Maritime border protection to be enhanced

Maritime border protection to be enhanced
Minister of Transport and Local Government, Frankie Campbell.

A two-day training initiative, supported by the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism and geared toward enhancing maritime safety throughout The Bahamas got underway at the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Headquarters Tuesday morning.

The event is a joint effort between the United States (U.S.), Canada and Bahamian armed forces.

Brian Sullivan, the project’s programme manager, shared with Eyewitness News what the training will entail.

“Specifically, we’re going to look at developing a more integrated national approach to maritime security. Providing a framework where institutions and stakeholders in the maritime domain in The Bahamas can continue to work more effectively together at the national level,” shared Sullivan.

“That will include looking at national committee and strategy development. We’ll also look at other core aspects of maritime security including maritime domain awareness, supply chain security, maritime cybersecurity, which is a key emerging issue and taking stock of current capabilities and identifying capacity building opportunities.”

Local Government Minister Frankie Campbell underscored the importance of securing port facilities, not only in Nassau but throughout the entire Bahamas as immigration, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities are a real issue for the country.

“Due to the Bahamas’ geographical makeup there is a great need to maintain constant vigilance ensuring that maritime security remains at the highest level at all times,” shared Campbell.

“It is evident that the stability of The Bahamas’ economy requires that the country’s maritime industry is protected at all cost.”

All maritime ports in the country are equipped with 24-hour security service, but in a technologically advanced era, the two-day conference aims at introducing new tech-savvy initiatives that will assist with heightening maritime security; positing The Bahamas’ maritime sector as an envy of the region.

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.