Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the planned deployment of a team of police and soldiers to Haiti later this week as he seeks to contribute to the multinational effort to restore law and order in the country. The announcement was made during a Post-Cabinet Press Briefing Tuesday morning.
“In March 2024, with the support of the United States and Canada, Jamaica brought several CARICOM forces together in Kingston for talks and training regarding deployment to Haiti,” Holness stated.
“Today, we announce that Jamaica will begin its participation in the multinational security support mission with the deployment of 24 personnel to Haiti to provide command, planning, and logistics support,” Holness detailed.
The prime minister revealed that the team consists of 20 members from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and four from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). This initial deployment will focus on establishing the command structure and logistical planning necessary for a larger contingent of forces expected to follow in the coming months.
Holness emphasised that Jamaica’s involvement in Haiti’s stabilisation is not only a matter of “solidarity” but also one of regional interest. “It’s a regional problem,” Holness outlined, pointing out that the instability in Haiti has far-reaching implications for the Caribbean.
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The ongoing crisis in Haiti, which has been exacerbated by the dominance of armed gangs and the collapse of key institutions, has drawn international attention. Jamaica’s participation in the multinational force is part of a broader effort to address these issues.
Last year, Holness announced that Jamaica was prepared to send up to 200 security personnel as part of a larger multinational force.
When questioned about the relatively small initial contingent, Holness explained that the full deployment would occur gradually. “What you are seeing now is the build-out towards a more grand deployment,” he said, noting that the first group is set to deploy on Thursday, 12th September.
Jamaica’s deployment comes after an emergency CARICOM summit held in March, where the country reiterated its support for the international police force mission in Haiti. The mission is led by Kenya, with backing from the United Nations and the United States. However, the Kenya-led mission is currently below its intended strength of 2,500 personnel and faces significant funding challenges.
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In late March 2024, Haitian strongman, Cherizier, known as ‘Barbecue,’ emphasized the futility of seeking peace in Haiti without involving key local stakeholders. His message was clear in an interview that showed him surrounded by armed men, he said, “As long as we are not at the table, the country will never be in peace.”
Barbecue also noted that foreign troops will be met with deadly force if they try to confront them in the streets.
Despite this, international efforts to support Haiti continue, with the United States providing over $300 million for the mission and Canada recently contributing C$59 million to a UN-controlled trust fund.
Although the situation in Haiti remains dire, Jamaica’s involvement in the multinational force has sparked divided opinions in Jamaica, with most Jamaicans against the move, highlighting that we need to fix our own security issues.
Watch as PM Holness talks on the matter below:
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