The Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, on Friday visited a contingent of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) deployed in Trelawny, where troops from both countries are jointly rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
Upon arrival, Vice Admiral Wemyss-Gorman was received by Colonel Moses Kayigamba, the commander of the RDF engineering team engaged in the reconstruction works. Col Kayigamba briefed the JDF chief on the progress of housing reconstruction across affected communities in James and Trelawny.
Accompanied by Col Kayigamba, the JDF Chief of Defence Staff toured several construction sites where Rwandan and Jamaican soldiers are working side by side to repair and rebuild homes destroyed by the storm. The visit included interactions with local residents, who expressed appreciation for the support provided by the two defence forces.
Vice Admiral Wemyss-Gorman commended the RDF contingent for its professionalism and dedication, noting that Rwanda’s contribution has played a visible and meaningful role in helping families recover from the effects of the hurricane. She praised the close cooperation between the two militaries, describing it as a model of effective international disaster response.
The visit underscored the strong partnership and solidarity between the Jamaica Defence Force and the Rwanda Defence Force in responding to natural disasters, as well as their shared commitment to assisting affected communities as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of devastation.
