Klao Bell, Staff Reporter
TWO Colombians are in the island in response to a request by the Ministry of National Security and Justice for assistance in detecting guns and explosives at the island's ports.
The Colombians are training dogs and handlers at the Canine Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The two officers, from the Colombian Police Force, began training at the Harman Barracks post in mid-November and will conclude in February. They are concentrating on police dog handlers, who will, after February, train other police, immigration and customs officers.
The Colombians' area of specialty is training dogs to detect weapons, including explosives, via passive sniffing. Jamaica does not have the expertise for guns/explosives detection and dog trainers are versed only in aggressive training.
Passive sniffing prepares the animals to identify contraband by sitting at the feet of the suspected person. Dogs trained in aggressive training bark or tear through parcels to get at contraband.
The Ministry of National Security had made efforts to enlist the services of other foreign experts last year. But those efforts proved futile and the Ministry turned to the Colombians, soliciting the assistance of the Colombian Embassy in importing the trainers.
"From our information, some of the best trainers are in Colombia, so we requested help through the Colombian Embassy and they offered to help us," said Shirley Byfield, communications officer at the Ministry.
The assistance is not a part of a formal Jamaican/Colombian agreement, but is in line with an international effort of crime control.
"It's part of international assistance in terms of crime control, security and weapons detection," Ms. Byfield said last week. "The officers' stay here will not cost the Jamaican Government any money as the Colombian Government has assumed full sponsorship."
Inspector Clement Wright, sub-officer in charge of operations at the canine division said the training is going well.
"It's an alternative to aggressive, passive training helps with interaction with people...this will also help in identifying guns, explosives," Inspector Wright said.
He also explained that although there has not been a major problem with explosives in Jamaica, but "precautionary measures are necessary."
At the end of the training period, the dogs and handlers will be deployed for use at ports of entry and police roadblocks. Presently, training is restricted to the Canine Division and the ports, but in the latter part will include interacting with the public.
