PORT ANTONIO, Portland – Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bruce Golding has signalled his administration’s intention to continue Jamaica’s security partnership with the United States.

Golding, who is also minister of planning and development, made his intentions known at a meeting Saturday with United States Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson, the Honduran and Mexican Ambassadors and Rear Admiral Peter Brady, Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force. He was accompanied by National Security Minister Derrick Smith.

The meeting took place aboard the HSV-2 Swift, the fastest US Naval ship which was docked at the Boundbrook Wharf in Port Antonio, Portland, where Golding expressed Jamaica’s gratitude to Captain Douglas C Wied, US Navy Commander, Task Group 40.9 Global Fleet Station HSZ-2 Swift Command Element.

The ship’s visit was part of the security partnership between Jamaica and the United States in which both countries exchange experiences, knowledge, and skills in areas such as the internatonal fight against narco-trafficking.

“It is a part of the ongoing programme of cooperation between the US and Jamaica. It has been very good and it will continue and there are other areas of cooperation that are taking place right now,” the prime minister said. “I really wanted to come down and thank the captain and his men and women.” In response, Captain Wied spoke glowingly of the hospitality they had received here in Jamaica.

For his part, Security Minister Derrick Smith said: “We were invited to have a look at the vessel in port, the fastest in the United States Navy. We spent our time meeting some other ambassadors – the Mexican, Honduran and US – as we exchange pleasantries. “It was very exciting being exposed to what is on the ship.”