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Assistant Secretary of State, Dr. Arturo Valenzuela meets with local journalists

Assistant Secretary of State, Dr. Arturo Valenzuela, visits Jamaica 

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Dr. Arturo Valenzuela, made his first official visit to Jamaica July 26-28.   Dr. Valenzuela began his visit by meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding and other senior Jamaican officials with whom he discussed issues of mutual interest, including the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, economic opportunity and competiveness, and energy policy.   During press conferences and interviews, the Assistant Secretary formally addressed several primary Jamaican concerns noting President Obama’s nomination of Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater Awkard as ambassador-designate to Jamaica; underscoring the fact that the Department of State has no backlog of extradition requests and is current with the DPP, and reaffirming the long and close relationship between Jamaica and the United States of America.

Dr. Valenzuela also met with young Jamaican entrepreneurs, youth advocates, community-based activists, members of the political opposition, and leaders of the academic and business communities.  Dr. Valenzuela highlighted some of the specific areas of this important bilateral partnership including the USG’s support in domestic biofuels production, the US$1 million invested to help privatize Air Jamaica, and ongoing support to Jamaica as it seeks to meet its targets under the IMF agreement. (click here for photogallery)

Pamela Bridgewater

Pamela Bridgewater, Nominee for Ambassador to Jamaica, Department of State

President Obama announced his intent to nominate Pamela E. Bridgewater as Ambassador to Jamaica.    Pamela E. Bridgewater is a career member of the Foreign Service with the rank of Minister.  She has served since 2008 as a Senior Inspector in the Office of Inspector General. She has also served as Ambassador to Benin and Ghana. Ambassador Bridgewater was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa in 2002; she was appointed the State Department’s Special Coordinator for Peace in Liberia, and later headed the U.S. delegation to the Liberian Peace Talks. Overseas postings were in Belgium, Jamaica, South Africa and the Bahamas, where she was Deputy Chief of Mission. In Washington, she served in the Bureaus of European Affairs, Human Resources, Oceans and Environmental Affairs, Intelligence and Research. Ms. Bridgewater received a B.A. with honors from Virginia State University and a Master of Arts from the University of Cincinnati. (more)(Statement by Pamela Bridgewater, Ambassador-Designate to Jamaica before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,July 27, 2010)

U.S. Department of State to Revise Fees for Immigrant Visa and Citizenship Services

In an effort to cover the cost of processing immigrant visa and citizenship services around the world, the U.S. Department of State has been required to increase the fees associated with applying for these services.  The changes will be implemented on a worldwide basis on July 13, 2010.  These increases affect immigrant visa and citizenship service applicants in all countries in the world, and are not specific to individuals seeking services in Jamaica.  All persons whose appointments fall on or after July 13th will be required to pay the fees listed in the revised fee schedule.  Any persons who have already paid fees based on the previous fee schedule will be required to pay the difference at the Consular Cashier at the Embassy prior to their interview.  Individuals who are unable to pay the required fees (or fee differences) will be rescheduled for an appointment at a later date or time.(more)