PICA - Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency

 

I have to write about my experience with this Agency. The first thing I did was to go get some prices before I put in my application. The young lady in the office at the front told me $6,500 for an application then she sent me outside to the Security Guard who confirmed. I should have asked for the information in writing as I always do. They did not give me the full story.

Then another day I went to put in my application. Talk about corrupt people. All the players were there. The Alty Benjamin Security Guards and the corrupt government workers. First thing, I arrived minutes after 8 a.m. and the guard is going to ask me to wait outside. Where outside? In the sun? Damn criminality! I ultimately reached under the first tent. Since I knew that I was dealing with the government I took out my laptop and was about to do some work when my number was called. I went into the second tent. My number was called again and I joined a line. I was told I had to go to the Investigations Section because I did not have my old passport. The first time I was replacing my passport in 2012 I did not have it because it was stolen in Canada. I did not go through the foolishness. Anyway, I was given another number B129 and was sent into a green building. While I was using the WiFi it was disconnected. The last Tweet I remembered doing was the story in the Jamaica Observer about a Policeman who was killed professional Italian Mafia style, one shot to the head. My number was called and I was told to wait again.  Then I got up and would not sit down because it looked like a free-for-all. The lady just looked at my document and sent me to the second floor. The Alty Benjamin corrupt Security Guard deliberately gave me the wrong direction. If looks could kill she would be dead. Real Raphleta is what I call myself, people. I do not pretend or fake it. That is why God loves me and I love Him. While I was on my way up the stairs she came and gave me the correct direction. I had to turn back! Let me just give you an aside here. I was in Cross Roads by Hi-Lo Supermarket on Friday after I discovered that the corrupt Canadians had blocked my account. By the time I reached the supermarket door I felt this pair of breasts in my back. I turned around and only saw the red T-Shirt because I was so mad. At the top of my voice I said ‘woman tek yuhself offa mi back, wey yuh a rub up pon mi fa, weh yuh nuh go look something fi do’. I was so mad. By the time I entered the supermarket all who had their set pieces were standing and looking at me. I warned the Security not to go into my bag because that is what they did to me up at Liguanea. I just bought my wheat flour and left with Psyche and Trim looking at me, the big fat lady in the red T-Shirt and another little skinny lady who was with her. These supermarkets are too expensive for me.

Picking up where I left off, on the second floor Mr Edwards gave me one long form to fill out asking me where I keep my passport when it is not in use. I said hol’ on there I tried to report my passport stolen from 2020 neither your department nor the Jamaican Consulate in Toronto were interested but you are now asking me all these questions when the passport has expired and has no use. I said the corruption in this country knows no bounds.  The people now need fresh information for the new passport, is that it? They need to have documentary proof of my information for the money laundering. I just fill out the form and placed an x on it for signature. Damn corrupt!

When I left the second floor I went back to the green building. They sent me back to tent number two. When I went over there one false hair lady in black and white told me I had to join the line again. I objected and sat there and was protesting about the corruption in the country. I asked why I was being punished if it was because I had cleaned up some of the corruption and was not interested in the little criminal fellows the crooked politicians were sending to stand up beside me. By this time one crook stood up beside me and one bungo head man. I don't even know where the latter went. I was just waiting for him fi sey ‘m’ to me. I joined the line because I wanted to get out of there. As I joined the line the other people working at the Counter left their places. The Security Guard said hold on there lady let me call some numbers then you can continue. I did continue ‘is scammers and thieves you all want people to be, look at the paper this morning. One Police was killed by a professional one shot to the  head.  That is the level of criminality in the country. All of us cannot run to the Mexican border. All your Pastors are as quiet as ever, everybody is eating from the same table’. By this time I reached the counter and the lying woman in her black dress gave me the number H254. There were other people coming and going and getting their business done without joining any line. I went to the front building and was sent to tent number one again. I sat, ate my lunch and took out my prayer sheets since they turned off their WiFi on me. After one long time and complaining to another Security Guard then my number was eventually called.  The front building is definitely a fire hazard. When I reached the counter I was advised that the amount is $11, 5000 for the replacement of a lost, damaged or stolen passport. I had to go get the information in writing because I had enquired before I came. By this time it was 3:17 p.m. When I thought of returning and going through the torture again, I decided to return to the bank to get the additional funds and return to the office and complete the transaction.  I did not have that amount of time to waste another day. By the time I completed everything it was 4:15 p.m.

The evaluation of the service, very unprofessional and extremely poor. It is obvious that the Passport office has outgrown the facilities they either need to decentralise the service like RGD or get a big building like MFAFT and all the other Ministries in big buildings in New Kingston and nah mek nuh money. The Executive Management needs to be reassessed. I keep telling people you need a benchmark. It is not about whether you like the person or not. The fact is that you are providing a service you need to have a certain standard of service for all. In this case the service cost a lot of money. The least one can expect is proper accommodation. The collusion between the government and the Security Guard companies is obvious. Everywhere you go is a proliferation of these Security Guards. That is why these Security Guard companies can neglect to pay their statutory deductions. Welcome to Canada Security Guards everywhere. The most ridiculous example I have seen is in the Transportation Centre at Half Way Tree a guard sitting down and watching the elevator. Seems only the disabled should use the elevator! All I said to myself, ‘is puss have money him buy butter.’

Selah!!