A contingent of members of the security forces has been deployed to Haiti to support the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

The 25 member team has 18 soldiers and 7 police officers. Twelve Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) personnel are being rotated, and one new JCF member will join the contingent.

Jamaica now has 26 members of the security forces deployed to Haiti.

Chief of defence staff of the JDF Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, notes that this is the third contingent to be deployed in support of Haiti.

The JDF in a statement says this is a planned rotation that ensures the sustained effectiveness and operational readiness of Jamaica’s deployed personnel, while maintaining continuity of mission objectives. 

It said the previous two deployments supported the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM).

With the adoption of a United Nations resolution to transition from the MSSM to the GSF earlier this year, the jamaican contingent is supporting this new thrust to restore law and order in Haiti. 

The GSF works closely with the Haitian National Police and the Haitian Armed Forces to conduct operations aimed at restoring safety and security for the citizenry, providing security for critical infrastructure, and supporting humanitarian access.

The jamaican contingent provides operational, strategic and logistic support to the headquarters of the GSF.