Keeping it Together

NY Consulate General

Staff Keeping It Together

The story may be in the numbers.

During the pandemic, the Consulate General of Barbados at New York hardly missed a beat, and comparatively very few days, as it continued to serve fellow citizens of Barbados and persons interested in the country.

In 2020, there was an overall difference of just 31 - 538 to 2019’s 569 - in the number of Consular services – passports, Emergency Travel Documents, marriage applications and so on.

And 2021 has long surpassed both 2019 and 2020, with as of now, the ending of November, overall numbers over 700. Passport applications have soared and, significantly, the uptick in Citizen by Descent applications that almost doubled in 2020 from 2019 – 46 to 24 – has continued this year. Those seeking to return home permanently under the Networkers programme mirrored the trend.

But, of course, there is much more to the story than the numbers. Whatever can be said about the team at the Consulate, it must be said that staff deliver what is required, when required, no more so than in pandemic times. In fact, the US Post Office creed - neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds – could, with cause, have been appropriated by the Consulate team.

Even when New York did not know whether it was going or coming, Consulate staffers bravely, unwaveringly,

left their homes when required to service the community. Always the busiest foreign office as it serves the largest concentration of Barbadians outside of Barbados, the increase in Consular work was matched by myriad questions in the ever-changing confusion of the pandemic.

Whether it was enquiries about getting a flight and getting on the two repatriation flights out of JFK, Covid19 protocols in Barbados, New York and elsewhere, the Barbados Welcome Stamp or where and how to get tests and vaccines, the calls kept coming…..and the staff kept responding. Of course, the pandemic and ensuing shutdowns only increased the usual queries about matters such as tax payments, banking issues and investments.

Because the Consulate was back in

office from August 2020, team members participated in in-person events such as the 2020 Independence service in Freeport, the 2021 Heroes Day service and workshop on immigration matters in Connecticut, and enforced protocols at events hosted by the Consulate. These included meet and greets with two Ministers and a community session with Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Barbadian organisations and individuals were not the only ones contributing to causes in Barbados throughout

the pandemic. Staffers supported the Care Buddy Project and were the main responders to the call by NICU, QEH for supplies.

All work and no play? Oh no. The pandemic scuttled the popular staff/ community cricket match and picnic this and last year, but the Consulate managed one of its intermittent lunches in recognition of their efforts last year and staffers were able to indulge in the popular Ugly Sweater Competition, gift exchange and some Christmas revelry.

Hopefully, 2022 will see everyone easing out of the pandemic and the Consulate will be able to pick up the pace that it set in 2019. However, it goes, the staff will keep the Consulate going.