The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) launched the Capacity Building Initiative on Cargo and Container Security for the Haitian National Police in July 2026 at the Coral Harbour Base in Nassau. The initiative was coordinated with the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), the governments of The Bahamas and Haiti, and Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program.
Senior government officials and other regional dignitaries gathered for a ceremony to kick off the initiative. They included Haitian Charge d’Affaires Dern Jovens Bonhomme; Jerusa Ali, director general of the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Phyllis Baron, from the General Secretariat of the OAS; and Canadian Defence Advisor Lt. Col. Peter Glaicar, among others. Together, they represented the regional partners committed to strengthening Caribbean maritime and border security.
Capt. Natasha Miller, the RBDF deputy commander, acting on behalf of Commodore Floyd Moxey, reaffirmed the Defence Force’s pledge to advance regional partnerships and to fortify maritime and law enforcement capabilities. She emphasized the importance of collaborative training that bolsters security, refines interoperability, and safeguards the borders of The Bahamas and the entire Caribbean region.
The Capacity Building Initiative on Cargo and Container Security reflects the commitment to strengthen regional maritime security. The Bahamas and Haiti view the program as a strategic investment in Caribbean maritime stability and in strengthening professional relationships across the region.
On behalf of the Haitian government, Bonhomme, Haiti’s ambassador to The Bahamas, thanked the RBDF and the people of The Bahamas for their dedication to reinforcing Haiti’s maritime security. He commended participating officers for showing courage and enthusiasm as they build cooperation between the two nations, and as Haiti continues to battle gang violence and restore national stability.
The RBDF and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) share an enduring partnership rooted in security, defense and training. Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of USNORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in March, praising the RBDF and noting its close alliance with the U.S.
“The Royal Bahamian Defence Force remains a valued USNORTHCOM partner in regional defense,” Guillot said. “The RBDF’s contributions to maritime security and counternarcotics efforts in the approaches to the homeland have been critical to shared success, and in January 2025, USNORTHCOM was proud to join The Bahamas and the Rhode Island National Guard in celebrating 20 years of collaboration through the State Partnership Program.”