Army chief sends warning to criminals

New Chief of Defence Staff Major General Rocky Meade said his soldiers will not back down from criminals.

"If my soldiers are attacked to the point where their lives are threatened, they will defend themselves effectively," Meade said in an address at the Change of Command Parade inside Up Park Camp, the headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

He said that there are "immediate and urgent security challenges", and noted that the military has already increased its support to the police.

"It is our goal to help the police in bringing wrongdoers to face the justice system," Meade said, while adding that "All Jamaicans should feel safe around the Jamaica Defence Force, even the wrongdoers."

Meade, who was sworn in by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen last month, takes over from Major General Antony Anderson as head of the army.

Anderson is now the country's national security adviser.