KINGSTON, Jamaica — The deployment of local troops to Haiti is contingent on the finalisation of critical resourcing and is awaiting confirmation on funding and other agreements in furtherance of the mission.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he received the update from the Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force during a recent meeting of the National Security Council.

The deployment of troops to Haiti is part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to restore stability to the country which has long been rocked by gang violence that worsened at the end of February when armed groups launched coordinated attacks in the capital Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow then Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The mission comprises several countries in the region as well as Africa.

In the meantime, Holness noted that progress was being made on plans by the Government to retake local urban spaces from criminal elements.

He commended the efforts of the security forces in reducing murders and dismantling gangs in Spanish Town, noting that the St Catherine North Police Division has experienced reductions in murders and overall crime by 12.5 per cent and 11 per cent respectively for the January 2024 – June 26, 2024 period compared to the same period last year.

During the meeting, Holness further noted that there is a general improvement in the national security of the country but reminded council members that new threats continue to emerge for which we must remain vigilant and proactive.

In other updates, the director general of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), also highlighted an emerging trend in which lottery scammers are utilising short-term rental accommodation booked through online platforms which are then used as safe havens from which they perpetrate advance fee fraud.

The public is therefore being cautioned to exercise great care in vetting potential renters of their properties.

Lottery scamming and connected offences represent breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transaction) (Special Provisions) Act 2013, Cyber Crimes Act 2015 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2007 and are all punishable offences under the law.

MOCA has been increasing its efforts and capacity to better respond to cybercrime threats and continues to work with its local and international partners to disrupt, prosecute and remove the profit obtained through lottery scamming and other criminal activities.