Jamaica’s top diplomat in the United States is encouraging more in the diaspora to take advantage of the dual citizenship arrangement that currently exists between the two countries, so they can have greater influence on public policy and derive increased benefits in their adopted homeland.

Jamaican Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, who continue to highlight the strong bilateral relations between the US and Jamaica amid reports of a diplomatic fallout, said there were many Jamaicans living in America for several decades without applying for citizenship.

She said: “Continue becoming citizens of the United States, as there are many…living in the US for twenty, thirty, forty years who have not become citizens because they don’t want to give up their Jamaican passport.”

“I am assuring you that Jamaica recognizes dual citizenship, and so you can have both a Jamaican as well as a United States passport,” Marks continued.

“In becoming a citizen, you will be able to participate in all areas of public life fully…including voting, and in so doing, help to influence the government’s policy direction. I know you know, but I want to emphasize, my friends, that as Jamaicans in the Diaspora, you can be a powerful force for change and transformation both in Jamaica and here in the United States of America,” the Jamaican ambassador said.

The Jamaican ambassador was speaking at the 17th Anniversary Gala of the Jamaican Organization of Rochester New York, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Friday, July 28.

Marks noted that more than one million first-generation Jamaicans, and over three million persons of Jamaican heritage, reside in the US.

Strong and cordial relationship

Addressing the issue of an ongoing diplomatic spat, Marks insisted that Jamaica continues to enjoy a strong and cordial relationship with the US.

“As sovereign nations, we have the deepest respect for each other as we pursue bilateral relationships in pursuit of trade, energy, security, and cultural relations,” Marks said.

“I want to emphasise that contrary to recent media reports, both Jamaica and the United States continue to enjoy strong and cordial relationships with each other,” she added.

“As we approach another year of Independence, we must be proud that Jamaicans living in the United States have displayed exceptional leadership abilities in US politics,” she said.

She noted that there are over 60 Jamaican Americans in the legislature in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida.

“There are also Jamaican Americans in leadership at the Federal level, with six Jamaican Americans in Congress and two Jamaican Americans in the Cabinet at the White House and many others in the Biden-Harris Administration,” she stated.

She also took the opportunity to announce that following discussions with Rochester’s Mayor Malik Evans, efforts will be made to have the town of Port Maria in St Mary twinned with the City of Rochester, New York.

“As Jamaican Americans, you can be proud of your contributions, not only to the homeland, but also to your adopted home, the United States of America,” she stated.

Scholarships to worthy students

In the meantime, president of the Jamaica Association of Rochester, Dr Joel Frater, noted the strong mission of the organisation in providing scholarships to worthy students of Jamaican heritage.

This year, the organisation awarded some 14 scholarships to Rochester-area college students pursuing various academic degrees, valued at just over US$40,000.

Mayor of Rochester Malik Evans emphasised the importance and value of Jamaicans in that city, noting that Rochester has the second largest concentration of Jamaicans in the state of New York.

“Rochester is the city it is today, thanks to the Rochester Jamaica Organization and the Jamaican community as a whole. Rochester’s business, arts, education and restaurant sectors have been shaped by Jamaican culture, and as your mayor, I celebrate that with great joy and appreciation,” Evans said.

He also lauded the Jamaican organisation for its educational scholarship programme which, he said, has created a “community with a powerful sense of Jamaican pride”.