Members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment are in the Dominican Republic to participate in a Trade Winds training exercise.

The exercise will help them build training capacity, enhance relationships and support co-operation to better respond to natural disasters, land and maritime threats, according to the Government.

Phase 1 of the training, in the Dominican Republic, runs from May 30 to June 8. It includes 100 participants and focuses on maritime interdiction, ground security, an inter-agency command post exercise and field training.

Phase 2, which will be held in St Vincent from June 14 to 21, will concentrate on maritime law enforcement, an operations centre test exercise and field training.

Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security, who has accompanied the Regiment on the trip, said: “I am encouraged by Bermuda’s participation in TW19 as Bermuda has been absent from the initiative for the last 13 years.

“Bermuda will benefit from TW19 training and will be better equipped to undertake global tasks at a high standard. I also had an opportunity to meet with members of the US and Canadian Coast Guards as we continue to develop a Bermudian coast guard unit.”