NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The United States (US) government gifted $430,000 worth of training and ballistic equipment to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) on Thursday.
The donation includes 293 protective vests and plates, training equipment and gear for the police college, a microscope for the ballistics lab and maintenance equipment for the safe boats used by the marine support services unit.
Stephanie Bowers, U.S. Charge D’Affaires made the official handover to Marvin Dames, Minister of National Security, at the RBPF Training College on University Drive.
“Today we are providing the college with important training gear to support the college’s effort to improve and educate the police,” she said.
“The reason we are here today is because of the longstanding relationship between the US and The Bahamas. That partnership and collaboration has never been stronger. As the handover of this equipment and our recent joint efforts attest, we are proud partners of the RBPF.”
Bowers noted that the donation is a part of two priority areas within her portfolio: training and protection.
“In my role at the embassy there is nothing more important to me than the safety and security of my team and everyday US law enforcement personnel operate alongside their Bahamian counterparts in their mutual fight against transnational criminal organizations operating between our two countries,” Bowers noted.
“So, when I hear about a joint U.S. and Bahamian operation, at the forefront of my mind is not only the safety and security of US personnel, but also that of our close and trusted Bahamian partners.”
Minister Dames thanked Bowers for the sizeable donation and pledged to use the assets to further strengthen the mandate of the RBPF
“We are putting a lot of time and effort in training, not only at the recruitment level, but also at the very top levels of the RBPF as well.
“We are grateful for this gift and we assure you that it will be used for the benefit of our officers, their development and will aid in the professionalization of our officers,” he said.
