Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Report child abuse says Social Services Minister
#Bahamas, May 01, 2018 – Nassau – As the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development recognizes Child Protection Month, the Hon. Lanisha Rolle, Minister, sounded an appeal to the public to report incidents of child abuse.
“We should all be self-proclaimed advocates. We have all stood in the place that our children now stand and we were likewise dependent. There is no excuse to turn a blind eye to what is, or appears to be abuse of a child. One child abused is one child too many. If we see it, we ought to say it and if we hear it we have a duty to tell it,” said Minister Rolle.
She addressed a church service at Commonwealth Baptist Church, Elizabeth Estates, in observance of Child Protection Month, Thursday, April 26. The service was organized by the Ministry in conjunction with the National Child Protection Council and the Suspected Child Abuse Neglect Unit. The theme for the month is ‘We Care. We Share – Prevent Child Abuse’. It was attended by Cora Bain-Colebrooke, acting permanent secretary; acting director, Lillian Quant-Forbes, senior government officials, representatives of the Scans Unit, Child Protection Council and school students.
Minister Rolle said children are susceptible to emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse through assault, molestation, incest and rape, and all too commonly suffer from neglect both physically and emotionally.
She affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to doing all within its power to ensure the government allocates the resources necessary to protect the rights of every child and to preventing, detecting, eliminating and eradicating “all” forms of abuse against children.
“Abuse in any form is unacceptable. Child mistreatment, sexual abuse of children with disabilities, incest, child pornography, child labour, child prostitution, child neglect and abandonment are all offences recognized under the law, and I am committed to strengthening our Investigations arm of Child Protection Services to identify and initiate the prosecution of such offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
She said in addition to community programs sponsored by Social Services, the Urban Development programs run by the Government and partnering stakeholders, church programs and other reputable organizations create the environment necessary for the protection and sustainable 
development of children and the country’ social fabric.
Minister Rolle reported that child neglect is the most common form of abuse and accounts for 40 per cent of reported abuse cases in The Bahamas.
“Under section 31 of the Child Protection Act (CPA) parents and guardians have a duty to maintain their children.
“It is our duty as parents, advocates, community partners, government and a society to ensure the future of our children is safe and secure through the protection of our children and their rights – the right to life, the right to protection of property, protection from forced labour and unlawful detention, protection from arbitrary arrest, from violence and unlawful abuse and protection from unlawful arrest are fundamental rights and freedoms for the individual under the constitution.
“Our children deserve equal protection under the law. We care, we share. We must enforce the law to prevent and respond to child abuse.”
Minister Rolle admonished parents and guardians not to allow children on the Family Islands, in the urban and suburban communities to “suffer” in silence. She said according to section 63 of the CPA every individual has a duty to report child suffering.
“An adult engaging in relationships with a child under 18, a minor under the law and whose mind and thought processes are not fully mature, is engaging in child abuse. Such acts of selfish adults must be reported as these instances destroy the lives of girls and boys. Adults should date adults.
“Children are depending on us to ensure they are educated. Under section 2007 of the CPA, every child has a right to education. A parent or guardian cannot decide without good reason to keep their child away from school and deny the child an opportunity to learn.
“Parents and guardians do not have the right to use children to pay their bills or beg alms on their behalf. Where we find this occurring the Department of Social Services, under section 30 of the CPA, has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to mediate in any situation where the rights of a child are infringed. According to section 80 of the CPA, the state has a duty to investigate and initiate prosecution of those who violate the rights of the child,” said Minister Rolle.
In his sermon, Bishop Arnold Josey, Pastor of Commonwealth Baptist Church and Chairman of the National Child Protection Council, said the 
nation has a responsibility to ensure that everyone, inclusive of children, live and thrive in a safe, stable, nurturing environment for all.
“The reality is, in the midst of it all we have mounting adverse childhood experiences that we must tackle,” he said.
“The mental and physical struggles of our children are multiple and multi-faceted. We need to get back to being a caring and concerned people.”
The church service is one of the activities of Child Protection Month. Other activities included a Fun Day for children and a Poetry Competition, which was won by Michaella Lockhart.
By Kathryn Campbell
PHOTO CAPTIONS
1686
The Hon. Lanisha Rolle, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development greets Bishop Arnold Josey, Chairman of the National Child Protection Council.
1703
From left to right: Lillian Quant Forbes, acting director; the Hon. Lanisha Rolle, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development; Cora Bain Colebrooke, acting permanent secretary and Charlamae Fernander, assistant director.
1731
The Hon. Lanisha Rolle addresses the Child Protection Month Church Service.
1715
The String City Violinists perform a musical selection.
Bahamas News
Next U.S. Ambassador? Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.
Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.
For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.
Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.
“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.
Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.
He pledged to:
- Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
- Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
- Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.
“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.
The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six
million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.
And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow. Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas. Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.
Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.
Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”
He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.
Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”
If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.
For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.
For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.
Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.
The Bahamas, September 10, 2025 – Rescue swimmers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Training Center in
Mobile, Alabama visited Nassau to train Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) members in water survival skills as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) earlier this week.
“Training alongside our USCG partners ensures our personnel are best prepared for the unique challenges of joint operations” said Superintendent Wendy Pearson, Commander Drug Enforcement Unit.
The multi-day exercise, centered on the USCG’s Shallow Water Egress Training (SWET), enhanced the safety and preparedness of Bahamian partners who routinely operate aboard USCG helicopters during OPBAT missions. The exercise provided hands-on instruction for 31 participants and strengthened interoperability between U.S. and Bahamian agencies engaged in counter-drug, search and rescue, and maritime security operations throughout the region.
“We were excited and proud to have the opportunity to share our expertise with our Bahamian partners. Not only did RBDF and RBPF
perform exceptionally well, they exceeded the standards we set for the event,” said Petty Officer Second Class Cole Johnson, USCG.
OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. U.S. Embassy Nassau Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish stated, “Since 1982, OPBAT has worked to stop the flow of illicit narcotics through the Caribbean, destined for the United States or other jurisdictions. This is international cooperation at its best.”
