In keeping with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s objective of strengthening the organization’s linkage with its past; the first four Bahamian Commodores of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) were hosted by Commodore King and his wife, where gift presentations were made by Fredricka King, Retired Force Chief Petty Officer, for the impact they had on her and Commodore King’s careers at Defence Headquarters, John F. Kennedy Drive on December 11, 2020.
Retired Commodores Leon Livingstone Smith, Davy Rolle, Clifford Scavella, and Roderick Bowe, were guests of honor during a luncheon reception hosted by the combined efforts of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Mr. Marco Rolle, and the office of the Ministry of National Security, Minister of National Security, the Honorable Marvin Dames, Commodore Raymond King and the Officers and Marines of the RBDF Headquarters staff. Also, attending the luncheon were the wives of Commodores Smith and King.
The occasion marked the first official visit for the former leaders at the new offices of the RBDF Defence Headquarters. They were subsequently taken on a brief tour of the office spaces and afterward presented with tokens of appreciation for their valuable services to the organization. The visit facilitated the opportunity for the current and former Commodores to discuss issues related to national security and plans for the continued transformation and moderation of the RBDF as well as to strengthen ties with the organization’s Chiefs of Defence staff. The former Commodores also assisted with presenting awards to the RBDF Headquarters Marine of the Year. Retired Commodore Tellis Bethel was present for this presentation.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has seen a total of eight Commanders Defence Force since its inception. The first two Commodores were Officers from the Royal Navy, and Commodore Leon Smith was the first Bahamian to be appointed Commander Defence Force in 1983. Commodore Rolle succeeded him in 1997, following which, Commodore Scavella assumed office in 2006. Commodore Bowe succeeded him in 2010, followed by Commodore Bethel in 2015. Commodore King currently heads the organization having been appointed in 2020.
As the Royal Bahamas Defence Force observes forty years as an official entity, Commodore Raymond King and the Officers and Marines salute the former commodores who have not only contributed to the success of the organization but also paved the way for future leaders.
