The first mentoring activity of SEACOP V in the Caribbean was launched in Kingston, Jamaica on January 24.
Members of the Jamaican Joint Maritime Control Unit (JMCU) are receiving capacity building support from three coast guards from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) for five days.
This activity aims at consolidating the skills and knowledge of the team, most specifically on vessel controls. This ultimately aims at enhancing the skills of this multi agency team comprised of officers from Jamaica Contabulary Force Marine Units and Jamaica Customs Agency
Theoretical aspects covered included ISPS rules and port security, security in searches, search methodology and organisation, variety of caches, preservation of traces and evidence (forensic).
Following these theoretical sessions, the mentoring consisted in in situ controls whereby the Maritime Intelligence Unit (MIU) profiled recreational vessels, commercial vessels and fishing vessels while the JMCU, supervised by the trainers, carried out the controls.
A number of vessels searches are scheduled across different sites throughout Jamaica, following an analysis and identification carried out by the MIU.
This activity is being delivered under the expert guidance of 3 instructors from the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF) Coastguard Caribbean Military Training Academy. The Regional Coordinator, Karen Clarke, is also in Kingston to oversee the activity and to conduct high level meetings and to discuss future support and and MOU agreement with the Ministry of National Security
