Jamaica Pledges Military Support for Haiti's Fight Against Gangs

Jamaica is sending an initial deployment of 24 military and police personnel to Haiti as part of an international security mission. Led by Kenya, the mission aims to help Haiti battle powerful gangs. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the importance of a well-planned operation.

In a move to bolster Haiti's fight against gang violence, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Tuesday the deployment of 24 military and police personnel to the crisis-ridden Caribbean island. This marks the beginning of Jamaica's commitment to an international security mission aimed at restoring order in Haiti.

The initial deployment is set to leave for Haiti on Thursday to help establish the command structure for future operations. Despite Jamaica's pledge of 200 personnel back in March, actual deployment has been slow, and the mission's mandate will expire soon if not extended. Led by Kenya, the mission has so far seen 400 Kenyan police officers on the ground, with more support pledged from Benin, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Belize.

Despite facing logistical issues like delays in wages and equipment distribution, Jamaican officials remain committed to the mission. Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, a senior Jamaican defense official, stated that the deployment would be led by Kevron Henry, serving under Kenya's commander Godfrey Otunge. The intensified gang activity has led to a humanitarian crisis, fueling mass displacements and widespread hunger.

(With inputs from agencies.)