Ambassador Anderson Reaffirms Jamaica’s Commitment to Caribbean Security Cooperation

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States (US), His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, recently reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to advancing regional defence and security cooperation across the Caribbean, as he addressed defence and security professionals representing 16 countries at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington DC.

Ambassador Anderson, who also serves as Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), was the featured speaker before an audience comprising faculty members and 52 senior defense and security professionals, including a delegation of eight high-ranking officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

In commending the work of the Perry Center, Ambassador Anderson highlighted its pivotal role in fostering knowledge exchange and underscored the importance of alignment and policy coherence across all levels of government.

“The Perry Center provides a platform for professionals normally involved in the execution of strategies and plans that deliver key outcomes to also develop an understanding of the policy requirements and policy context of your respective governments, as you advance throughout your careers,” he stated.

“At this level, it is important that while you execute, there is an understanding of the policy framework that drives those operational plans and activities, particularly in the complex, fluid and high-threat environments within which you operate, where there is a persistent need to make critical decisions with significant strategic consequences,” the diplomat added.

Drawing on his distinguished career as Jamaica’s former National Security Advisor, former Commissioner of Police, and Retired Chief of Defence Staff, Ambassador Anderson delivered substantive leadership insights rooted in his extensive operational experience.

“As you advance in your careers, and as leaders, you will engage more and more with the political class and across multiple sectors. You will be key actors of the all-of-government approaches, adopted across our region. As such, you must be able to articulate and execute the policy intent of your organisations, as you navigate the evolving security environment, which demands more than ever, cooperation, dynamism and adaptability,” Ambassador Anderson explained.

He specifically referenced his role as Regional Commander for CARICOM Forces in 2007, which oversaw the mobilisation of one of the Caribbean’s earliest multinational security contingents for a major international event—a landmark deployment spanning multiple countries that showcased the region’s capacity for integrated security cooperation under clear command structures and shared political will.

“Mobilising a Cricket World Cup Multinational Force across 15 countries speaking five different languages, into a coherent force that could collaborate and cooperate during the planning and execution processes required early and sustained engagement at the political and operational levels to foster shared understanding and support,” Ambassador Anderson said

He emphasised that the professional relationships cultivated through the Perry Center course, which convenes senior security practitioners from across the hemisphere, constitute vital capital for shaping the Caribbean’s future security posture.

“The professional relationships developed through forums such as this will be critical to the region’s collective response to evolving security threats,” Ambassador Anderson underscored.

The two-week Caribbean Security and Defense Course drew 52 participants representing Belize, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States, as well as representatives from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the Regional Security System (RSS).

The course concluded with a graduation ceremony at the Perry Center on March 20.

The two-week Caribbean Security and Defence Course brought together 52 participants from Belize, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States, alongside representatives from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the Regional Security System (RSS).

The programme concluded with a graduation ceremony at the Perry Center on March 20.

The William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies supports a community of security and defence professionals across the Americas in pursuing collaborative approaches to shared opportunities and challenges.

Since its establishment in 1997, the Center has engaged more than 30,000 participants through over 1,700 forums, fostering dialogue, cooperation, and strategic understanding throughout the region.