Consulate Keeping Up Pace

This year has been another hectic one for the Consulate, from Consular work – passports, Barbadians returning home, to dealing with numerous and varied queries – to hosting events in the Community Room and in public.

A rousing Community Celebration, attended by old school friends, legal colleagues, family and friends, paid tribute to Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix who was appointed Corporation Counsel for New York City in January.

One of the most rewarding community sessions was a Zoom event on the new Trident ID card. It was certainly one of the best presented and a very interactive session.

A first was the joint Heroes Day service between the Consulate and Government offices in Canada – High Commission in Ottawa and Consulate General at Toronto. Held at St. Gabriel’s in Brooklyn, the service, apart from paying tribute to our heroes, allowed the attending and listening community to see some Barbadians who are upholding the flag in diverse places.

Educator and cricket aficionado, Jeff Broomes, also known for his somewhat controversial view, took center stage when Consulate hosted a book launch, promoting his latest, The West Indies Cricket Journey and its Barbadian Influence.

In cricket parlance, rain, thunder and lightning, curtailed attendance but did not wash out play. The session was no less informative or full of strong opinions about the state of cricket in the Caribbean.

This year’s Consulate Community Fun Day and Picnic in Canarsie Park was deemed the Bow Tie Games in tribute to Hattan Callender, an avid cricket and all round sportsman, who died in February 2022.

A good turnout, a fun cricket match in which the Consulate’s team was creamed, dominoes on the side and old friends catching up made for a memorable day.

As usual, the Consulate was present at Barbados Day, which returned after two years. The Team tent, as always, was hive of activity with persons who had queries or taking copies of the various publications on display and some paraphernalia. Mayor Eric Adams went out of his way to pay a courtesy call.

Member of Parliament Neil Rowe and Senator Lorenzo Yearwood spent some time at the Consulate while attending a UN forum and this year, the Consulate was busier than usual as Prime Minister Mia Mottley was in town a few times other than the annual trip for United Nations General Assembly, (UNGA).

Consulate organized the Prime Minister’s Community Conversation at Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, which was well attended in person and online. Mottley opened up the floor early and the session went past the 9 pm scheduled end. The feedback was that it was one of the best of such sessions.

The day-to-day work of the Consulate has shown no let up and staff have kept pace. . In 2021, a record 759 passports were processed, 22 visas issued and 41 citizen by descent applications processed. Consular services totaled some US$145 704. 75. Some 37 persons also returned home.

So far this year, the demand has continued. Up to September 631 passports were processed, 66 visas, and 35 citizenship by descent applications. There have been 81 enquiries about returning home with 44 already in Barbados or expected there by yearend. Consular services realised US$131 170. 25 for the period.

Sadly, Team Barbados at New York said goodbye to some staffers. Leslie Gittens, long serving Senior Business Development Officer with Invest Barbados moved on as well as Delores Wallace, Secretary to the Consul General.

Additionally, Lionel Blackman, the Consul General’s driver, reached retirement time and, soon, Vice Consul Janelle Gibson, Accountant for both the Consulate and Permanent Mission, will be moving on to another overseas assignment.

Next year, will bring new challenges, including moving to a paperless office, but as it has demonstrated, the Consulate General of Barbados at New York will rise to the occasions.