Jamaica’s Commitment to Send Law Enforcement Officers to Haiti
[Jamaica troops]() passing out after completing their training in 2022, but when will they get to Haiti?
As Jamaica celebrated its Sixty-Second Anniversary of Independence on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett praised the country’s significant leadership role in regional integration and development. However, Jamaica was one of the first Caribbean nations to make a commitment to send law enforcement officers to the multinational force in Haiti in early February.
The Commitment
Jamaica was the first country to express its willingness to offer assistance to Haiti in terms of security and humanitarian assistance. Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated that the country analyzed the situation and determined that indirect assistance would not be enough; there would need to be a security force support for the people of Haiti. However, Holness also clarified that Jamaica could not take the lead on this mission.
The Situation on the Ground
Despite high-profile joint patrols by Kenyan and Haitian police in Port-au-Prince, where they have exchanged fire with suspected gang members, the gangs only seem to have tightened their grip on the capital’s south-western and north-eastern suburbs since the Kenyan mission began. Gang members have attacked and burned or partially destroyed police stations and continue to prey on major highways out of the capital and inland.
The Kenyan Contingent
The Kenyan contingent has already experienced its first casualty since arriving in Haiti. On July 30, a Kenyan policeman received a gunshot injury in the shoulder in Port-au-Prince when a Kenyan patrol engaged gang members. The Haitian police chief, accompanied by the Kenyan force commander, announced that more than 100 "bandits" had been killed by the Haitian and Kenyan police in operations conducted under a state of emergency declared in the most gang-plagued zones since mid-July. However, these statements have not succeeded in placating public skepticism, and there is no mention of any role played by Jamaican or other CARICOM forces.
Conclusion
The situation in Haiti remains precarious, with gangs continuing to wreak havoc on the country. The lack of progress in dealing with the gangs is a major concern, and it remains to be seen when Jamaican forces will be deployed to the region. Until then, the people of Haiti continue to suffer at the hands of these gangs.
FAQs
Q: Why is Jamaica sending law enforcement officers to Haiti?
A: Jamaica is sending law enforcement officers to Haiti as part of its commitment to regional integration and development.
Q: What is the situation like on the ground in Haiti?
A: The situation in Haiti is precarious, with gangs continuing to wreak havoc on the country.
Q: What is the role of the Kenyan contingent in Haiti?
A: The Kenyan contingent is working with the Haitian National Police Force to combat gangs in the country.