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UNDP introduces new Country Programme for the Bahamas at regional ‘Partnership Roundtable’ series debut in Nassau

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Invites local, regional and international partnerships for sustainable development

 

 

#TheBahamas, May 5, 2023 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has unveiled a number of development solutions aligned to The Bahamas’ national priorities and opened the door for further cooperation on new solutions, under its 2022 – 2026 Country Programme.

UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio, urged local, regional, and international organizations, as well as donor countries, to partner with the UNDP in enhancing existing initiatives and creating new innovative solutions that align with the developmental goals and aspirations of the Bahamian people.

UNDP introduced its five-year Country Programme in Bahamas along with its development services to government officials, civil society, diplomatic corps, and development partners during the debut of UNDP’s sub regional Partnership Roundtable series on Monday 17th April 2023, at The Balmoral.

The new Country Programme will prioritize development solutions that focus on social resilience and inclusion, citizen safety and security and rule of law, climate change resilience, and sustainable natural resource management over the next five years. These priorities were developed following consultations under the regional Multi Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework led by the United Nations Resident Coordination team.

“We are committed to supporting the goals and aspirations of our host countries. Our role is to provide technical assistance and to leverage our resources, networks, facilities, and partnerships to support national priorities. Our Country Programme pillars serve as a framework to guide our collaborative efforts with countries towards achieving sustainable development outcomes,” she said.

In a keynote address delivered by the Honourable Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Strachan said that the Region looks to the UNDP to serve as an interlocutor, and to provide that advocacy support in the meeting halls of the international financial institutions regarding the acceptance of a multi-dimensional vulnerability index.

He also applauded the UNDP for the creation of the Mobile App for persons with disabilities as well as for the significant support rendered to the UNDP Abaco Hurricane Shelter/Community Centre Project.

“UNDP’s universal presence, commitment to transparency, world-leading operational standards, and global knowledge networks and expertise enable us to bring significant value to any partnership we form,” said Linda Maguire, Deputy Regional Director for UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Under the 2022 – 2026 Country Programme, UNDP is actively supporting the government in the implementation of several initiatives in The Bahamas including projects that aim to strengthen public debt management frameworks promote innovative financing tools for women and youth; establish a hurricane shelter in Abaco; and prepare Bahamas for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. UNDP is also partnering with communities and NGOs to advance climate change adaptation and mitigation through the UNDP-implemented Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme. Ms Antonio expressed her gratitude to UNDP’s current donor partners including Government of India, the Joint SDG Fund, GEF and UN agencies. 

UNDP has collaborated with various local partners, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Works, Disaster Reconstruction Authority, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, and National Council for Persons with Disabilities, on both past and current development solutions. Under the previous country programme (2017-2021), UNDP worked alongside government and civil society to support The Bahamas’ recovery, relief, and resilience agenda in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

The Bahamas is one of 42 countries served by UNDP’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. The UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica serves Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. On 12th July 1974, the Government of The Bahamas became the first among the UNDP Multi Country Office’s five partner countries and territories to formally establish an agreement with UNDP.

 

Photo Captions

Header: Following the UNDP‘s Partnership Roundtable, evet organizers and invited guests mingled. They include, from left From left, event moderator Krissy Hanna, Vice Chancellor, Bahamas Alrae Ramsey Institute of Foreign Service; Chinese Ambassador Dai Qingli; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, Denise E Antonio; Linda Maguire, Deputy Director, UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean;  Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Honourable Vaughan Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources; Kirk Cornish, Member of Parliament for North Abaco; Thomas Hartley, British High Commissioner ; Phedra Rahming Turnquest, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; Phyllis Baron, Country Representative, Organization of American States (OAS)

1st insert: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, Denise E Antonio.

2nd insert: Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3rd insert: Linda Maguire, Deputy Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Next U.S. Ambassador?  Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas

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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.

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Conflicting Reports as Grand Bahama Awaits Its New Airport: What to Believe?

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

September 16, 2025 – Grand Bahama’s wait for a modern international airport has taken another dramatic turn. Just days after reports surfaced that the $200 million redevelopment had collapsed because partners failed to secure financing, the government is now insisting the project is alive and well — with funding in the “final stages” and construction on the horizon.

Earlier This Week: Airport Deal in Dire Straits

The week began with grim headlines. Deputy Prime Minister and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper confirmed that private partners in the much-heralded consortium had not produced financing. “Regrettably, the funding had not happened,” he admitted, sparking widespread fears the deal had crumbled.

Those admissions triggered a storm of skepticism in Freeport. Back in February, the government had declared the airport deal “finalized,” naming Aerodrome Ltd., Manchester Airport Group, and BHM UK as partners. They promised demolition within 30 days, designs in 45 days, and a new terminal by year’s end. But now, more than four months later, not a single milestone has been delivered.

For residents and business leaders, the collapse narrative confirmed their worst fears: that Grand Bahama was once again being strung along with empty promises. Long-stay tourism — the kind that sustains hotels, restaurants, taxis, and shops — depends on a functioning airport. Without it, the island’s economy remains hobbled.

Today: Government Pushes Back

But late Thursday, the government issued a forceful rebuttal. “The redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s International Airport remains a central priority for this administration and is key to the island’s economic renewal,” the statement read. Officials stressed that they are “in the final stages of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport management.”

The statement went further, clarifying the role of Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport manager. MAG, it said, was never meant to provide financing but remains a core partner in shaping the airport’s development and management. Bahamian contractors, the government insisted, are part of the team tasked with delivering the facility. “Our focus is on results,” the release concluded. “Grand Bahama will have the airport it needs to grow, attract investment, and strengthen its role as a gateway to The Bahamas.”

Who Should Grand Bahama Believe?

The conflicting narratives — one of a deal in “dire straits,” the other of a project in “final stages” — have left Grand Bahama residents struggling to know what to believe. Is the airport project truly on life support, or is the government simply playing its hand close until funding details are nailed down?

Skeptics point out that this is hardly the first time the airport has been declared a priority only to see little follow-through. Promises in 2023, in February 2025, and again in summer 2025 all failed to produce visible progress. Each missed deadline has chipped away at public trust.

Supporters of the government counter that large infrastructure projects are inherently complex, with legal negotiations and financing arrangements often dragging longer than planned. They argue that the continued involvement of Manchester Airport Group is evidence the project is still credible.

The Bigger Picture

Grand Bahama’s airport troubles are intertwined with the stalled $120 million Grand Lucayan hotel sale, which also remains without visible progress 129 days after it was announced. Business leaders insist both projects must move together if the island is to see real recovery. A luxury resort without a modern airport is as unviable as an airport without hotel rooms to fill.

For now, the people of Grand Bahama are left in limbo. This week they were told the airport deal had failed. Today, they’re being told it’s moving forward. The only certainty is that, nearly a year after the latest round of promises, not a single crane has touched the sky.

As one resident put it: “We don’t need more statements. We need to see bulldozers.”

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U.S. Coast Guard Trains Bahamian Partners in Water Survival Skills

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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.”

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