Canada Deploys Soldiers to Jamaica for UN-Authorized Mission Training

Ottawa, The Gulf Observer: Canada has announced the deployment of approximately 70 soldiers to Jamaica to conduct training for troops from Caribbean nations participating in a United Nations-authorized mission to Haiti, as confirmed by the Canadian defense ministry.

The deployment, which took place on Saturday, follows Canada’s commitment to support the mission led by Kenya, announced last year. The mission aims to assist national police forces in Haiti combat powerful gangs amidst escalating violence, contributing to a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.

However, the initiative has faced delays due to legal challenges in Kenya, effectively halting progress on the mission’s implementation.

The Canadian soldiers, hailing from the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, will provide training in core peacekeeping skills and combat first aid, according to a statement from the defense ministry. This training is particularly relevant as French is one of Haiti’s official languages.

The troops are scheduled to remain in Jamaica for an initial period of one month, during which they will train approximately 330 troops from Jamaica, Belize, and the Bahamas.

In a previous announcement, Canada pledged C$80.5 million to support the deployment of the Kenyan-led mission, underlining its commitment to international peacekeeping efforts and addressing the challenges facing Haiti.