Commodore Floyd Moxey, Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), arrived in Haiti last week with a high-level delegation that included Jerusa Ali, Ambassador and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Commander Julian Smith, the current Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Bahamas in Haiti. The delegation also included additional Bahamian military personnel to join the Gang Repression Force (FRG) operations. They were received at LSA2 by Godfrey Otunge, Force Commander, and Vladimir Paraison, Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH).

Commodore Moxey reaffirmed the Bahamas’ commitment to the FRG mission, underscored by the deployment of the third Bahamian contingent, the size of which was not disclosed. He commended the FRG officers for their professionalism, discipline, and determination, particularly given the challenging terrain and demanding operational environment. He emphasized that the Bahamas' commitment is based on its responsibilities within CARICOM, noting that Haiti's security is directly linked to the security and prosperity of the entire region, stating, "Haiti's instability presents risks through human displacement, illicit arms flows, and transnational organized crime."

In his remarks, Jerusa Ali expressed his profound gratitude to the Haitian National Police and the personnel from Kenya, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and the Bahamas for their courage, sacrifice, determination, and teamwork.

She reaffirmed that with the transition from the MMSS to the FRG under UN Security Council Resolution 2793 ( https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45891-haiti-flash-the-security-council-has-voted-for-the-new-gang-repression-force.html ), the Bahamas has both the opportunity and the responsibility to strengthen its support for Haiti on three fronts : security, political engagement, and diplomacy. She emphasized the Bahamas’ support, as a contributing country to the FRG and a member of the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group, for the OAS-led Roadmap for Stability and Peace. She announced that the Bahamas will soon open a new Chancery in Port-au-Prince, reaffirming its long-term commitment to meaningful engagement.

In their joint address to the delegation and assembled forces, Vladimir Paraison and Commander Otunge reiterated the FRG’s unwavering commitment to disrupting gang activity, restoring basic security, and defending the Haitian people’s right to peace, dignity, and security. They affirmed that criminal groups would not be allowed to regain influence and that, through strong cooperation and collaboration between Haitian authorities, local communities, and international partners, the gangs would be decisively pursued—on land, at sea, and in the air. Their message was clear: impunity is over, and all necessary resources are now aligned under a unified strategy.

The Bahamian delegation then visited LSA1, where they interacted with the deployed troops before departing Haiti.

HL/ HaitiLibre