KINGSTON, Jamaica — Today is the final day in phase two of the joint military training programme, Exercise Tradewinds, which involves more than 1,300 military and police personnel from the Caribbean, United States, Britain, Canada, France, and Mexico, which started on June 20.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is reassuring residents in communities where aspects of the exercise, such as low-flying aircraft, may be visible, not to be scared by these actions as there is no danger to their health or security.

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.

The exercise supports the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and Central American Region Security Initiative (CARSI). The participants are involved in maritime and ground security training exercises.

Lead Planning Officer for Phase Two, Lieutenant Colonel Mahatma Williams of the JDF, said the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) has dispatched teams to observe how the training is being conducted.

“They will measure the standards against the objectives for each training component, from which they will generate a report that will include recommendations for improvements, where needed, for submission and discussion at the leadership seminar to be held next month in Miami, Florida,” he noted.

Balford Henry