By Steph Crosier
[1]TRENTON, ON (10/08/11) Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay announced today that there will be 65 personnel and three CH-146 Griffon Helicopters to a desperate Jamaica during the hurricane season. Jamaica requested assistance because four of their search and rescue helicopters are under going emergency maintenance. Photo by Steph Crosier
Canada will be sending three griffin helicopters and more than 65 personnel to Jamaica to assist them during the hurricane season.
“Under Operation Jaguar, three CH-146 Griffin Helicopters and five search and rescue crews will be sent to Jamaica for a period for up to four months,” said MacKay. “This deployment is in direct response to a request for assistance from the Jamaican government.”
The Jamaican government requested assistance while emergency repairs are being done to their search and rescue helicopters, said MacKay.
“These capabilities such as search and rescue and medical evacuation can make the difference between life and death in many cases,” said MacKay.
MacKay said that as part of Operation Jaguar, the Search and Rescue crews of Canada would maintain their training schedule. While in Jamaica, Canadian SAR personnel will train as per usual but will be available to assist the Jamaican Defense Force at a moment’s notice.
“I would like to underscore that this deployment will not have any impact on the availability and provision on the Search and Rescue services here at home,” said Mackay. “Nor will it affect any of the ongoing operations overseas.”
The mission epitomizes the Canadian Forces’ resourcefulness and commitment to service, said MacKay. He also said that this mission would also fulfil Canada’s broader commitment to the Caribbean and Western hemisphere at large.
Without CFB Trenton, operations like this one would be impossible, said MacKay.
“Right now out of 65 personnel they will be coming from Bagotville, Goose Bay as well as Trenton,” said Col. Dave Cochrane, former commander of 8 Wing Trenton. “Right now we have seven personnel form 424 squadron and we also have three personnel from 2 Air Move squadron. There will be some rotations throughout the four months and we want to make sure we get as much training as possible as well as deployment experience for our SAR crews.”
Master Cpl. Philip Friolet is part of one of the SAR crews from Trenton, and says his wife and two kids are used to him being away. He said that the four months will be split into one month rotations for the crews.
“I’ve never been there before so it’s going to be a new challenge,” said Friolet. “It’s a different type of area to work in. It’s more jungle and the ocean, but we still work here in Canada and we have the ocean so that’ll be okay. Its will be more about the hurricane season, we’re going to have to see what happens there.
Canada worked with Jamaica for the past 40 years in a number of different operations reminded MacKay.
“All of these efforts show Canadians and people around the world that we can demonstrate leadership and make a positive difference in the world.”
When asked about operations in Libya, MacKay answered that the operations there have been going on longer than many expected.
“There’s no question that this has been a challenging operation,” said MacKay. “Having said that we are achieving affects we are there under an UN Security Council resolution to protect civilians. By limiting the capability of the Gadhafi forces to attack civilians our efforts are critical and necessary to continue. And so to that extend Canada has a mandate endorsed by parliament to continue to September and that mirrors the commitment that has come from our NATO allies.”
MacKay would not speculate to when the commitment in Libya will finish. He does hope that there will be a satisfactory conclusion soon.
