New Border Patrol Vessels Next Year

The Ministry of National Security will be acquiring new border patrol vessels in the new year as part of measures to strengthen the country’s national security.

“Come end of January 2017, we will be taking possession of two coast guard ships and later in the year we will be taking possession of a maritime surveillance aircraft,” said portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Montague.

He was speaking at a ceremony for the handing over of several motor vehicles to the police force, held on December 14 at the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Transport and Repair Division in Kingston.

Mr. Montague further noted that the Ministry will be boosting the capacity of the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) as well as other border-management entities.

“Through PICA, we are increasing the use of kiosks and we are increasing the use of immigration officers as well. We are looking at total border protection. We will be leveraging technology to assist us going forward,” he said.

The Security Minister pointed out that the measures are aimed at strengthening security at the ports of entry in order to eliminate the flow of illegal weapons and contraband into the island.

He noted that 80 per cent of crimes committed in Jamaica involve the use of the gun. “We do not manufacture guns or bullets in Jamaica, so we will be moving to secure our borders,” he said.

“We are moving to address this by increasing the mobility of the force, increasing the use of intelligence by sitting down with our partners as we have been doing, in treating with weapons that have been coming into the country,” he added.