In keeping with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Dr. Raymond King’s strategic focus on strengthening partnerships and relationships with our regional partners against transnational threats, Commander David Sheppard, Director for Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), and Brian Bonifant, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Attaché, both accepted an invitation for a tour and subsequently accompanied Captain Southern Command, Captain Glenn McPhee at Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship (HMBS) Gunn Point, Ragged Island on 9 December 2021.The objective of the tour was to build on mutual rapport, specifically in the Southern Bahamas. Transportation was provided by DEA aircrew and aircraft from Florida. Also on the tour were Captain Gregg Gellman, Senior Defence Attaché from the Office of Defence Cooperation at the United States Embassy in The Bahamas, Chief Superintendent Prince Charlton Officer in Charge (OIC) Royal Bahamas Police Force Marine Division, and other DEA personnel.Discussions centered on the enhancement of the longstanding maritime law enforcement collaboration to mitigate transnational threats such as smuggling of illegal drugs, weapons, ammunition, poaching, and human trafficking.Completion of the strategic base at Gunn Point as a direct result of regional collaboration exemplifies the efforts to disrupt smugglers in the southern Bahamian area of operation, and in conjunction with existing bases in both Great Inagua and Exuma will significantly reduce the ability of transnational criminals to operate in sovereign Bahamian waters.The HMBS Gunn Point Deployment Team is currently led by Chief Petty Officer Gary Rolle. As the world continues to develop as a global community, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force values the relationships of our regional and international partners and their strategic contributions as we safeguard the territorial integrity of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
