By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamian government has issued a severe travel advisory urging citizens to avoid all travel to Haiti, citing escalating gang violence, widespread kidnappings, political instability, and a humanitarian breakdown.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned yesterday that the security situation in Haiti has reached critical levels. Armed gangs now control key parts of Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite region, with violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping, surging across the country. Officials urged Bahamians to steer clear of all areas, particularly the capital, and to avoid any non-essential movement near the border with the Dominican Republic.

The advisory comes just days after three Bahamian men, including 43-year-old Joey Russell of Sandy Point, Abaco, were confirmed dead following a maritime incident in Haitian waters. Russell had been hospitalised after being taken into custody by Haitian authorities, but later died. Two other Bahamians, including Shadrack Stuart of Moore’s Island, were also found dead, according to family members. The circumstances around the incident remain under investigation, and the Ministry has acknowledged difficulty in obtaining consistent information from Haitian officials.

Commercial flights into Port-au-Prince remain suspended following gang attacks on aircraft last November, and the US has extended its own flight ban until at least September 2025. Though airports in Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes are open, access is limited, costly, and vulnerable to disruption. For Bahamians already in Haiti, the government recommends leaving as soon as safely possible.

The advisory also underscores the collapse of public infrastructure. Healthcare is nearly inaccessible, with hospitals frequently shuttered or under threat, and medical evacuations may be the only option in case of serious illness or injury. Travellers risk exposure to cholera, dengue, malaria, and other diseases in the midst of a fragile and under-resourced health system.

Bahamian officials noted that the dangers are not isolated to foreigners or specific groups. While cultural and historical ties between The Bahamas and Haiti run deep, gang activity has made travel dangerous for everyone, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. The Ministry urged Bahamians who are permanent residents in Haiti or travelling for business or family reasons to reconsider any plans and to contact local authorities if already on the ground.