Jamaica shouldn’t send troops to Haiti

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I wish to comment on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meeting in Jamaica on March 11. It appears that Jamaica, as well as other countries, are making serious preparations to send troops to Haiti to help to quell the gang violence there. I have serious concerns about the grave consequences of such a decision.

We want to help our Caribbean neighbour, but a decision to send our troops should not be taken lightly. This is not to doubt the ability of the Jamaica Defence Force, but we need to consider that our military is very much inexperienced in engaging in armed conflicts. When one looks at America’s long involvement in armed conflicts (from Vietnam to Afghanistan), despite the country’s vast resources, the results of such conflicts had been decidedly mixed. Although we may have the best of intentions, we must always remember that there is no guarantee that we will get the results that we want.

I would rather not see Jamaica get involved in this conflict. Jamaican troops may sustain significant casualties and get bogged down in a long war, with no end in sight. But since this mission seems to be going ahead, the Jamaican Government should set clear objectives and a timeline for when this mission should be completed. We should also be prepared to look after our troops’ mental health once they return to Jamaica, as any experience in a conflict zone can be an intensely traumatic experience.

KEMAR CUMMINGS