EDITOR’S NOTE: Latrae Lorenz Rahming, Director of Communication at the Office of Prime Minister, on Tuesday, February 21, posted these remarks on Facebook by Prime Minister Philip E. Davis that I decided to share as a Guest Commentary with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
GUEST COMMENTARY: PRIME MINISTER PHILIP E. DAVIS REMARKS POSTED ON FACEBOOK
NASSAU, Bahamas, Feb. 21, 2023 — I want to take a moment to discuss the critical role that our Defence Force plays in securing our nation’s borders and protecting our people. As you may be aware, we have recently launched Operation Secure — a joint effort between the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Department of Immigration, and the Defence Force — to address security and migration-related issues in unregulated and unlawful communities.
The Defence Force plays a crucial role in intercepting illegal vessels in our waters and preventing the entry of irregular migrants into our country. They are the frontline of our nation’s defence and have worked tirelessly to keep our borders safe.
To support their efforts, we are investing heavily in expanding our fleet of ships and recruiting additional Defence Force Officers. This includes the completion of the final phase of the Sandy Bottom Project, which is the largest capital investment project ever initiated by the government of The Bahamas, to expand the Defence Force’s fleet.
We are also working to strengthen our partnerships with neighbouring countries and key partners like the US Coast Guard to enhance cooperation and intelligence sharing. We have to defend one hundred thousand square miles of territory in The Bahamas, and we are doing everything we can to intercept undocumented vessels and prevent the inflow of irregular migrants.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Commodore of the Defence Force, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Immigration, and all their officers for their service. We depend on their skills and professionalism to keep our country safe and are proud of their efforts.
We are committed to conducting our efforts swiftly and humanely and to maintaining accountability to the Bahamian people on this commitment. We have a collective responsibility to protect what is ours, and we will continue to adapt to the situation on the ground and in our waters to ensure the safety and security of our nation.
