Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Ambassador Alison Stone Roofe, urges freshly-minted immigration officers to serve with integrity while protecting Jamaica’s borders.
“You are now equipped with the knowledge, skills and responsibilities that come with your roles. I urge you to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, to serve with integrity and to remain committed to the mission of this great Agency,” Ambassador Stone Roofe emphasised.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking at the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency’s (PICA) Immigration Graduation Ceremony for Batch 19, which welcomed 28 new immigration officers. The ceremony was held at the Jamaica Defence Force Caribbean Military Academy in Kingston on Thursday (August 14).
She pointed out that, “the PICA continues to play such a very crucial role in safeguarding our borders, facilitating legitimate travel and upholding the integrity of our nation’s immigration system. Your commitment to excellence, your integrity and your service remain essential to achieving these goals”.
Ambassador Stone Roofe reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening PICA’s legislative framework to enhance border security.
“We continue to develop robust legislation to improve operational efficiency, international compliance and overall public trust in the Agency’s functions. The ultimate goal, colleagues, is to ensure that our borders and citizens remain safe and secure – this is the mandate that you, our graduates are also expected to carry out,” Ambassador Stone Roofe explained.
For his part, Valedictorian of Batch 19, Andrae Chen encouraged the new immigration officers to remember the sacrifices made and to wear the uniform with honour while serving Jamaica.
“Let us never forget what we overcame to be here, let us never forget that we are more than just officers, we are guardians of Jamaica’s borders, faces of first impressions and living symbols of unity and resilience,” Chen emphasised.
The Immigration Officers Training Programme under the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency ran from June 16 to July 21, 2025. A total of 30 individuals participated in the course of which 28 successfully matriculated as immigration officers. The programme was executed in partnership with the Jamaica Defence Force, CARICOM IMPACS, the Canadian High Commission, British High Commission, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, among others.
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