches, our culture, our food, but for the professionalism, for the integrity and for respect and pride; and so, you are all ambassadors of Jamaica,” Mrs Cuthbert-Flynn said.

In his video address, PICA CEO, Garth Williams, said that in just two years, the agency has welcomed an additional 57 trained officers – 28 in 2025 and 29 in 2026.

“With this year’s graduates, our immigration service will comprise 274 staff members, including 237 immigration officers, 26 immigration assistants, three deputy directors, the director, three managers, and five administrative assistants,” he detailed. Williams said that the role of immigration officers cannot be overstated, noting that approximately 2.9 million arriving passengers passed through Jamaica’s airports during the last financial year, with a similar number departing.

During that period, 798 passengers were refused entry, while 394 individuals were repatriated for illegal entry into the country.