March 22-24, 2022
‘Likkle but tallawah’ is an expression that means despite being small in size one’s impact is powerful. This is an accurate description of the incomparable island of Jamaica. It is approximately 10,991 square kilometres and is the third largest of the islands in the Caribbean. Jamaica’s world renowned, pristine, white sand beaches and spectacular waterfalls along with its lush foliage, no doubt led the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in 1494, to describe it as ‘the fairest isle that eyes have beheld’.
The island was originally named ‘Xaymaca’ by its indigenous people, the Tainos, who occupied Jamaica before the arrival of Columbus. ‘Xaymaca’ means ‘land of wood and water’ as a tribute to Jamaica’s expansive flora, as well as its breathtaking water features. In 1655, the English, under Admiral Sir William Penn and General Robert Venables, captured Jamaica from the Spanish and exerted colonial authority over the island until August 6, 1962, when the island gained its independence.
Jamaica became home to several tribes of Africans, who were forcibly taken from their homeland and forced to work on the island’s sugar plantations in a system of enslavement. They fought against slavery, and the island became famous for having the most slave rebellions in the region. Slavery was eventually abolished in 1834.
Jamaica has a rich and diverse culture which has been influenced by its various settlers. The Chinese, English, African and Indian, brought with them their language, cuisine, music, and religion. The impact on the Jamaican culture of this potpourri of races is reflected in the island’s motto: ‘Out of Many, One People.” The remnants of colonial rule can however, be seen in the island’s architecture and place names such as Wales, Manchester and Victoria.
The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness ON, PC, MP, is Jamaica’s ninth Prime Minister. He first served as Head of Government from October 2011 to January 2012 having succeeded former Prime Minister the Honourable Bruce Golding. He was again sworn in as Prime Minister on February 25, 2016 and is now in his second consecutive term. He is the youngest to lead the nation and the first Prime Minister to be born after Independence in 1962. The Prime Minister was born on July 22, 1972, in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
Prior to holding the highest office, Mr. Holness’ political career gained momentum at age 25 when he became the Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Central St. Andrew in 1997. He also worked in various sectors of Government such as community development, social welfare and housing. He cemented his skills as a servant of the people when he held the education portfolio. While there, he prioritised literacy at the primary school level and was instrumental in developing several programmes and institutions to meet the country’s educational needs. These included the:
Mr. Holness attended the St. Catherine High School before pursuing further studies at The University of the West Indies. He holds a Master of Science in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
He is married to Juliet, a chartered accountant and the Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural. They have two sons, Adam, and Matthew. In his spare time, Mr. Holness likes to jog, go cycling with his sons, and enjoy a round or two of table tennis.
Mr. Mark Golding was elected as President of the People’s National Party and became Leader of the Opposition in November 2020. He was first appointed to Jamaica’s Senate in September 2007 and served as the Opposition Spokesperson on Industry & Commerce until May 2011. He was Shadow Minister for Justice, until he was appointed Minister of Justice in January 2012. Mr. Golding was first elected Member of Parliament for South St. Andrew in 2017.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 19, 1965, Mr. Golding received his early education at Mona Preparatory School and Campion College before studying law at Oxford University, where he graduated with first class honours. He attended the Norman Manley Law School in order to be called to the Jamaican Bar in 1990. He then won a Commonwealth Scholarship and continued his studies at the University of London, obtaining a master’s degree in commercial and corporate law.
Mr. Golding also has interests in the field of finance and cofounded two institutions, Dehring Bunting & Golding Limited (DB&G), and Proven Investments Limited.
He is an avid cricket and football fan having played both sports as a schoolboy. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Arnett Gardens Football Club. He was also a musician throughout his time at Oxford University and was the co-owner of a music label in the late 1990s. He married his wife, Sandra, in 1990 and together they have three children.
Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II, has visited Jamaica six times, with the last two visits being in March 1994 and February 2002. Since then, other members of the Royal Family have also visited the island.
In March 1994, Her Majesty visited the Laws Street Training Centre and the Holy Family Primary School as well as laid a wreath at the cenotaph in National Heroes Park in Kingston. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office records described her experience as follows: “A carnival-like atmosphere prevailed in the inner city: members of the local community lined the streets waving flags and cheering and streets bands were on hand. The interest that the Royal visitors showed in inner city problems and youth development was much appreciated.”
Her Majesty’s trip in 2002 was no less significant. This visit was on the occasion of her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and saw the accompaniment of the Duke of Edinburgh, who attended a special session of Parliament at Gordon House, Kingston, and toured the second city of Montego Bay. Her Majesty’s visit came a few months after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11,2001 and her presence provided a sense of strength and support. The Queen used the opportunity to encourage peace and unity, stating that we were all part of a global network. Jamaica was also on the cusp of its 40th anniversary celebration of independence, which made her presence even more significant.
This year, from March 22-24, 2022, Jamaica will welcome their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as part of the Queen’s 70th Anniversary (Platinum Jubilee).
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, is the second in line to the British throne. His Royal Highness undertakes several charitable activities and projects and carries out public and official duties in support of Her Majesty, The Queen, in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Prince William is greatly inspired by the example of duty and leadership of his grandmother, The Queen and his father, The Prince of Wales. He works in support of The Queen and the Royal Family through his programme of charitable work and royal duties.
The Duke carries out a number of Royal duties on the Queen’s behalf. These include participating in official occasions, such as welcoming visiting Heads of State on Official State Visits to the UK, Trooping the Colour, an official event to mark the Queen’s birthday, and the Order of The Garter in Windsor.
His Royal Highness has also made numerous overseas visits to Commonwealth nations as The Queen’s representative.
Education and Professional Achievements
In September 2001, the Duke of Cambridge began a four-year Master of Arts degree in History of Art at St. Andrews University in Scotland. After two years, he changed his major to Geography. He completed his studies in June 2005, graduating with a Master of Arts (Honours) in Geography.
Following university, The Duke joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet. After completing 44 weeks of training, he was appointed an Army Officer in December 2006 and joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as a Second Lieutenant. A year later, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He began training as a search-and-rescue pilot in early 2009 and joined C Flight, 22 Squadron at RAF Valley in Anglesey in September 2010, spending three years in the service. During this time, he undertook 156 search-and-rescue operations and a routine deployment to the Falkland Islands. He also qualified as an Operational Captain.
Charities and Patronages
The Duke is currently president or Royal Patron of nearly 30 organisations and institutions. These include the:
The Duke of Cambridge was born on June 21, 1982, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London. He is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. He married Miss Catherine Middleton in 2011. On this occasion, Prince William became the Duke of Cambridge after being conferred with the title by The Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Their official residence is Kensington Palace.
Information obtained from the official website of the Royal Family – https://www.royal.uk/
The Duchess of Cambridge, formerly Catherine Middleton, supports The Queen through participation in royal engagements at home and overseas. The Duchess is also heavily involved in charitable work, devoting her time to a number of causes and organisations. Several of these are centred around providing children with the best possible start in life.
Education and Professional Achievements
In 2001, The Duchess enrolled at the University of St. Andrews, Fife, to study History of Art and she graduated in 2005.
The Duchess of Cambridge attends and participates in Royal engagements across the United Kingdom, joining The Queen and other members of the Royal Family on occasions. She is integral to the staging of several annual Royal events. These include:
The Duchess of Cambridge has visited several Commonwealth nations, with the Duke of Cambridge, on behalf of The Queen. The Duchess also participates in official tours to represent Britain at the Government’s request.
She regularly represents the Royal Family at major national sporting activities to show the nation’s support, especially when Great Britain hosts these events.
Charities and Patronages
Underscoring her commitment to the well-being of children, the Duchess works closely with experts and organisations dedicated to providing solid psychological, social and emotional services for children in order to help them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Some of these organisations are:
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to Michael and Carole Middleton at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, on January 9, 1982. The Duchess is the eldest of three children.
On April 29, 2011, Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey, where she was conferred with the title “Duchess of Cambridge” by the Queen.
The Duke and Duchess have three children: a son, George Alexander Louis, born on July 22, 2013, a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, born on May 2, 2015, and a son, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, born on April 23, 2018. Their official residence is Kensington Palace in London.
Information obtained from the official website of the Royal Family – https://www.royal.uk/
The Shortwood Teachers’ College is the only teachers’ college that trains teachers of French and Spanish. The government-funded college is located at 77 Shortwood Road, Kingston 8. It was founded in 1885 as part of the package of widespread social, economic and political reforms. Shortwood Teachers’ College maintains a high standard of academic performance and discipline and is “committed to the preparation of teachers of the highest quality” in keeping with its mission.
The College offers programmes which prepare students to teach early childhood or secondary level education through a slew of associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes as well as a post-graduate diploma programme. Teachers enrolled at Shortwood Teachers’ College receive practical training at the Shortwood Practising Infant, Primary and Junior High School established in 1887.
The Spanish Town Hospital is the largest Type B Hospital in the island and boasts statistics comparable to the Kingston Public Hospital, which is a Type A facility and the island’s major referral hospital. The 70-year-old hospital was opened by Sir Hugh Foot in 1952 and is located in St. Catherine, the fastest growing parish in the island. The hospital is also steadfast in its mission “to provide the best quality health service to patients, their families and the community through excellent customer service, efficient utilisation of resources, teamwork, cost-sharing and community participation by a highly skilled and motivated staff”.
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) or the Queen’s Army was formed in 1962. The Jamaica Defence Force was borne out of the West India Regiment (part of the British Colonial Regiment) which was formed in 1795. The JDF protects and defends the country’s air, sea and land spaces and maintains law and order when necessary. The JDF operates through eight divisions: the 1st and 2nd Jamaica Regiment, Support and Services Battalion, Engineering Regiment, Air Wing, Coast Guard and Combat Battalion.
The Caribbean Military Academy (CMA) – Montego Bay is the academic institutional arm of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). It houses a branch of the Caribbean Military Infantry Training Centre (CITC) which allows the JDF to train a larger cohort of the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) annually. The CITC, Flankers is responsible for training all personnel entering the JDF and developing the enlisted corps from the basic skills to service the senior management. The Training Centre offers a range of courses designed to enhance the development of future leaders within the defence force by exploring themes such as tactics and defence strategies; military rules and policies; planning and conducting military operations; leadership and management; decision-making; mass communication and event planning and execution.
The Initial Officer Training Programme (IOTP) provides basic military officer training to selected officer cadets and their equivalents from law enforcement and uniformed service. The programme located at the New Castle Hill Station, St. Andrew, aims to prepare the selected officer cadets to perform duties and fill roles at the basic officer level of leadership required for their home country/parent organisation. The IOTP falls within the tactical level of the Professional Military Education (PME) framework of armed forces. The programme is offered three times for the year over 15 weeks, with terms starting September, January and May of each year.
The Jamaica Officers’ Club (JOC) is an elite membership club located at the main base of the Jamaica Defence Force in Up Park Camp, Kingston. The JOC is the exclusive oasis of more than 400 officers, ex-officers, foreign military representatives and a select group of non-serving members which includes members of the diplomatic corps and JOC Committee-approved private and public sector heads from partner agencies. The club has an active events calendar that serves to enhance the camaraderie amongst its membership.
Office:
58a Half Way Tree Road, Kingston 10
Jamaica, W.I
Tel:
1 (876) 926-3590-4
1 (876) 926-3740-6
Email: Send us your query
INTRODUCTION
Initial Officer Training Programme (IOTP) provides basic military officer training to Officer Cadets (OCdts) and their equivalents from law enforcement and uniformed services. The programme falls within the tactical level of the Professional Military Education (PME) framework of armed forces and is modelled from the Royal Military Academy Sandhursts’ (RMAS) Commissioning Course. It was designed with the direct support and guidance of RMAS Instructing and Support Staff.
Rationale
Traditionally, the Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) longstanding partnerships with militaries across the world has seen its OCdts being trained in academies in the following countries: United States, England, Canada, China and India. Upon the return of OCdts to the JDF, there is a requirement for doctrine and operating procedure standardization due to the varying concepts and differing contents of the training they had undergone. This is normally done at the Unit level and later, through a Young Officers’ Course. The advent of COVID-19 added a new level of complexity to travel, thus negatively affecting the process of sending OCdts overseas. Additionally, the ongoing expansion and restructuring of the Force to cauterize the ballooning threats to national security has caused an increased demand for newly commissioned Second Lieutenants.
Due to the carefully adapted military and academic curricula, IOTP serves as the course to treat with the aforementioned considerations. The methodology used addresses each issue directly and the course, through the delivery of a bespoke training syllabus, is fit for the JDF and is also relevant to the militaries and organizations within the Caribbean region and in other parts of the world.
Concept
Having the RMAS approach to training at its core, IOTP is designed with a syllabus that sees male and female integration throughout training. The course focusses on developing military skills and command with a leadership ‘golden thread’. The course structure allows the Instructing Staff to educate, build, develop and scrutinize an OCdt’s ability to decide and communicate accurately and ethically while under pressure and or stress. The expectation is that on commissioning, an OCdt will be fully cognizant of the responsibilities and personal conditions that being an Officer imposes upon them. The product of the IOTP will be an ethical and robust Officer who has the knowledge, skills, attitudes and intellectual agility to adapt their decision-making process and approach to any environment.
Location
The home of IOTP is the Caribbean Military Academy (CMA) Newcastle, which is located at the Newcastle Hill Station, St Andrew, Jamaica.
Nestled in the cool hills of upper St Andrew and amidst beautiful trees, ferns, ground orchids, delicate wild flowers and a profusion of ginger lilies, is the Newcastle
Training Depot founded in 1841 by Major General Sir William Maynard Gomm (later Field Marshall). Gomm, a veteran of the wars against revolutionary France and Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica from 1840 to 1841, relentlessly badgered the War Office in London to establish a mountain station for British soldiers in Jamaica soon after taking up his post.
The idea of the hill station was first raised by Gomm in a letter dated April 7, 1840 to Governor Sir Charles Metcalfe. Gomm pointed out that while Up Park Camp was an ideal location for a barracks, it was subject to the ravages of yellow fever. In Jamaica the
British garrison was stationed on the plain at Up Park Camp, Stony Hill, Fort Augusta and Port Royal. Here, on the average, 1 soldier died every 2½ days. According to Russell, the year 1838 was considered a ‘good’ year: only 91 men died. In 1839, 110 men perished and in the following year 121. Initially, the British government was conservative in approving a hill station for the troops in Jamaica. They were concerned about the expense of the venture.
In May 1841, London finally sanctioned Gomm’s efforts to build what is thought to be the first permanent mountain station in the British West Indies at Newcastle. The site selected was a coffee plantation protruding from the southern face of the grand ridge of the Blue Mountains. The British government paid £4,230 for the Newcastle site.
At the outbreak of World War II (1939-1945), life at Newcastle changed a little. The British regiment was replaced by Canadian regiments which remained at Newcastle for the duration of the war. With hostilities over in 1945, the Canadians left and once again a British battalion was stationed there.
In 1958, the West Indies Federation was founded and the infantry regiments of the various Caribbean islands were disbanded and reorganized into the West India Regiment. Newcastle became a training depot, training recruits from all over the West Indies as part of the
newly formed West Indies Federation. In 1962 when Federation was disbanded, the West India Regiment was also disbanded. Jamaica simultaneously sought her independence, which was achieved on August 6, 1962. With independence, Newcastle was given to the Jamaican government as part of a general settlement of all military lands in Jamaica.