By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SIX defence force officers have been deployed to Haiti as part of an advance team for the Multinational Security Support Mission, which aims to stabilise the country following significant unrest.

The Davis administration has committed to sending 150 officers as part of the effort.

Their deployment comes almost 30 years after 141 Defence Force officers participated in a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Haiti between 1994 and 1996.

“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 Royal Bahamas Defence Force said in a statement. “The team’s expertise spans several areas crucial to the mission’s success, including Conduct & Discipline, Command Headquarters Assistance, Operations, and Administration.”

The RBDF said the team’s mission, shaped by on-the-ground needs, will focus on several key areas: conducting coordinated maritime patrols to enhance security within Haitian territorial waters; securing strategic ports to facilitate humanitarian aid and promote economic development; implementing measures to prevent illegal migration and human trafficking; disrupting narcotics and contraband trafficking to safeguard regional security; collaborating with the CARICOM Joint Task Force and international partners for intelligence sharing; contributing to overall Caribbean safety by addressing destabilising activities; and fostering a secure environment to support peaceful political processes in Haiti.

The officers will serve for six months in Haiti in what the defence force called “a challenging but necessary deployment aimed at making a significant impact on the region’s security.”

“Their participation not only enhances The Bahamas’ role in regional security but also supports broader CARICOM-led efforts.”

“This deployment serves as a testament to the resilience and unity of the Bahamian people and reinforces The Bahamas’ longstanding tradition of offering a helping hand to its neighbours in times of crisis.”