On Wednesday, September 4, United States Chargé d’Affaires John Dinkelman accompanied by senior U.S. Embassy officials made a special visit to the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s (RBPF) headquarters to participate in the formal handover ceremony of four new custom-made sport utility vehicles to the RBPF’s Drug Enforcement Unit. On hand for the presentation, Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage, Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and other senior RBPF officials.
This latest donation marks the continuation of a longstanding partnership in law enforcement and public security between the United States and The Bahamas. The custom-made sport utility vehicles, valued at over $158,000, are part of ongoing, joint anti-crime fighting efforts. The funding was made possible through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) to combat the drug trade and other transnational crimes that threaten regional security.
The sport utility vehicles will be used at Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) locations throughout The Bahamas with the goal of improving the RBPF’s ability to gather law enforcement information, conduct investigations, and interdict illicit trafficking through The Bahamas. OPBAT is a multi-agency, international drug interdiction effort focused on stopping the flow of illegal drugs from South America and the Caribbean to The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States.
Source: United States Embassy, Nassau
Captions:
Top: United States Chargé d’Affaires John Dinkelman presents Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage with the keys for the vehicles.
Bottom: The custom-made sport utility vehicles that will be used in OPBAT’s anti-crime fighting efforts.
