By Gerrino J. Saunders
Bahama Journal News Editor

The Bahamas continues to be part of the Kenyan-led multi-national UN-sanctioned
peacekeeping force battling Haitian gangs that have been wreaking havoc in that
nation since 2021 including murder, rape, and kidnapping displacing thousands
from their homes.
And while, Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers thus far have only played
supporting roles, according to the Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe in
recent times they have been asking to join the front lines in the fight against the
gangs.
Munroe said, “It’s an issue of what missions they are deployed to carry out. So
they are currently in command roles in the headquartered areas, they are not in the
contingent that does patrols, however, the defense force; the officers and marines
have been pushing to be in the folks who can go on patrol, but The Bahamas
Government and the National Security Council have not acceded to that request.
“We make an assessment as to what assistance we can provide and that is not
assistance that we are prepared to move to at this stage. At some other point that
may be so,” said Munroe who was speaking while appearing as guest on the Love
97 Radio talk show with host Khristian Jones.
In April of this year the ministry of national security rebuffed social media posts
alleging that RBDF officers deployed to Haiti had been abandoned, unpaid, and
placed in unsafe conditions to which the ministry said were inaccurate and did not
reflect the facts on the ground.
In a statement, the ministry said all deployed officers and marines continue to
receive their full salaries and benefits, in addition to their regular salaries they were
also paid at the beginning of the deployment the full six months of hazard pay and
hardship allowance at the highest rate, and deployment allowance 25 percent more
than the highest deployment pay for RBDF personnel deployed anywhere else.

The ministry added the welfare of its personnel has remained a top priority and that
officers have had access to direct communication with government officials and
heads of mission which allowed open dialogue on any concerns including direct
contact with Julian Smith, The Bahamas’ Chargé D’ Affaires in Haiti who
personally visited the Bahamian officers to provide support and assess conditions.
The Bahamians officers and marines main focus as committed to by the
government includes Maritime Patrols: Deterring threats to maritime security
within Haitian territorial waters; Port Security: Securing strategic ports to
facilitate humanitarian aid and bolster political stability; Preventing Illegal
Migration: Curbing illegal migration and preventing human trafficking;
Countering Illicit Trafficking: Disrupting narcotics, weapons, and contraband
trafficking; Intelligence Cooperation: Collaborating with CARICOM and
international partners to enhance mission effectiveness; Regional Security:
Addressing destabilizing activities to ensure Caribbean safety and Supporting
Political Stability: Creating a secure environment to aid in Haiti’s political
recovery.
When the idea to have Bahamian officers be part of a multi-national contingent
many Bahamians citizens were not in support and the general consensus which
was asked was why send officers and marines to Haiti in essence to fight another
man’s battle?.
In response to such sentiments the National Security Minister explained why
sending troops to Haiti is in the best interest of The Bahamas.
He said, “Well one of their main jobs is to stop migrants from Haiti right? So if
people are leaving Haiti because of instability and when we catch them we have to
actually house them here and pay millions upon millions of dollars to house them
and then millions upon millions of dollars to repatriate them. You are going to pay
tax payers money on addressing the problems in Haiti one way or the other.”
The Government of The Bahamas has congratulated businessman Laurent Saint-
Cyr President of the Transitional Presidential Council of the Republic of Haiti and
reaffirms its commitment to working with Mr. Saint-Cyr, the transitional council,
the government and the people of Haiti to advance the restoration of peace and
security in Haiti.
The transitional council has been appointed ahead of scheduled elections to usher
in a stable government to fight gang violence and change the culture of corruption
and reverse the country’s crippling state of economic insecurity.

Saint-Cyr is meant to be the final head of the council before it completes its task of
holding a presidential election on February 7, 2026. At that point, Saint-Cyr and
the council are expected to hand off power to the election’s winner.
Elections for roles in the federal government are expected to be held in three
stages, starting in November 2025 and ending with February’s presidential race,
but gang violence and attacks could interrupt those plans. Haiti has not held a
presidential election since 2016.
Meanwhile, Mr. Munroe lamented the fact that developed nations have not been
forthcoming in assisting the multi-national force with resources and funding while
donating billions of dollars to Ukraine.
Last week the United States placed a $5 million bounty for information that leads
to the arrest of Haitian gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbeque’ Cherizier, who has since said
he is willing to collaborate with us authorities.
Meanwhile unbridled gang activity and threats of violence have forced Haiti’s
essential services to shut down, including hospitals and roadways, and nearly 1.3
million people have been displaced from their homes.
International reports indicate that the United Nations estimates that close to 5,000
people in Haiti have been killed between October 2024 and June of 2025.