KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica is partnering with Canada in seeking to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Haitian National Police (HNP) as the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country grapples with security problems since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
The training program is being facilitated by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Global Affairs Canada-Central America and the Caribbean, and other stakeholders.
Jamaica said that the second batch of HNP personnel arrived here on Saturday after the first 16-member cohort of the HNP was equipped with security screening interview techniques during a one-week course at the National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ).
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang said that, among other things, the HNP specialized training program is intended to assist in establishing a “self-sustaining, fully functioning police force with the capacity to conduct a wide spectrum of policing functions as a critical tool to creating long- term sustainable solutions in Haiti.”
He noted that the just concluded course seeks to strengthen members’ capabilities to conduct compelling security screening interviews.
“This enhanced capacity will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in improving security responses by helping to identify and neutralize potential threats before they escalate,” Chang said, reiterating Jamaica’s commitment to facilitating law enforcement training for the HNP as part of a long-term strategy.
“We will continue to play our part in supporting the multinational security support mission to Haiti to help rebuild and standardize the security infrastructure, the local electoral system, health, and the social and political arrangements in the country.”
Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Emina Tudakovic, told the ceremony at which certificates were presented to the first set of HNP members that the training program is part of the shared priorities of the governments of Canada, Jamaica, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to restore peace and stability in Haiti.
She said Canada remains steadfast in its dedication to working alongside its international partners to collectively strive to create a world that is safe, just, and free of threats that undermine social order.
“Our sincere appreciation goes to the Ministry of National Security in Jamaica for their engagement, demonstrating our shared commitments to the regional goals of stability and security. This collaborative effort reinforces the importance of partnerships in addressing complex security challenges,” she said.
Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, commended the participants for completing the training program and noted that the JCF stands ready to assist with other areas of capacity development.
“There are certainly opportunities for expansion into other areas of policing. We are quite willing to share some of the policing tools we have been using and the support structures, such as our legislative resources, that better enable our policing efforts.
“We will continue to support the program and look forward to the gradual impact this initiative will have on Haiti’s security landscape and, by extension, the region,” he said.
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