Bahamas prepares to deploy troops in Haiti

NASSAU (CMC):

The head of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Commodore Raymond King, says recruitment efforts are being hampered by plans to send officers to Haiti as recruits are opting to join other law enforcement agencies instead.

“What we’ve realised, particularly with this recruitment exercise that is pending, we would have lost a number of candidates who decided to move to the other armed forces because when the conversation comes now to being deployed to Haiti, it’s a reality check for a number of persons in terms of do I want to make the ultimate sacrifice in joining the Royal Bahamas Defence Force,” he told a news conference.

The Bahamas is among CARICCOM countries that have signalled their intention to be part of a United Nations Security Council-approved year-long multinational security mission to Haiti.

The multi-national force will be led by Kenya as the international community seeks to restore peace and stability in the French-speaking CARICOM country where criminal gangs have been engaged in kidnappings, rape, and murders since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

In addition, the opposition political parties have been calling for fresh elections staging street demonstrations to force the government of Prime Minster Dr Ariel Henry to name the date for the polls.

Commodore King told reporters that the training for the 150 officers selected for the mission has evolved to dealing with Haiti’s growing challenges. He said a year ago, countering criminal gangs in Haiti was the objective, so initial training strictly focused on infantry optics in an urban setting.

“When I speak of it changing, the criminal gangs are now blocking humanitarian aid from getting to those who need it most,” he said, adding they are obstructing ports, preventing supplies and other much-needed goods from being cleared and shipped.

“In addition to the fuel, they are now creating obstructions for all of the major infrastructure in Haiti. Critical infrastructure includes electricity supply, communications, all of those required amenities society needs.”

The RBDF official said that he has not received explicit instructions regarding the RBDF role or functions in Haiti.

“We have received our warning order from the Prime Minister (Phillip Davis) that we will deploy, but we have yet to receive instructions explicitly in terms of the role or functions,” he said, adding, “I am providing that expert advice to the honorable minister of national security, as well as the prime minister, in terms of the risk, the vulnerabilities and my expert opinion.”

But he said the RBDF would send three platoons of 50 people to Haiti, with officers spending four months there.

“Those persons have been selected from all of the main branches within the Royal Bahamas Defence Force – intelligence, administration, operations, planning, communications.”