CJ Politics

Jamaica: Surveillance Flight Part of Normal Agreement with United States

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - December 10, 2011

Above: a Lockheed P-3 Orion (Photo: Lockheed)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The deployment of a United States surveillance plane during last year’s raid of the Tivoli Gardens neighbourhood in Kingston was part of a normal agreement Jamaica enjoys with the US and other governments, according to Major General Antony Anderson, chief of defense staff in Jamaica.

The US intervention was designed to “provide general imagery assistance and communications” during the May. 24, 2010 raid to serve a warrant for strongman Christopher Coke.

The flight was aimed at providing “general imagery assistance and communications” during the operations.

“At that time, what we wanted was an enhanced picture if it was available,” he said. “The more information we had would lead to better planning. The planning that took place was between ourselves and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, no one else.”

The flight, which was revealed in an article in the New Yorker this week, caused a stir when National Security Minister Dwight Nelson claimed that no US help occurred on that day, something later contradicted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who said that the US had offered assistance.

The government maintained that the US was not involved in any ground operations.

Popular Posts the sexiest beaches including this resort at atlantis

The Sexiest Beaches in the Caribbean to Visit Right Now 

One is a beach with a nightclub-style pool right next door. Another is filled with beach bars — and even has its own au natural corner. Then there’s a beach that’s practically a nonstop party.  There are so many things that […]


The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit This Summer, From Antigua to St Croix

verandah antigua

We’ve been saying it for years, and we’ll keep saying it: in some ways, the Caribbean is even better in the summer months. The water is warm. It’s a bit less crowded, a little bit quieter. At night, the trade […]


A Low-Key, Lovely Adults-Only Beach Resort in Aruba

aruba beach resort adults-only

When Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort opened in 1987, it made sense for the hotel’s restaurant to be built in the shape of a boat shipwrecked on the sand: while Eagle Beach didn’t exactly resemble a desert island back […]


Related Posts jamaica minister speaking to delegates ahead of conference

Jamaica Is Hosting Another Tourism “Resilience” Conference 

Jamaica has been working to position itself as a global center for the study and practice of tourism “resilience.” That included the creation of the first global tourism resilience center and, last year in Kingston, the first-ever Global Tourism Resilience […]


The 10 Best Jamaica Resorts to Visit in 2024, From Montego Bay to Treasure Beach

best jamaica resorts

What do you think of when you think of Jamaica? Dynamic culture, rich history, intoxicating music, vibrant food — for starters. That is all true. But Jamaica is also home to a very layered, diverse hospitality product, where hotels and resorts […]


This Kingston, Jamaica Hotel Just Completed a $2M Renovation 

jamaica courtleigh

One of Kingston’s top hotels has just completed a significant renovation and rebranding, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The Courtleigh Hotel and Suites has finished a $2 million renovation program, one that began in December 2022.  The project included upgrades to […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You