Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) members attend a send-off ceremony before their six-month deployment to Haiti. ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE
THE WATCH STAFF
The Bahamas sent its first contingent of troops to neighboring Haiti in October 2024 to aid in restoring security to a country besieged by violence. The deployment is part of a U.N. Security Council mission to stabilize the eastern Caribbean. Six members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) departed as an advance team to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), an effort spearheaded by the intergovernmental group Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in partnership with international allies such as Belize, Jamaica and Kenya. “This coordinated mission will provide critical support to help restore peace and stability in Haiti,” an RBDF news release stated.
The MSSM was approved by the U.N. Security Council in October 2023 with Kenya designated as the lead nation, pledging the bulk of the security forces. Other nations that have either pledged forces or are considering it include Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, Chile, Guyana, Senegal and Spain. The first contingent of Kenyan police officers arrived in June 2024. Three months later, Kenyan President William Ruto visited Haiti and pledged to deploy 1,000 personnel by the end of the year. Ruto, in public remarks, urged nations that have pledged troops and security officers to send them quickly.
The Bahamas has a peacekeeping history in Haiti. Between 1994 and 1996, 141 RBDF members participated in a U.N. mission to stabilize the country during a previous turbulent period. The Bahamas was one of the first countries to pledge troops in 2023 as the situation in Haiti deteriorated. Haiti, a nation of 11.6 million, has been in increasing peril since a devastating 2010 earthquake killed thousands. A growing organized criminal presence in the country further destabilized society, and the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse pushed the country into chaos.
The RBDF contingent will deploy for six months and engage in port security, maritime patrols, security and countertrafficking operations, according to the release. “This RBDF deployment is notable not only for its mission but also for the groundbreaking inclusion of the first-ever female RBDF officer to be deployed on an international mission, a milestone moment that reflects The Bahamas’ commitment to gender equality and leadership within its armed forces,” the release stated.
The send-off ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis. Davis was joined by Acting Minister of National Security Leon Lundy, Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin, Deputy Commander Defence Force (DCDF) Capt. Shonedel Pinder, and members of the RBDF Executive Command. Former Commander Defence Force, Commodore Clifford Scavella, who led the initial Bahamian peacekeeping mission in Haiti three decades ago, also attended, the release stated.
The departing troops and their families will be assisted by RBDF chaplains and family support services. Joining the MSSM is “a challenging but necessary deployment aimed at making a significant impact on the region’s security,” the release stated. “Their participation not only enhances The Bahamas’ role in regional security but also supports broader CARICOM-led efforts.”