Approximately 70 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members have been deployed to Jamaica to provide training to military personnel from Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations who are set to deploy to Haiti as part of the United Nations-authorised, Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

The deployment was effected at the request of the Jamaican Government, Canada’s Department of National Defence said in a news release on Saturday.

According to the Canadians, the mission in Jamaica, known as Operation HELIOS, will see CAF members provide training to approximately 330 troops from Jamaica, Belize, and The Bahamas on core peacekeeping skills and combat first aid as well as carry out validation and integration exercises for Caricom troops.

The training will prepare the Caricom troops and bolster the Haitian National Police (HNP) in their efforts to restore security for the people of Haiti, the release stated, adding that the training will take place at the Canadian Armed Forces’ Operational Support Hub.

The CAF personnel are drawn primarily from the 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment from Valcartier, Quebec. Their deployment will last for an initial period of approximately one month, the National Defence Department said.

“Canada is committed to supporting the Haitian people, who are striving for a peaceful and more prosperous future. By helping our Caricom partners prepare to deploy on the United Nations-backed MSS mission, Canada is stepping up with important contributions to Haiti’s security. We will continue to support Haitian-led efforts to build stability, and we thank all CAF members involved for their contributions to this mission,” the release quotes Canada’s Minister of National Defence Bill Blair.

In February, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced an investment of CAD$80.5 million to support the deployment of the MSS mission. That came a month after CAF led training courses for approximately 300 Jamaican, Belizean, and Bahamian troops in the areas of protection of civilians, conduct and discipline, and conflict-related sexual violence.

All troops, the Canadians said, must undergo such training prior to participation in UN-sanctioned peacekeeping missions.

Commenting on Operation HELIOS, Joly thanked members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedication and support towards a successful deployment of the MSS mission, which she described as a critical step in restoring security, law and order, and democracy in Haiti.

“As we’ve said from the beginning, Canada believes in Haitian-led solutions to the political, security, and humanitarian crises in Haiti. We will continue to engage with Haitian stakeholders, Caricom, and international partners to strengthen the security and justice sectors as well as to protect the people of Haiti and encourage Haitian-led efforts to restore peace, law and order, and prosperity in the country,” she said.

The release also quoted Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, commander Canadian Joint Operations Command, as saying, “Assisting in the Latin American and Caribbean region is just one way in which the Canadian Armed Forces contributes to global peace and security. We are collaborating with partners and international organisations to devise optimal strategies for aiding Haiti while continuing to facilitate training and logistics support to this operation.”