KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, says the Government will ensure that the capabilities of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) are leveraged to tackle many of the country’s socio-economic challenges.

He said it is important that the army is not limited to security, but that its role extends to offering training in a range of fields locally and regionally.

Holness made the comments during a tour of the JDF’s Technical Training Institute at Up Park Camp on Thursday (May 26), following private meetings with the high-level staff of the force.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Derrick Smith, and Permanent Secretary in OPM, Elaine Foster-Allen. Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Antony Anderson, led the tour.

They were briefed on the range of projects being undertaken by the JDF’s 1st Engineer Regiment, under which the training institute falls, by Commanding Officer,

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Rickman.

The 1st Engineer Regiment is partnering with the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) on an apprenticeship programme. This has already seen hundreds of youth from inner city communities benefitting from skills training in auto mechanics, furniture making, air condition and refrigeration repairs, carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation and masonry.

Holness was introduced to the officers involved in the training, along with recruits from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Department of Correctional Services, and interns from CSJP.

As Minister of Defence, Holness expressed pride in the JDF, which he described as a national asset.  

“It has been an eye-opening tour for me, to get a first-hand view of the capability and the capacity of the military. Jamaica can be very proud of this institution,” he said.

He said the military also has an “incredible capacity for earning” and is suitably positioned to play an ambassadorial role for Jamaica.

For this part, Minister Smith noted that the meetings and tours were enlightening and acknowledged that the JDF continues to display high standards in carrying out its programmes and projects.

“We hold the JDF in high esteem and I am convinced that (that) is quite appropriate,” he said.

Commanding Officer, Lt Col Rickman, said it was an honour for the 1st Engineer Regiment to host the Prime Minister. “For me to get an opportunity to show him what the engineer regiment does for the JDF and for the nation, it was quite significant,” he said.

Among the regiment’s responsibilities are: the provision of emergency engineering assistance during natural disasters; maintenance of technical essential services nationally; planning; construction and maintenance of JDF projects and installations; and serving as combat engineering support to JDF units. It also provides engineering assistance and guidance to Government and civil agencies.