Bahamas News
Blacklisting and regional political unrest concerns, as Bahamas goes to 30th CARICOM Inter-Sessional
#Nassau, February 25, 2019 – Bahamas – Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis will lead a delegation to the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in St Kitts, February 26-27, 2019.
Heads are expected to engage in several side meetings to advance diplomacy and bilateral agreements among Member States. High on the agenda for The Bahamas are the recent Blacklisting by the European Union and the political unrests in Haiti and Venezuela. Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Joshua Sears discussed the importance of the Meeting, which takes place just months before Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
Inter-Sessional meetings came about after Heads discovered that many items on the Agenda for the Regular Meeting could not be adequately dealt with. Hence, a meeting in between is held to address any issues which might require urgent attention.
“But there are also special meetings by Heads which are called to deal with specific matters. For example, most recently Heads met to deal with the situation in Venezuela, and after 9/11 Heads met in special session to deal with that specific issue and the economic implications for Caribbean countries,” Mr. Sears said.
“So Inter-Sessional will give the Prime Minister and other Heads of Government a chance to assess some critical issues.”
According to Mr. Sears, the Intersessional Meeting covers a full slate of issues over a two-day period.
“Quite a lot can be done in two days. The Agenda has been set and streamlined to have focused discussions. There will be some long hours but that’s the tradition and we have no concerns about our ability to complete the Agenda,” he said.
Among the Agenda items are: the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Security issues, Blacklisting and Border Issues.
Just recently The Bahamas, and several other Caribbean countries, was placed on a European Union Blacklist, which requires additional scrutiny regarding financial transactions.
“For many years CARICOM has been advocating for a fair process and we will see now that that voice has resonated with developed countries,” Mr. Sears said.
The United States also made its statement on the EU’s process and it is anticipated that CARICOM Heads of Government will also renew their commitment to working together as a group to call for a fairer process. “The entire CARICOM region is adversely impacted by these regulations,” Mr. Sears said, adding that, “The good thing about it is through the Financial Action Task Force countries agreed to recommendations to improve their financial sectors and by each country taking the necessary steps… we follow each other and adopt the best practices, Heads share their views, Central Banks Governors meet and they share views and they all work towards making these recommendations more relevant to address the financial concerns of the international financial community.”
Acknowledging that these are “vexing problems” for The Bahamas and CARICOM as a whole, Mr. Sears said that the developing countries within the EU feel that these centres are causing them to lose tax revenues. “Personally, I don’t think that’s a justified conclusion, for them to take the steps they are taking particularly when countries have demonstrated their commitments to improving legislative framework and policy framework. I think they are misguided in that respect,” he said.
Heads are to also view updates on applications for Associate Membership from Aruba, Curacao and Saint Maarten.
“Heads agreed some time ago for these countries to be considered for membership as these countries already have relations with CARICOM so its basically, in essence, a formality,” Mr Sears said.
Regarding the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, although The Bahamas joined the Caribbean Commiunity (CARICOM) on July 4, 1983, it remains out of the CSME which is an enlarged market offering a single economic space for the production of competitive goods and services.
“The Bahamas is not frowned upon for not joining the CSME, we make decisions based on our national interests and we certainly have been a part of CARICOM. We have attended Heads of Government meetings and there are lots of areas in which we participate like the Community Council of Ministers, the Council of Foreign and Community Relations, the organization dealing with health and social development and many other areas of collaboration within the Caribbean Community. So from our point of view there is not a concern in terms of about being isolated from or being negatively impacted,” Mr. Sears said.
Regarding border issues, he pointed out that a concern for The Bahamas and other member-states is the political crisis in Venezuela, which has impacted several Member States in a direct way.
“Guyana has been bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis in terms of people crossing the border. Trinidad has been impacted and there have been a few incidents reported. This has been on the world stage,” Mr. Sears said, “Also the situation in Haiti has been one of concern for CARICOM and the president of Haiti (is expected) to brief CARICOM. Of course, the impact on us in terms of the illegal migration is one of critical concern.”
Heads will also have chance to dialogue with the President of Estonia, Her Excellency Kersti Kaljulaid. It is customary that one special guest is allowed at these meetings.
The Prime Minister’s Delegation will include the Hon. Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sears, Viana Gardiner, Chief Operating Officer, Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; Erica Wells-Cox, Director of Communications Office of the Prime Minister and other government officials.
On the margins of the Inter-Sessional, there’s the 10th Special Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers on February 25, which will be attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
The 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community just precedes the 40th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference scheduled for July in Saint Lucia.
“It’s critical for the Bahamian public to appreciate and understand that CARICOM is an organization which has a strong voice in international relations. We have a strong voice on issues. Sometimes the Bahamian people don’t appreciate the need and the necessity for governments to participate in these organizations.
“The world is such a small place and we all try to develop best practices and standards and there are policy issues which impact education and the legal framework which calls for collaboration between Governments. When we go to the OAS, or the Commonwealth of Nations or the United Nations, CARICOM’s voice is one, which is very important too. We attend these meetings as part of that whole process,” Mr. Sears said.
By Lindsay Thompson
Release: BIS
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.”
