Senior officers from Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) on Thursday, March 12, held talks with the leadership of the Jamaica Defence Force in a visit aimed at strengthening military cooperation and reflecting on Rwanda’s support to Jamaica following a devastating hurricane.

Col Deo Mutabazi, Defence and Military Adviser to Rwanda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Defence Attache to Jamaica, and Col Moses Kayigamba, Commander of the RDF Engineer Contingent deployed in Jamaica, met with the Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman at JDF Headquarters in Kingston.

During the meeting, Mutabazi conveyed a message from RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Mubarakh Muganga, expressing appreciation for the strong cooperation between the two defence forces.

According to the RDF, Mutebazi "emphasized that Rwanda remains committed to strengthening bilateral relations and stands ready to collaborate with Jamaica in other endeavors.”

The meeting reflected on the contribution made by RDF engineers deployed to assist communities affected by last year&039;s Hurricane Melissa.

Over two months, the RDF Engineer Contingent worked alongside engineers from the Jamaica Defence Force to support recovery efforts, reconstructing 62 houses for affected families.

The teams also constructed classrooms for a school and improved facilities at a home for children with disabilities.

Vice Admiral Wemyss-Gorman commended the RDF leadership for deploying troops to assist the Jamaican people in the aftermath of the hurricane, noting that the support had contributed to rebuilding efforts in affected communities.

In a post on X, Jamaica Defence Force recognized support efforts by the RDF personnel who had been deployed to Jamaica to assist with rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

"The Jamaica Defence Force and the people of Jamaica are indeed grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support and assistance,” the JDF said in the statement.