Phillips

Brenda LaGrange Johnson, United States Ambassador to Jamaica, and Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, yesterday signed a Letter of Agreement between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the United States, to assist Jamaica in securing its borders.

The agreement, which was signed at the Ministry of National Security, will see the U.S. Government providing J$34.5 million (US$529,300.00) to the Jamaican Government to help secure Jamaican territory from exploitation by drug producers and traffickers, money launderers, firearm traffickers, and other international criminals.

U.S. to provide funds

Ambassador Johnson expressed her pleasure that the United States had been able to provide these funds for use in "law enforcement, maritime interdiction and border control, all very important things that are of interest to the Government of the United States and the Government of Jamaica".

For his part, Dr. Phillips said, "The additional $34.5 million will go a far way in continuing the security successes in counter-narcotics control achieved over the past years." He added that he looked forward to future collaborations between both governments.

The funds are divided as follows:

Support for Jamaican law enforcement - J$13.7 million (US$210,000)

Support for maritime interdiction - J$16.3 million (US$249,300)

Support for border control - J$4.56 million (US$70,000)

Apart from all other United States Government assistance, the Narcotics Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in St. Andrew has now provided J$930 million (US$14,224,341.25) in assistance to the Government of Jamaica since 2001.