KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is reporting that all personnel who are deployed in Haiti are accounted for and in high spirits.

Tropical Storm Melissa has brought intense rain to Haiti, causing floods and landslides, which have claimed the lives of three people.

The update was given by Brigadier O’Neil Bogle, during Friday’s (Oct. 24) special press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister.

As Jamaica prepares for the impact of the tropical storm, Mr. Bogle shared that matters related to safety and security of JDF’s assets have been initiated.

He advised that offshore patrol vessels have all been deployed overseas out of the threat space while inland patrol vessels have all been secured along the coastlines.

“We have also looked at the state of our air assets and we are planning to, of course, deploy one of our maritime patrol aircraft overseas and the BELL 429 [will be available] to provide flexibility post-hurricane,”  Bogle explained.

He shared that remaining assets have been safeguarded in JDF hangars across its bases and plans have been put in place to safeguard ground assets across defence estates.

– JIS