A meeting with the Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and a tour of the camp where the Bermuda Regiment is currently training were some of the highlights of Premier Alex Scott's visit to Jamaica last week.

Following his arrival in Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday evening, the Premier toured the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF) Headquarters at Up Park Camp, where some 200 Regiment troops are in training exercises.

Mr. Scott told Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hadley Lewin: "The relationship between the Bermuda Regiment and the Jamaican Defence Force is a long one. When they are here, we are here in spirit. We have established bonds beyond just the military. There is a large Jamaican community in Bermuda that makes a valuable contribution to our daily life. We look forward to this relationship continuing well into the future."

Mr. Scott and Admiral Lewin discussed the challenges of recruiting young people to military service.

The Premier was accompanied by Governor Sir John Vereker, Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety Randolph Horton, and Lt. Col. Edward Lamb of the Bermuda Regiment.

Admiral Lewin said he was encouraged by the number of men who applied to join the Jamaican Defence Force. Mr. Scott explained the difficulty Bermuda had in recruiting men to serve but he told Admiral Lewin, "we take all who apply".

Mr. Scott toured the Up Park Camp where he asked Sgt. Major Allen about his military experience.

"All Regiment personnel say it is definitely a positive experience. I could share my life story, but suffice it to say, the Regiment has given me my life skills."

After meeting Mr. Patterson, the Premier and his party took the two and a half hour drive for a briefing and tour of Titchfield training camp in Portland, Jamaica. Two hundred Bermuda Regiment soldiers are being taken through some of the most challenging days of their training.

As Lt. Col. Lamb described it, "the morale of our soldiers is remarkably high given they have been thrust directly into the jungle. There has been only one serious injury ? a dislocated shoulder, along with the normal sprained ankles, rashes and the dreaded mosquito bites."