PICA Advisory Board Has New Chairman

The Advisory Board of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) has a new chairman – businessman and philanthropist Joseph John Issa CD, JP, CPA

Better known as Joe Issa, Executive Chairman of Cool Corporation the hugely successful Ocho Rios businessman is believed to have the necessary character, skills and qualifications to lead the Executive Agency, whose core values include accountability, integrity, professionalism and customer service.

Issa who, according to the North Coast Times has a long history of civic involvement, most notably as President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce where he left a legacy of great leadership and advocacy, and more recently as a current member of its Past President Advisory Committee, is no stranger to advocating accountability and integrity in governance.

 PICA Advisory Board Chairman- Joseph John Issa

One well-known case came ahead of the October 16, 2002 general election when, as part of a move to engender accountability in governance, Issa suggested that candidates pledge the delivery of two or three things considered a priority by the constituents, within a specified period of coming into office, in exchange for their votes.

The idea, which became known as “The Issa Initiative” was supported by both the JLP and PNP, as well as the island’s Chambers of Commerce. Despite not being implemented by the political parties, Issa’s idea was famously praised for its landmark quality.

Calling it “a watershed in Jamaica's political culture” The Gleaner newspaper said, “The proposal from Joe Issa of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, which was taken up by the island’s Chambers of Commerce has the potential of bringing about a change in the relationship between constituents and their elected representatives.”

Issa has also sought to bring integrity into governance, when he publicly suggested that politicians should be paid more money in order to discourage them from accepting bribes. He also brings to the PICA board table great accounting skills.

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Issa was Jamaica’s youngest accountant and made history by passing all four parts of the accountancy examination in one sitting, earning him several awards by the accounting fraternity in Massachusetts, USA where he studied and the admiration of the Mayor of Lauderhill, Florida, who gave him the Keys to the City.

His skills as a turn-around strategist in his father’s SuperClubs chain of all-inclusive resorts did not only earn him several international awards, including “Young Hotelier of the World 1994” by the International Hotel Association, but also, the respect of the local media. He was awarded “Tourism’s Brightest Spark” by the Jamaica Observer newspaper in 1999, and was among its top 10 Jamaican personalities that year.

Issa’s success in building his Cool brand of over 50 companies that are being leveraged internationally also did not go unnoticed. In July 2001 and March 2005, he was praised for his business leadership by The Gleaner and Business Observer, respectively. 

Issa’s brand-building, international-travel, technology-centered and service-oriented experience are believed to be a plus factor that will help PICA become a world-class organization, whose functions are integral to Jamaica’s border security system, in accepting and processing passport applications, managing the country’s immigration processes and handling matters related to application for and renunciation of Jamaican citizenship, while his strategic management expertise should enhance PICA’s aims to provide efficient, quality service through a well-motivated and knowledgeable staff.

Similarly, Issa’s accounting and management experience auger well for leading the executive agency in the achievement of its major objectives of becoming a self-financing, performance-based and service-oriented institution, and meeting its targets of processing passengers at ports in no more than two minutes, passport applications submitted to its Kingston offices within seven days and 14 days for those made through its Montego Bay office, and local applications for Jamaican citizenship by descent within 30 days, according to its website.

On June 1, 2016 the cost of a regular adult passport went up from $4,500 to $6,500, while the passport for a minor increased from $2,700 to $4,000. At the same time, replacing lost passports for adults cost $11,500 (up from $9,500) and $7,000 (up from $5,700) for minors.

PICA, which became an executive agency on June 1, 2007 evolved from the former Immigration, Citizenship and Passport Services Division of the Ministry of National Security following a modernization programme which started in 2005. The organization has since introduced debit and credit card service for ease of transactions, next-day and three-day expedited services, and a mobile service for passport application.

It conducts incoming and outgoing immigration examination of all persons entering or leaving Jamaica by air and sea; it administers visas, entry permits and other documents for non-Jamaican visitors and residents; handles requests for permanent residency status; manages the deportation and repatriation of those persons not qualified to remain in Jamaica; as well as handles matters relating to refugees to the island.

The executive agency’s operations are said to be governed by the Jamaican Constitution, The Immigration Restriction (Commonwealth Citizen) Act, The Jamaica Nationality Act, The Alien’s Act, The Passport Act and Regulations, The Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Act, The Caribbean Community (Free Movement) of Skilled Persons Act, The Executive Agencies Act 2002, and The Financial Administration and Audit Act.