Marks pleased with efforts to help stranded Jamaicans

The Jamaican Embassy in Washington, DC said that all the known stranded Jamaicans are now home. This following the reopening of Jamaica's air and seaports, which were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The embassy has lauded the efforts of the consulates in New York and Miami, as well as organisations and individuals who rallied to the cause, handling the accommodation, food and medical needs of the stranded nationals who ran into difficulties during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"At such difficult junctures in life, it is very easy for people to find themselves feeling depressed, hopeless, and alone," said Audrey Marks, Jamaica's ambassador to the United States.

"We did our best to mitigate those negative feelings by following up personally with emergency cases, so these individuals would know someone was on their side and working on their behalf."

The Jamaican missions also enlisted the assistance of several Jamaican doctors in the diaspora, among them being Dr Robert Clarke, president of the New Jersey-based Help Jamaican Medical Mission, and Florida-based Dr Wentworth Jarrett. The doctors contacted affected individuals, consulted with doctors in Jamaica, wrote prescriptions and provided medicines at no cost to the patients.

A number of diaspora-owned businesses, such as Linstead Market, National Bakery and GraceKennedy, pitched in with generous support, which was used to pay for meals and hotel accommodation for stranded Jamaicans.

Consul General in Miami Oliver Mair said "it was our pleasure to support our people during this difficult time".

Similar sentiments were echoed by Jamaica's Consul General in New York, Alsion Wilson, who, supported by Jamaica's Honorary Consul in Philadelphia, Christopher Chaplin, and Honorary Consul in Atlanta Dr Elaine Bryan ensured that everything went well and they were able to get everyone home safely.