24 new Jamaican citizens welcomed at New York consulate ceremony
Key Points(5)
- Twenty-four new Jamaican citizens, including a two-year-old boy, received their citizenship certificates at a ceremony at the Jamaican Consulate in New York on Friday, October 9.
- The new citizens came from across the consulate’s jurisdiction, which spans New York, 32 other US states, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.
- Their paths to citizenship were varied: some were born to Jamaican parents or grandparents, while others married into Jamaican families.
- Successful applicants who could not attend received their certificates by mail.
- Between November 2024 and September 2026, the consulate processed just under 3,000 citizenship applications, reflecting the strong desire among members of the Jamaican diaspora to formalise their ties to the island.
Twenty-four people, including a two-year-old boy, received Jamaican citizenship certificates at a ceremony at the Jamaican Consulate in New York on Friday, Oct. 9.
The new citizens came from across the consulate’s jurisdiction, which covers New York, 32 other U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Bermuda. Some qualified for citizenship through Jamaican parents or grandparents, while others obtained it through marriage to Jamaican nationals.
Successful applicants who could not attend the ceremony received their certificates by mail.
Between November 2024 and September 2026, the consulate processed just under 3,000 citizenship applications, reflecting continued interest among members of the Jamaican diaspora in formalizing their ties to the island.
Oliver Mair presided over the ceremony, welcoming the new citizens, their families and friends. The consulate also announced that citizenship ceremonies would now be held quarterly.
Addressing his first citizenship ceremony since taking office in New York, Mair acknowledged that many of the new citizens had long felt Jamaican, defending the country’s athletes, watching the Olympics and correcting misconceptions about Jamaica.
“Today, the paperwork has finally caught up with your heart,” Mair said. “From this moment, you are not a visitor, not a friend of the family, not almost Jamaican. Today, you are Jamaican, full stop.
“My message to you is simple: do not stand on the sidelines,” he said. “Invest. Mentor. Build. Bring your skills, your networks and your ideas home. The door is open, and now you hold the key.”
Mair highlighted Jamaica’s international contributions to music, sports and culture, including reggae, ska and dancehall, as well as its influence on sprinting and its global reach through food, language and culture.
Turning to the Jamaican passport, he acknowledged its limitations while emphasizing the connections it represents.
“It may not be the most powerful passport on the planet, but let me tell you, it opens a lot of doors,” Mair said. “It opens doors that no ranking can measure: a door to a people who will greet you anywhere in the world as one of their own.”
He said the new citizens were joining Jamaica at a time of economic opportunity, pointing to years of fiscal discipline, continued tourism growth despite the effects of Hurricane Melissa, and prospects in logistics, technology, the creative industries, agriculture, real estate and renewable energy.
Mair urged the new citizens to contribute to Jamaica’s development and encouraged Jamaicans in the diaspora to help eligible children and other family members obtain citizenship.
Those interested in applying can visit www.congenjamaica-ny.org for more information.
