PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The Jamaican security contingent arrived in Haiti on Thursday as part of a multi-national mission to help restore law and order amid escalating violence in the French-speaking country.

The group, consisting of 20 soldiers and four police officers, departed the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston minutes after 1:00 pm (local time).

Deputy Superintendent Adrian Hamilton, who is among the four officers deployed, says the team stands ready to provide support to the Haitian forces.

“The Jamaica Constabulary Force has a rich heritage of participation in numerous security missions throughout the region and across the world. Today encapsulates a seminal moment with the deployment of the Caricom (Caribbean Community) joint task force advanced team to Haiti. It has been a long road, we are proud and confident…we intend those capabilities to accomplish the mission in Haiti,” he said.

Large sections of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, continue to be overrun by gangs following the 2021 assassination of Prime Minister Jovenel Moise and nearly 400 Kenyan police arrived earlier this year and are working alongside the Haitian police and military.

According to Hamilton, the Jamaican team will be responsible for providing command, planning and logistics support.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who was speaking earlier this week, said the 20 soldiers and four police officers will be under the command of Jamaica’s Colonel Kevron Henry, who will be second in command of the overall multi-national contingent.