NEW YORK, USA — While Jamaicans across the United States have been lavishing praise on former Ambassador Audrey Marks, many are also hoping that her successor will be able to provide what they describe as “the excellent, credible, and professional service” she did during her tenure.

Marks, who demitted office as ambassador and permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) just over a week ago, has since been sworn in as a Government senator and minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for efficiency, innovation and digital transformation.

Meanwhile, former police commissioner Major General Antony Anderson has been named as Marks’ replacement and the new ambassador to the US and permanent representative to the OAS.

“He is going to have some large shoes to fill,” New Jersey-based Dr Robert Clarke said of the ambassador designate.

Clarke is president of Help Jamaica Medical Mission, a non-profit body that has been providing medical assistance for Jamaica over many years.

He recalled his early interaction with Marks while he was an executive member, and later president, of the National Association of Jamaica and Supportive Organizations. Clarke said she “was always helpful and effective, as she always went above and beyond in the execution of her duties.

“During her tenure, she made sure she had a handle on most things that were of concern to us in the Diaspora,” Clarke told the
Jamaica Observer, adding that Marks was “one of the best and most effective Jamaican ambassadors to serve in the US and who ensured that politics did not interfere with her duties”.

He noted, too, that one of Marks’ attributes was her willingness and readiness to help organisations like Help Jamaica Medical Mission cut through the red tape and bureaucracy, thus ensuring that their effort in providing assistance to Jamaicans went smoothly.

Patrick Callum, head of the New York chapter of G2K — the young professional arm of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) — said he hopes the new envoy will be able to secure the same level of investments or even more than Marks did.

He acknowledged that “this might be challenging, given that Ambassador Marks had a background in business, while her successor’s career has been in law enforcement”.

Callum said Marks was “very approachable and responsive to the concerns of the Diaspora”, as he pointed to her monthly online forum — Let’s Connect — which was used to engage Diaspora members on several matters.

“This is something I hope the new ambassador will continue, as it has proven to be an effective tool of engagement,” he said.

Meanwhile, California-based Dr Shauna Chin, vice-chair of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and US West-Mid West representative for the council, said Anderson “will have to hit the ground running”.

“He will begin his role at a time when Diaspora elections will become due, and so he will be required to play a key role in communicating the requirements of the role, unifying the Diaspora on outstanding concerns and preparing for the US regional diaspora conference,” said Chin, who added that she stands ready to offer her assistance to the new ambassador.

“[Marks] played a key role in fostering trade within the Jamaican community and between Jamaica and the US, using her background as a formidable businesswoman,” Chin said.

The former head of the then Diaspora Advisory Board for the North-east US, Patrick Beckford, said he “expects the new ambassador will be able to build a formidable and cordial working formula with the Diaspora quickly” while praising Marks for her professionalism and wishing her well in the new role.

Florida-based Peter Gracey, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council representative for the southern US, echoed Beckford’s view that the new ambassador “will need to forge a quick and solid relationship with the Diaspora.

“I expect him to pick up where Ambassador Marks left off, and so I would advise that he begin to reach out to the leadership of the Diaspora even before he takes up his new post,” said Gracey.

He argued that this will allow Anderson “to build a support base and begin from an area of strength”.

Gracey, who said he will not be seeking re-election to the Diaspora council, commended Marks for doing a decent job and, though expressing some reservations about the diplomatic credentials of the new ambassador, said he will be supporting the new envoy.

Irwin Clare Sr, who heads Caribbean Immigration Service, also commended Marks for the job she did while representing the Jamaican Government in Washington. Like others, Clare Sr said he will wait to see what the new ambassador brings to the table.

However, one key member of the Diaspora who did not see eye to eye with Marks used his interview with the Sunday Observer to level several charges against the former envoy.

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent and current federal attorney Wilfred Rattigan said he “did not think that Ambassador Marks did enough to unite the Diaspora.”

He pointed to last year when the US State Department issued a level three advisory for Jamaica. He argued that the former ambassador unfairly blamed a protest by a group of 30 people in Miami for the action of the State Department.

The group, which protested against some conditions in Jamaica, eventually grew larger and staged protests in New York twice, Washington, DC, and Canada, before folding in dramatic fashion over disagreement about the way forward.

Rattigan also pointed to the current Cuban medical mission issue for which the US has expanded visa restrictions targeting Cuban doctors and those involved in Cuba’s international medical missions. He claims it has been around since 2019, when the matter was raised by then Senator Marco Rubio, now the US secretary of state, and former New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez.

Rattigan said he does not think that the former ambassador did enough to prepare the Jamaican Government about the possible ramifications now being played out in the matter.

Commenting on the appointment of Anderson as the new ambassador, Rattigan said he expects little change, if any, from the new envoy.