Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the government intends to deepen its collaboration and cooperation with other Caribbean stakeholders and counterparts in order to strengthen regional safety and security.
Speaking Nov. 14 at the commissioning of the Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) new Maritime Patrol Aircraft Hangar at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Holness said this is imperative against the background of prevailing security threats, particularly in the maritime domain, which he described as “transnational and global in nature.”
The threats include terrorism; trafficking of illegal weapons and arms, drugs, and people; illegal dumping and discharge of pollutants; and unregulated fishing.
“Therefore, the choices we make with regard to furthering the region’s security must be done in a manner that is collaborative, in order to promote economic and social prosperity for all in the region,” the prime minister said. “Jamaica has a key role to play in this regard.”
The ceremony was also used to commission into service two Bell 429 helicopters and a Beechcraft King Air 350 ER maritime patrol aircraft acquired by the JDF.
