Bahamas News
Prime Minister Davis Lauds Both Incoming and Outgoing Commissioners of Police
By: Eric Rose
Bahamas Information Services
#TheBahamas, July 15, 2022 – During his remarks at the Handing-Over Ceremony of the Office of Commissioner of Police of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), on July 5, 2022, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis noted that formal policing in The Bahamas went back to 1840, making the RBPF one of the longest-established institutions in the country.
He added that traditions, such as the Handing-Over Ceremony, symbolised not just the continuity of the institution, but also the continuity of Bahamian democratic traditions.
“At a time when so many other democracies are experiencing significant challenges, we should be justifiably proud that, here in our Bahamas, the fundamental role and responsibilities of policing are so deeply entrenched,” Prime Minister Davis said, at the ceremony held at the RBPF Headquarters, on East Street.
Among those present included Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper, Minister of National Security the Hon. Wayne Munroe and various Cabinet Ministers; Leader of the Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition the Hon. Michael Pintard; Chief Justice the Hon. Sir Brian Moree; senior Government officials and heads and officers of the uniformed branches; diplomats; law enforcement stakeholders; family members and well-wishers.
“This transfer of new leadership today, at its heart, is a renewed commitment to the fight against crime,” he added. “Our administration is also committed to the wider responsibilities of policing, which is to maintain public order and safety, and to enforce the law.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that, during the past 49 years since Independence, this was only the second Commissioner of Police to be appointed by a Progressive Liberal Party Administration. “And so in the Commissioner, we think it important that he is able to work within our approach to policy, which reflects both the progressive values we represent, and the mandate upon which we were elected,” he said.
Prime Minister Davis continued: “First and foremost, this means that we see policing in general, and the fight against crime in particular, as an effort that must be conducted in partnership with the Bahamian people.” He noted that in the platform document, ‘A Blueprint for Change’, his Government made a solemn commitment to strengthen the nation’s security by ‘… enhancing crime fighting methodologies in our aggressive war against crime’.
“We stand firmly behind that commitment,” Prime Minister Davis said.
“That said, we do not view policing as something which is to be inflicted upon our citizens and residents,” he added. “The reflexive, heartless approach of recent years of ‘just lock them up’, is not one that we endorse or share.”
Prime Minister Davis said, to be clear, however, his Government will continue to increase its muscular response to crime, and violent crime in particular.
“We will continue to use every available resource to dismantle the gangs which plague our society, and work with neighbouring countries to stop the flow of illegal weapons into The Bahamas,” he said. “Gangs and weapons are the two critical factors driving the high murder rate we are currently experiencing, with the almost weekly tit-for-tat
killings between gangs.”
Prime Minister Davis noted that more aggressive policing, on its own, was not the whole answer.
“We understand that fighting crime requires more than just responding to an offence,” he said. “It’s also about conflict resolution, prevention, intervention, punishment, and rehabilitation. The Government will continue to spend more on community policing and ‘violence-disrupters’. And we will continue to offer safety net programs for young people.”
Prime Minister Davis noted the Urban Renewal Trust Foundation was recently formally relaunched, to assist in this effort. He added that other initiatives, such as ‘Swift Justice’, and the ‘Citizens’ Justice and Security Programme’ will continue to strengthen his Government’s approach.
“We will also continue to invest in education and job programmes that can confront and overcome the sense of hopelessness felt by so many young men, who resort to a life of crime as a means of gaining self-esteem and opportunity,” he said.
“And with the building of a new prison, and an expansion of rehabilitation schemes, we will do what we can to ensure that when people complete their jail sentences, and re-join society, they are supported and enabled to ensure that they do not re-offend,” he added.
Prime Minister Davis said that, along with those initiatives, which were focused on the offender, his Government was also extremely mindful of the need to offer better support to those who were victims of crime. “Every criminal act
impacts upon those who are victims of it,” he said. “But those who are victims of serious, life-changing crimes, need more, along with the encouragement to trust the police to do their job, and not engage in any individual, vigilante efforts.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that he set out those thoughts in relation to policing to highlight the charge given to both the outgoing and incoming Commissioners.
He also noted that the background and experience of both represent “some of the finest in the policing tradition of our country”.
Prime Minister Daivs said that, since joining the RBPF in 1983, outgoing Commissioner Paul Rolle had enjoyed a distinguished career in law enforcement.
“Among his many assignments, Commissioner Rolle served as Officer-in-Charge of the Central Detective Unit, Head of the Police Training College, and Officer-in-Charge of the Crime Detection Unit (CDU), during which time he concluded and placed more than 2,400 cases before the Supreme Court,” he noted.
“After attaining the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2017, Mr. Rolle was instrumental in establishing the Anti-Corruption Unit.
“My government and I thank Mr. Paul Rolle for his public service, and wish him well in his new assignment.”
To the incoming Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner Clayton Fernander, Prime Minister Davis extended a welcome and congratulations.
“He is also a career law enforcement officer with almost four decades of policing, administrative and investigative experience,” Prime Minister Davis said.
“He has worked in the Traffic Division, the Criminal Investigations Department, and served as a Divisional Commander; on the Selective Enforcement Unit,” he added. “He has been part of the Central Detective Unit, and, as Assistant Commissioner was a member of the Senior Executive Leadership Team when, in 2017, he assumed responsibilities for the Crime Management Portfolio.
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that, following his return to active duty in September 2021, Mr. Fernander took on
a “new and more challenging role” when he assumed the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Portfolio as Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Prime Minister Davis also mentioned that, in 2013 Mr. Fernander was shot during an attempted armed robbery, an incident “which not weaken his resolve to serve in law enforcement”. We look forward to his bringing the same courage and tenacity to his role as Commissioner,” he said.
Prime Minister Davis said that it was arguable that the job of policing in The Bahamas has never been more challenging or more demanding.
“The change of leadership signified by today’s handing-over ceremony, contains within it my administration’s commitment to strengthen the rule of law, the preservation of good law and order and the maintenance of the peace, and a resolute determination to win the fight against crime in our country,” he said.
“Commissioner Fernander is the right man for the job.”
Photo Caption: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis speaks, during his remarks at the Handing-Over Ceremony of the Office of Commissioner of Police of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), on July 5, 2022, at the RBPF Headquarters. Among those present included Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper, Minister of National Security the Hon. Wayne Munroe and various Cabinet Ministers; Leader of the Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition the Hon. Michael Pintard; Chief Justice the Hon. Sir Brian Moree; senior Government officials and heads and officers of the uniformed branches; diplomats; law enforcement stakeholders; family members and well-wishers. (BIS Photos/Eric Rose)
USA, April 23, 2026 – A Bahamian man has been extradited to the United States to face serious drug charges stemming from alleged offences committed several years ago.
Lernis Cornish Jr. was handed over to U.S. authorities on April 17, 2026, following extradition proceedings in The Bahamas. The case was heard before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley, who ordered that Cornish be surrendered to American officials. Cornish did not challenge the order.
He has since been transferred to Florida, where he is expected to face trial in connection with alleged drug-related activity dating
back23 to 2020.
According to reports, Cornish is accused of possession of cocaine with intent to supply and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to supply. Related U.S. law enforcement notices also indicate that the matter is being pursued in Collier County, Florida, where authorities have listed charges including trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic cocaine, involving quantities of 400 grams or more.
The case now falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida court system, where prosecutors are expected to advance the matter through pre-trial proceedings ahead of any potential trial.
Extradition from The Bahamas to the United States is governed by bilateral treaty arrangements, allowing individuals accused of serious offences to be transferred to face justice in the requesting country once a Bahamian court is satisfied that legal requirements have been met.
Cornish’s extradition marks the continuation of a multi-year case, moving it from preliminary proceedings in The Bahamas into the U.S. judicial system, where the allegations will now be tested in court.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, April 14, 2026 – With the 2026 Bahamian general election set for May 12, the country’s major political parties have now formally placed their plans before the electorate, offering competing visions for governance, growth and relief.
The governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), led by Philip Davis, launched its “Blueprint for Progress 2026” on April 8, 2026, outlining a
46-page plan focused on long-term development and systems reform. The document places heavy emphasis on energy transition, digital government, workforce training and food security, positioning the party as one seeking continuity following its first term. The full plan is publicly available online through official PLP platforms for voters to review.
Just days later, on Sunday, April 12, the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), under Michael Pintard, unveiled its 2026 Manifesto at a major event in Nassau. Spanning 54 pages, the document centers on cost-of-living relief, tax reform, healthcare expansion and housing, offering what the party describes as a more immediate response to economic pressures facing Bahamian families. The FNM has also made its manifesto accessible online.
Beyond the two major parties, the Coalition of Independents (COI) had already entered the policy space earlier, formally unveiling its long-range Vision 2030 framework on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Fusion Superplex in Nassau during a packed national launch led by party leader Lincoln Bain. That framework has since been complemented by a 100-day action plan released in late March/early April 2026, adding a short-term policy layer to its long-range proposals.
These policy rollouts come as the country prepares for a pivotal vote, with the Parliamentary Registration Department confirming a voters’ register of approximately 203,000 eligible voters, one of the largest in the nation’s history. Key dates are now set, with Nomination Day on April 16, followed by advance polls on April 30, ahead of General Election Day on May 12.
With platforms now in the public domain and the timeline locked in, the focus shifts squarely to the electorate—who must now weigh the promises, examine the plans and decide the country’s direction at the polls.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, April 14, 2026 – At its core, the $65 million water security project is designed to strengthen the reliability, safety and resilience of the water supply across The Bahamas.
If implemented as planned, the investment is expected to improve water quality, reduce contamination risks and support public health,
while increasing supply reliability and limiting service disruptions during droughts or system failures. The project also aims to expand and upgrade infrastructure, including wellfields, pumping stations and storage capacity, and to protect freshwater resources from saltwater intrusion—an increasing threat for low-lying islands. In practical terms, that could mean cleaner, more consistent and more dependable access to water for residents across the country.
The project was first conceptualised in 2019 under the previous administration, when a proposal was submitted to the Green Climate Fund to strengthen the resilience of the country’s water systems. That early work came just months before Hurricane Dorian exposed the vulnerability of national infrastructure, including critical water and sanitation systems, particularly in the northern Bahamas.
The initial phase focused on developing the concept, identifying priority areas and engaging regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Development Bank, to support the design and preparation of a full funding proposal.
Following the change in government in 2021, the project advanced into its most technical and demanding stages. The current administration oversaw the completion of key requirements, including feasibility studies, environmental and social assessments, and detailed financing negotiations with international partners—steps necessary to move the proposal from concept to approval.
That multi-year process has now culminated in approval of a $65 million financing package, combining grant funding with concessional loans to support long-term upgrades to the country’s water infrastructure.
While the project brings significant international support, it is not entirely free money. The package is structured as a blended financing arrangement, combining grant funding with concessional loans—meaning a portion of the funding will ultimately need to be repaid. Based on information released by the Caribbean Development Bank, approximately $25 million of the total package is tied to loan financing, with the remaining portion provided as grant support.
Concessional loans typically carry more favourable terms than commercial borrowing, including lower interest rates and longer repayment
periods. However, they still represent debt obligations that will be borne over time.
Notably, detailed terms of the loan components—including interest rates, repayment schedules and any associated conditions—were not disclosed in the initial announcement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister (Bahamas). Those details are expected to be outlined in formal financing agreements, but have not yet been made public.
For Bahamians, the project represents both investment and obligation. While the grant funding provides a significant boost to infrastructure development, the loan component adds to the country’s long-term financial commitments—making transparency around terms and implementation timelines especially important.
While the approval marks a significant milestone, the timeline for delivery remains a critical factor. Based on information available from project partners, implementation is not expected to begin immediately. The initiative is anticipated to move into its execution phase later in 2026, following finalisation of financing agreements and completion of preparatory requirements.
From there, the project is projected to unfold over several years, with estimates suggesting a multi-year implementation period of up to seven years to fully deliver the planned upgrades to water infrastructure across The Bahamas.
This means that while the funding has now been approved, the benefits will be realised gradually rather than all at once. A definitive completion date has not been publicly outlined, and detailed timelines tied to specific islands or phases of work have yet to be disclosed.
For Bahamians, the question now shifts from approval to execution—when funds are drawn down, when construction begins, and how consistently the project moves from plan to delivery.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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