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 a special press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday (October 24).

The Jamaican soldiers were deployed in Haiti over the past year to support the Multinational Security Support Mission. In April this year, a relief team including 18 JDF members and three members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force was deployed to continue the work started by the CARICOM Joint Task Force-Haiti (CJTF-H) advance team that was deployed to island in September 2024. 

As Jamaica prepares for the impact of the tropical storm, Brigadier Bogle shared that matters related to the 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. 

Remaining assets have been safeguarded in JDF hangars across its bases, and plans have been implemented to safeguard ground assets across defence estates.