FOR Jamaicans, citizenship is a birthright; however, for Dr Yanetsy Cuellar Tamargo, a native of Havana, Cuba, attaining Jamaican citizenship serves as a way of expressing gratitude as she seeks to give back to a country that opened its doors, embraced her wholeheartedly, and allowed her to thrive in her career.

A board-certified orthodontist, Dr Tamargo arrived in Jamaica in 2014 under a Cuba-Jamaica medical programme, serving as a lecturer in dentistry at the University of Technology, Jamaica. As her contract neared its end, she said the university approached her with an offer to remain on staff under an independent contract. Seeing it as an opportunity to continue contributing to dental education while building a life in Jamaica, she accepted without hesitation.

The orthodontist said she eventually applied for permanent residence after three years on the island. She then opened her orthodontic office, Yanetsy Orthodontics, in 2018, and later began the process of applying for Jamaican citizenship in 2022.

Earlier this month, she was among 30 individuals who became Jamaican citizens. She said she feels honoured to officially be recognised as a member of a “blessed” country.

“Jamaica is really big on hospitality. That was one of the first things that I loved about being here, just how warm and hospitable the persons are and just how nice everybody treated me. Wherever I went, when I came here for the first time, everybody was just so warm. They were like, ‘You’re Cuban? Welcome to Jamaica,’ and that was so amazing. I always tell everybody that from that first visit I loved Jamaica,” said Dr Tamargo.

She said she was further captivated by the island’s culture, music, food, and scenery, always wanting to explore and discover new places. She said before she knew it, Jamaica began to feel like home, and she made friends who felt more like family.

“It was amazing to find that connection in a place that I was not born in. I have friends who I can call anytime for anything, and I can ask them for advice for everything. They were always there for me, and when you find that somewhere you have to say, ‘This is my place,’ because you cannot find that everywhere, not even in your own country,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

The orthodontist said that level of love and care shone particularly bright when she decided to start her business.

She shared that while she comes from a family of medical practitioners, none are dentists, and so she chose to explore her own path in the medical field. She recalled that, while growing up, she had a friend who was unhappy with her smile but became noticeably more confident after undergoing orthodontic treatment. Witnessing that transformation, she said, solidified her decision to become an orthodontist so she could help others smile more confidently and feel better about themselves.

Dr Yanetsy Cuellar Tamargo (second right) celebrates the seventh anniversary of Yanetsy Orthodontics in Jamaica with members of her dental team.

“It was a big challenge because I came to another country with a different language. I knew what I wanted and what my dream was. I had a lot of knowledge, but I did not know the language properly, and so that was a challenge for me here in Jamaica. Thanks to the Lord, I had nice friends that helped me all the time, and also my students at the dental school; they were all amazing and always with me. Little by little, I am here now,” said Dr Tamargo.

As she reflected on her success, she said opening her office and gaining Jamaican citizenship serve as her way of giving back brighter smiles and job opportunities to the people of a country she loves.

“The country gives us opportunities. You have to work hard, but everywhere that you go when you leave your country you have to work hard, and even also work hard in your own country. For immigrants, it is different. You have to be different, and you have to adjust your life. Sometimes the culture can be close, but you have to change some things; here I had to learn the language.

“However, when a country gives you opportunities like Jamaica, for the persons who are here, and we are not Jamaican, and we get that opportunity to stay, you have to say, ‘Okay, after I get my opportunity I have to work hard to build this country and to give to this country the same things that it gave to me.’ If I can work here and I can do what I want to do and I can feel as free as I’ve always wanted to be, I have to help all the people here to grow and to be happy,” she told the Sunday Observer.

“I always recommend to everybody to [get their citizenship] if they’re going to stay here. It’s the only way that you can give to the country what the country gave to you before. It’s one way that you can show your gratitude also to the country if you love the country,” she added.

Dr Tamargo said she also encourages her staff members to be proud of their Jamaican heritage and delight in the fact that they are in a blessed nation that seeks to provide growth opportunities.

“Jamaica is a blessed country,” she declared.

As the island prepares to celebrate its 64th year of Independence, Dr Tamargo said she is proud to participate in the celebrations for the first time as a citizen of Jamaica.

“I just continue to pray for Jamaica. Jamaica is my home. I feel so happy to be part of this celebration because I am an official Jamaican now,” she said.