In keeping with the country’s national security strategy of strengthening its security cooperation relationships with regional and international partners, The Royal Bahamas Defence Force accepted a thirty-one-foot Contender vessel donated by The United States Northern Command, onboard Coral Harbour Base on Tuesday 30 November 2021. This donation is the third of its kind from the United States Embassy in recent months. The United States donated two safe boats and a coastal radar with equipment and training, at an estimated cost of 2.2 million dollars and 2.4 million dollars, respectively. With this most recent donation, Mrs. Usha Pitts, Charge’ d’Affairs for the United States Embassy mentioned that The Bahamas is one of the closest allied nations in the region and that the Bahamas and The United States share a bi-lateral security relationship that must be maintained.Minister of National Security, the Honorable Wayne Munroe, QC, said that the dangers and vastness of the sea require co-operation between agencies. Additionally, the Minister mentioned that this donation is symbolic of the increase in Operation Bahamas Turks & Caicos (OPBAT) relations with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The RBDF welcomes this donation as part of its arsenal in the war against transnational crime, the protection of our borders, and the growth of the Defence Force maritime capacity. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to ‘Guarding Our Heritage’ while strengthening relationships with regional and international partners.
