A sixty-member JDF contingent of infantry soldiers returned to Jamaica on Saturday 25 April 2009, after performing security duties from 23 March – 25 April 2009 at the Fifth Summit of the Americas (VSOA) Conference held in Trinidad and Tobago. They were preceded by a 17-member team who returned two days before them.

The Commanding Officer (CO) for the Second Battalion The Jamaica Regiment (2JR),
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Sewell was right on location to welcome the troops as they arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport at almost 10:00 pm.  He applauded them on a job well done.

One of the Platoon Commanders, Second Lieutenant Glen N Thompson commended the troops on their performance overseas. “This is my first operation overseas. We had challenging times, however, the soldiers carried out their duties in a professional manner.”

Others counted this deployment as a worthwhile experience. “It was a wonderful integration of CARICOM Forces,” said Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Peter Mason, Company Sergeant Major of the JDF Contingent.

WO2 Peter Mason gave the mission a high score. “Our duties were to ensure that we had a safe and secure environment for the Summit and this we achieved,” he said profoundly. “It was a learning experience for most of our soldiers and I think they had a wonderful experience,” he continued.

The soldiers were apart of a ninety-four-member Jamaican Contingent consisting of all ranks of Infantry, Naval and Logistics support staff, who joined other regional police and defence forces to provide assistance to the Ministry of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago to ensure a safe and secure environment for the hosting of the Summit. The naval crew from the JDF Coast Guard will return on 30 April 2009.

The Summit saw 34 Heads of State and/or Governments of the Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) sharing in the same forum and exchanging ideas and opinions on the principal political, economic, social and security challenges facing the hemisphere. Among the members were Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper who visited Jamaica Military Aviation School (JMAS) following the Summit on 20 April 2009 during his two-day working visit to Jamaica, and US President Barack Obama who was attending the Summit for the first time in this capacity. 

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