The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, explained that initially 24 officers will be deployed, to command, plan and guarantee logistical support.

The detachment – which in the future will number 250 personnel – was trained by Canada and examined by the United States.

“Jamaica has a close fraternal bond with the Haitian people and we are with them,” said Holness, as quoted by the Le Nouvelliste newspaper.

The commander of the Kenyan force, Godfrey Otunge, explained that the majority of Jamaican security guards are military, and will be tasked with protecting important government facilities such as the main port of Port-au-Prince.

Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June to combat gang members, who remain in control of 80 percent of Port-au-Prince and other areas of the country.

At the end of this month, troops from the Bahamas and Belize are expected to arrive to combat the criminal gangs, who consider the foreign soldiers to be invaders.

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