Participants in Exercise Tradewinds to Clean Beaches
By: , June 21, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Dave Reid
Lead Planning Officer for Phase 2 of the United States Southern Command (US SOUTHCOMM)-led multinational security training initiative, ‘Exercise Tradewinds’, Lieutenant Colonel Mahatma Williams (right) of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), along with local and visiting programme participants at Monday’s (June 20) launch at the JDF’s headquarters at Up Park Camp in Kingston. From left are: Canadian armed forces Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kerber; Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Jamaica, Brigadier Rocky Meade; Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Marine Corps Forces, Colonel David Carbonero; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Jamaica, Major General Antony Anderson; US SOUTHCOMM Division Chief in charge Joint Training and Exercises, Colonel Randall Warring; and Executive Director of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPOACS) and Jamaica’s former Police Commissioner, Francis Forbes.The Facts
- Lt. Col. Williams said that the JDF will partner with the Ministry of Health, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to carry out the projects.
- Over 1,700 personnel will participate in the three phases of Exercise Tradewinds, which supports the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and Central American Region Security Initiative (CARSI).
The Full Story
Officers attending the Exercise Tradewinds multinational security training programme (Phase 2), now under way in Jamaica, will participate in six coastal clean-up projects on June 26.
The projects are community relations events organised by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) that will target beaches and coastlines in Kingston, St. Catherine, and St. Ann. They will be carried out under the theme: ‘Environmental Protection’.
Among the target areas are sections along the Palisadoes peninsula, and the Gun Boat Beach in Kingston; the Half Moon Beach and Old Harbour Bay coastline in St. Catherine; and Roxborough Beach in St. Ann. Activities are scheduled to run from 12 noon to six in the evening.
Lead Planning Officer for Phase 2, Lieutenant Colonel Mahatma Williams, told JIS News that the projects are aimed at cleaning and beautifying the beaches and coastlines by removing debris and other accumulated waste.
He said this will also eliminate existing and potential mosquito breeding sites, thereby further reducing the possible spread of vector-borne diseases, such as the Zika virus.
Lt. Col. Williams said that the JDF will partner with the Ministry of Health, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to carry out the projects.
He explained that community projects are done under Exercise Tradewinds to facilitate interaction between the participants and residents.
“As such, we will be inviting residents and members of community groups to join us. We also want to use the opportunity to further educate persons, both local and visiting military and constabulary personnel and persons living in the areas, about the importance of preserving the environment,” Lt. Col. Williams added.
More than 1,300 military and police personnel from the Caribbean, United States, Britain, Canada, France and Mexico are participating in Phase 2 of the United States Southern Command (US SOUTHCOMM) Exercise Tradewinds from June 20 to 28.
This segment is focused on training that will strengthen the participants’ capacity in maritime and land security operations.
The first phase, which was conducted in Grenada from June 5 to 14, focused on the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The third and final will entail a leadership seminar to be conducted in Miami, Florida, from July 19 to 21.
Exercise Tradewinds, which commenced in 1996, is an annual activity aimed at strengthening the capacity of defence forces and constabularies across the region to counter transnational crime and conduct humanitarian/disaster relief operations, among other engagements.
Over 1,700 personnel will participate in the three phases of Exercise Tradewinds, which supports the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and Central American Region Security Initiative (CARSI).