PRIME Minister Andrew Holness has promised that Jamaica’s security apparatus will not be compromised by a decision to send members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to Haiti.

Addressing a media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, Holness confirmed reports that Jamaica’s soldiers will be deployed to Haiti as part of a multi-national security force, if one is approved by the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

But with members of the JDF playing a key role in helping the police to tackle crime in some of Jamaica’s toughest communities, the prime minister was quick to point out that the number of Jamaican soldiers sent to Haiti will not be at the level of Kenya.

“We certainly can’t go up to the 1,000 troops that has been suggested in media for the Kenyans but we will give what we can,” Holness said in response to questions during the media briefing.

“We have our own challenges here and I think I need to say this for the Jamaican people that whatever we do cannot impact in a negative way our own security challenges here, but as a sovereign nation we look at all threats to our stability and security and we act pre-emptively and strategically to ensure that we have capabilities to deal with those threats,” added Holness.

He said Jamaica has always made it clear that it is ready to play its part in restoring peace and stability in the violence-plagued country.

“Jamaica was the first country to step out to say that we would be prepared to offer assistance to Haiti in terms of security and humanitarian assistance. We analysed the situation to the point where we thought indirect assistance would not be enough, there would have to be a security force support for the people of Haiti.

“Clearly Jamaica could not take the lead on this, we don’t have the resources even though we have the support, the ambition, the will and we stand always in solidarity with the people of Haiti,” added Holness.

The prime minister pointed out that Jamaica has been using its good offices and working through the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to ensure that the stakeholders in Haiti continue to speak.

Holness said Jamaica is also working through the UN Security Council and is happy to see that Kenya has come on board.

According to Holness, he is scheduled to have discussions with the president of Kenya William Ruto having already had long talks with the president of Rwanda Paul Kagame who has also committed to giving support to the multi-national security force.

“So it seems that things are coming together. The UN Secretary General [António Guterres ] has also been good work in trying to securing such a force, so as it is now Jamaica’s commitment still stands,” said Holness.

The United States, which now chairs the UN Security Council, has indicated that although it does not want to lead a force, it will support this move.

The US has written a resolution that has been before the Security Council now for about nine months calling for a multi-national force to be deployed to Haiti.

The came after the Haitian Government requested international help with a specialised force to enter the country to help the Haitian National Police.

Kenya’s interest was announced on Saturday, with its Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua saying his Government has “accepted to positively consider” leading a force in Haiti and sending 1,000 police officers to train the Haitian National Police, “restore normalcy” and protect strategic installations.

“Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world,” Mutua said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday praised Kenya for simply considering to serve, a sign of the difficulty in mustering international forces for Haiti, where deadly gang violence has exploded since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

But some organisations, which have long tracked alleged police misconduct in Kenya, are worried about how they will deal with the Haitians.

The Associated Press has reported that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Tuesday said he spoke with the Kenyan president to thank Kenyans for the “demonstration of fraternal solidarity”.

Kenya plans to send a task force in the coming weeks to assess the mission’s operational requirements.