Bahamas: US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro meets Commander Defence Force

Nassau, The Bahamas: Royal Bahamas Defence Force has informed the general public about the latest courtesy call by the authorities from the United States. The latest post, providing the update mentioned that United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, accompanied by the United States, led the delegation and paid a courtesy call on Commander Defence Force Commodore Raymond King on March 1, 2023, at the Ministry of National Security.

As per the update, during the meeting, Commodore King and Secretary Del Toro exchanged gifts symbolizing an appreciation of the longstanding relations between the two countries, which maintain cultural, economic, and social ties which are mutually reinforcing.

Further, it outlined that matters discussed included the acknowledgement of partner nations having a shared security environment; facing similar transnational criminal threats; and democratic values and ideology based on the international doctrines of self-determination, sovereign rights, and humanitarian principles.

During his contribution, Commodore King acknowledged the need for deepened information and intelligence sharing as well as joint Maritime Interdiction Operations. He also discussed the understanding of maritime security challenges and identification as means of security cooperation to counter transnational organized criminal networks.

Under Secretary within the Ministry of National Security Brenda Dorsett and representatives from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the United States attended the meeting. As per the update, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to strengthening partnerships with neighbouring allies in “Guarding Our Heritage”.

Earlier, on last week of February 2023, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force informed that forty students from the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps (BMCC), accompanied by Program Administrator Wayde Hanna, visited HMBS Coral Harbour.

The update informed that the group of maritime cohorts consisted mainly of 11th-grade students from both private and public schools. During the tour of Coral Harbour Base, students received insight into a multiplicity of career fields within the RBDF, such as medical, operational, engineering, administration, legal, IT and logistical roles.

It also stated that the BMCC is a program for high school students in grades 10 – 12 which exposes them to various aspects of the maritime industry with the view of piquing their interest in seeing the maritime field as a viable career option once they would have completed high school. The program has been in existence since 2004 and has a presence on five islands, namely, New Providence, Abaco, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Inagua.

Additionally, it outlined that the students who have completed the program have gone on to pursue successful careers in the maritime industry, locally, regionally and internationally, and many have opted to join the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF).