As Antigua and Barbuda enters the final stretch of preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this November, the island nation’s national police force has received targeted support and expert guidance from one of the Caribbean’s most experienced law enforcement agencies. In a display of regional security cooperation, a four-person senior delegation from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) spent seven days working side-by-side with the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) to refine security plans for the high-stakes international summit.
The visiting JCF team brought decades of cumulative major event security experience to the collaboration, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Garry McKenzie, alongside Senior Superintendent Adrian Hamilton, Superintendent Shaunjaye Mitchell, and Deputy Superintendent Garnet Stapleton. Over the course of the August deployment, the delegation participated in in-depth working sessions and strategic discussions with RPFAB’s senior leadership, focusing on the most pressing and critical components of pre-summit security planning and operational readiness.
Beyond tabletop planning and knowledge exchange, the JCF officers also conducted on-the-ground assessments across Antigua, visiting and evaluating every key venue that will host official CHOGM meetings, side events, and high-level delegations during the November gathering. These on-site inspections allowed the visiting experts to provide context-specific recommendations that align with global best practices for major international summits.
For both law enforcement agencies, the week-long partnership served as more than just a planning exercise: it created a meaningful space to cross-reference lessons learned from past large-scale events, address unforeseen security vulnerabilities, and solidify coordinated planning frameworks for what will stand as one of the largest and most high-profile international events Antigua and Barbuda has ever hosted.
RPFAB Commissioner Everton Jeffers, KPM, publicly emphasized his gratitude for the support from the JCF delegation and the agency’s top leadership, noting the outsized value of the expertise brought to the table. “I am extremely pleased to have members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force join our team and share their deep knowledge of security planning, particularly given their proven track record and decades of hands-on experience managing security for major international and regional events,” Commissioner Jeffers stated.
He added that ongoing collaboration with both regional and international security partners remains a cornerstone of Antigua and Barbuda’s overall CHOGM security strategy. The insights and practical experience shared by the JCF delegation will reinforce the work already underway by the RPFAB and other local national security and emergency response agencies tasked with delivering a safe, secure summit. The RPFAB has extended formal thanks to the JCF’s commissioner and entire ranks for their enduring partnership and critical contribution to the country’s pre-CHOGM preparations. The JCF delegation completed their mission and departed Antigua on August 15, 2026.