THE Canadian High Commission has apologised to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) for a botched naval exercise in March, which saw live 50-calibre rounds being fired in Jamaican coastal waters by two of that country’s naval vessels and the interference with a boat in which former Prime Minister Bruce Golding was travelling.

The disclosure came on Tuesday as the JDF sought to clear the air on the incident, which the Canadian media said has caused that country much embarrassment.

The vessels, the Goose Bay and the Kingston, were given authorisation to enter Jamaican waters to make port calls in Montego Bay for the purpose of crew rest and recuperation on March 23 and leave on March 26, according to the JDF.

“Having departed, it was subsequently discovered that one of the vessels was conducting live fire exercises and interception of vessels in our archipelagic waters south of the Jamaican mainland. This would be inconsistent with UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, article 19, that lists a number of activities that could be considered prejudicial to the right of ‘innocent passage through the territorial seas of any state’ including ‘any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind’,” the JDF explained.

The vessels were patrolling south of Jamaica as part of Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to an ongoing, United States-led anti-drug trafficking operation in the Caribbean and East Pacific Ocean.

But crew members on both vessels reportedly began firing their ships’ weapons, including large 50-calibre machine guns, as part of a live-fire training exercise.

The Goose Bay also deployed its small inflatable boat to intercept and identify 17 small fishing vessels to ensure they weren’t carrying cocaine, marijuana or were involved in any other illicit activity.

The Goose Bay and Kingston also reportedly pulled up alongside one vessel which was carrying Golding.

Golding, in an interview with Nationwide News Network, confirmed that he was aboard the vessel but said he was treated respectfully by the Canadian naval crew.

He also said he reported the activity to the JDF Coast Guard, who immediately contacted the Canadian vessel.

“The live firing exercise was immediately discontinued. The JDF Coast Guard then discussed the facts of the occurrence with a liaison officer in Canada. Subsequent dialogue was held between Headquarters JDF and the Canadian High Commission. These talks revealed that the vessels were operating with navigational charts that did not correctly reflect Jamaica’s southern maritime boundaries, which were adjusted by the Maritime Areas Act of 1996, that declared Jamaica an archipelagic state. It was also established that the vessel, in conducting the live firing exercise and interception of vessels, was not aware that they were in Jamaican waters and did not intend to so operate in Jamaican waters,” the JDF said Tuesday.

The Coast Guard reported that the Ministry of National Security and the Office of the Prime Minister were informed of the incident and were advised that the JDF found the explanation acceptable.

“The JDF then recommended and received approval to conclude the matter at the operational level. An apology was later sent to the JDF, via the Canadian High Commission and the entire situation was deemed an unfortunate error,” the JDF reported.

Since 2006, Canada has become increasingly involved in the anti-narcotics war and has deployed submarines and surveillance aircraft to assist the US in the war on illicit drug trafficking in Caribbean waters.

Canada has reportedly spent in the region of Ca$17 million in the war on drugs since 2008.