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Prime Minister Davis Calls police graduation ceremony an ‘extraordinary’ day

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#TheBahamas, June 29, 2023 – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis said, on June 22, 2023, that the Graduation and Passing Out Ceremony held in Rawson Square was an “extraordinary day for the 229 new recruits of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

“To you, the new A, B, C, & D full-fledged recruits, and A, B, C, & D reserve squads, I say congratulations! It is a sincere honour to share this special moment with you,” Prime Minister Davis said.  “I also wish to recognise the 18 officers from Turks and Caicos who are with us today. As neighbouring nations, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos have a long history of trade, collaboration, and, more recently, joint security operations.”

Among those present from The Bahamas were 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, and other Cabinet Ministers; senior Government Officials; heads of the Uniformed Branches; two former Prime Ministers; family members and well-wishers.

Prime Minister Davis also acknowledged the presence of his “esteemed colleagues”, the Hon. Charles Washington Misick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), and Her Excellency the Acting Governor of Turks and Caicos, Anya Williams; wishing them both a “very warm Bahamian welcome”.  Also present from TCI were Deputy Police Commissioner Rodney Adams, and other officials.

Prime Minister Davis said: “The Government of TCI is a vital partner of ours. We are always pleased to work alongside TCI to ensure our people’s shared safety and well-being. I look forward to a sustained partnership between The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos as we work to counter crime and create a more secure and prosperous region for all.”

“Today, my friends is a significant day,” he added.  “Today represents the accumulation of so many hours of hard work and intensive training. Today is the summit of a very steep slope, the peak you have sought for so long. From up here, the view is surely stunning. Enjoy it, my friends; you have earned it.”

Prime Minister Davis noted that, as The Bahamas readied itself to celebrate 50 years as an independent nation, the theme “One Nation. Our Legacy. Our Future” was a fitting one for that very occasion.

“Without law enforcement, it goes without saying we would not have a rule of law,” he pointed out.  “We would not be able to guarantee the rights and freedoms we all enjoy as citizens. Our legacy and our future as a stable and prosperous country in the Caribbean might very well be placed in jeopardy without the work of you police officers.”

“I say this to stress the importance of the charge you now carry on your shoulders,” Prime Minister Davis added.  “In your work, you will not only be creating safer communities. You will also be shaping the future of our country.”

Prime Minister Davis said that he encouraged the recruits to pursue that solemn remit “with all your strength”.

“I challenge you to remain unwavering in your quest for excellence; and I trust that you will be sensitive, steadfast, and sincere in the execution of your duties,” he said.

“Recruits: today represents the first of many peaks,” Prime Minister Davis added.  “You will encounter countless others over the course of your career. But you will not be able to do it alone.”

He told them to “lean” on their fellow officers and vice versa.

“Work together, bound by a shared sense of duty and profound respect for national service, and you will scale more mountains than you can imagine,” Prime Minister Davis said.

“As the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. So, go together, and go with all you’ve got,” he added.

Prime Minister Davis noted that along the way, however, they should not forget to take in their surroundings, to share in the success of their fellow recruits, and to hold each other to the highest standard.

“Bring out the best in each other, and execute your charge with the integrity, loyalty, and courage that characterises your Police Forces,” he said.

Prime Minister Davis said that people miss out on “so much joy” when they all do not celebrate their achievements; so they should “savour the mountains you climb”.

“Survey your surroundings, then determine where your resolve can take you next,” he said.  “And as you forge ahead, never forget that education and training can take you farther than you ever imagined.”

Prime Minister Davis added: “Become a life-long learner, and you will find yourself better equipped to carry out your charge. Your faith and endurance may be tested. And as you progress in your career, long hours and unforeseen obstacles may wear away at you. But in those trying times, reflect on what made you choose to become a police officer. Remember your reason why, and never let it go.”

He pointed out that, as new recruits, they had joined an organisation with an almost 200-year-long legacy. He noted that, since 1980, the RBPF, for example, has carried out its mandate of maintaining law and order, preserving the peace, preventing crime, apprehending offenders, and enforcing laws.

“It is now up to you to accomplish these functions,” Prime Minister Davis said.  “With your new skills and training, you now form a part of the privileged few who work each day to create a better, safer Bahamas and TCI.”

He added: “In the recent past, we have heard of violent break-ins, brutal murders, and savage assaults. The scourge of crime is certainly a concern for my administration, and it is one we are working to address to the best of our ability.”

Prime Minister Davis noted that his Government had undertaken heavy recruiting over the past 18 months, which had paid dividends in an overall crime reduction of 30% from 2022 to 2023, and a 16% decrease in homicides over the same period.

“We have also secured 100 new trucks and 50 new motorcycles for the police force, expanded CCTV coverage in public parks, and introduced technology and equipment upgrades in the form of body cameras, electronic monitoring devices, drones and much more,” he said.

“In the coming year, we will also be renovating multiple police stations and law enforcement facilities to better serve our service men and women,” Prime Minister Davis added.

He noted that, in the ongoing fight against crime, however, the country would need more than just new equipment.

Prime Minister Davis said: “We will need each one of you to do your part. The single mother alone at night needs you. The young boy on the brink of joining a gang needs you. The visitors to our shores need you. We all need you, our police officers.”

“So, as you embark on a fruitful and fulfilling career as a public officer, I trust that you will carry out your duties with the utmost care and urgency,” he added.  “I trust that you will give back to your country, which has already given so much to you. And I trust that wherever the future takes you, you will greet the days ahead with a proud and steadfast smile.

“You are a police officer, and that capacity is no small honour.”

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Walker Confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas: A Partner in America’s Extended Family

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

 

The United States and The Bahamas share more than proximity — they share a bond of history, trade, and culture that Washington’s newest diplomat calls “part of America’s extended community.”

Now, for the first time in 14 years, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau will again be led by a Senate-confirmed ambassador. Herschel Walker, the Heisman-winning football legend turned entrepreneur, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as America’s official envoy to The Bahamas.

Walker, who will oversee one of the Caribbean’s most strategically positioned U.S. missions, told senators during his confirmation hearing that The Bahamas will play a key role in upcoming U.S. 250th Independence celebrations. “The Bahamian people,” he said, “will be included in this milestone year, because our stories are intertwined — through family, trade, and friendship.”

While his nomination was unconventional, his priorities are anything but vague. Walker vowed to counter growing Chinese influence in the Caribbean, calling Beijing’s investments in Bahamian deep-water ports “a direct threat to U.S. national security.” He pledged to work closely with Bahamian authorities to ensure American interests remain the region’s cornerstone.

“There’s a rise in drug smuggling in The Bahamas, and this is a real danger to the United States,” Walker said, referring to the Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) partnership. He promised to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and law enforcement coordination to disrupt trafficking routes that have grown increasingly sophisticated.

But Walker also emphasized opportunity over fear — signaling that his ambassadorship will not only focus on security, but on strengthening The Bahamas as a gateway for U.S. investment, trade, and tourism.

“I will advise the American business community of the vast investment opportunities that exist in The Bahamas,” he said. “And I will make sure the Bahamian government maintains an environment where U.S. companies can invest confidently — because America must prove it is still great as an investor.”

For a small island nation sitting less than 50 miles off the coast of Florida, this renewed diplomatic attention carries weight. Since 2011, the post of U.S. ambassador had remained vacant — a gap that many observers say weakened direct ties, delayed joint security initiatives, and allowed other powers to move in.

Walker’s confirmation — approved 51 to 47 — ends that silence. And with it comes the expectation that this former Olympian and business owner will translate his discipline, charisma, and resilience into diplomatic results.

Critics question his lack of foreign policy experience, but Walker counters with confidence: “Throughout my life, people have underestimated me. I’ve always proved them wrong — by outworking everyone.”

As he prepares to take up residence in Nassau, Walker says his mission is simple: rebuild trust, deepen cooperation, and remind both nations that their futures are tied not just by geography — but by shared purpose, mutual respect, and the enduring ties of community.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

 

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PAY STANDOFF: Prime Minister Cancels Talks as Unions Warn of More Protests

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

Monday, October 13, 2025 — Nassau, The Bahamas – What began as a calm holiday meeting has spiraled into a full-blown standoff between The Bahamas Government and two of the country’s most powerful public sector unions — the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) — after the Prime Minister abruptly cancelled follow-up talks set for Tuesday, blaming public comments made by union leaders.

The announcement of the cancelled meeting came late Monday, just hours after a tense sit-down at the Office of the Prime Minister, held on National Heroes Day, where both BUT President Belinda Wilson and BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson accused the government of dragging its feet on salary increases and retroactive pay owed to thousands of public officers.

Wilson, never one to mince words, said the Prime Minister’s “technical officers” — the very people responsible for executing his instructions — were failing to carry out his directives regarding payment timelines.

“The Prime Minister’s issue,” Wilson said, “is that he has persons working for him who are not following his instructions. If those officers would follow through on what he told them to do, we wouldn’t be here today.”

Wilson added that the BUT and other unions are demanding retroactive pay dating back to September 2024, and that all increases be applied and paid by the October payday, not December as previously stated by the Prime Minister.

“Senior civil servants already received their retroactive pay — thousands of dollars — backdated to September of last year,” Wilson charged. “We’re saying the small man deserves the same. This isn’t a gift. It’s money already earned.”

Her comments came after the government publicly insisted that the salary adjustments would be implemented by December 2025, just ahead of Christmas — a timeline unions flatly reject as too slow.

Ferguson: ‘No More Excuses’

Following Wilson, BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson delivered a fiery statement of his own, telling reporters the unions would no longer tolerate delays or mixed messages from the Davis administration.

“The Prime Minister was receptive — but we’re not accepting excuses,” Ferguson said. “If the Prime Minister’s having a memory lapse, we have the Hansard from Parliament to remind him exactly what he promised public officers.”

Ferguson went further, warning that if Tuesday’s meeting failed to produce results, unions would “visit the House of Assembly” and intensify their campaign for immediate payment.

“Public servants, ready yourselves,” he declared. “We are prepared to stand together — all across The Bahamas — until our needs are met.”

Now, with the Prime Minister cancelling tomorrow’s talks altogether, that threat appears closer to becoming reality.

Government Bungles Response

Observers say the administration’s handling of the matter has been confused and contradictory, with conflicting statements on payment timelines and poor communication fueling frustration among teachers, nurses, and general public officers.

The government has maintained that the funds are allocated and will be disbursed before year’s end, but unionists insist they’ve heard it all before — and this time they want results, not promises.

The Prime Minister’s decision to cancel the meeting, rather than clarify or de-escalate tensions, has drawn sharp criticism across social media and among rank-and-file civil servants who see the move as punitive and dismissive.

Slowdown and the Threat of Another Mass Protest

Across several ministries, departments, and schools, reports are already surfacing of a go-slow in the public service, as workers express solidarity with the unions’ demands.

Many believe another mass demonstration is imminent, similar to the one staged last week Tuesday when thousands of workers gathered outside the House of Assembly on Bay Street as Parliament reopened after summer recess.

That protest brought parts of downtown Nassau to a standstill as union members sang, marched, and even sat in the street — a powerful show of defiance that now threatens to repeat itself unless the government moves quickly to resolve the impasse.

A Political Flashpoint

What began as a straightforward salary dispute has now evolved into a test of credibility and competence for the Davis administration. With a restless public sector, rising inflation, and unions unified across professions, the government risks not only another protest — but a full-blown industrial crisis heading into the year’s end.

For now, the unions are standing firm: they want retroactive pay from September 2024 and full salary adjustments by this October. Anything less, they warn, could push the country’s workforce from a slowdown into open confrontation.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Nassau Cruise Port Marks Sixth Anniversary with Exciting New Additions for Visitors and The community

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[Nassau, Bahamas, October 8, 2025] Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) proudly celebrates its sixth corporate anniversary by unveiling a series of transformative additions that further enhance the guest and community experience. The anniversary comes at a pivotal moment in the growth of the port, with the opening of a new swimming pool, an expanded marina, and a state-of-the-art ferry terminal that will support transfers to the Royal Beach Club, which is currently under construction on Paradise Island.

Since its $300 million redevelopment, Nassau Cruise Port – the largest transit cruise port in the world – has welcomed millions of visitors and become one of the most vibrant cruise destinations in the world. This anniversary not only reflects its commitment to delivering world-class facilities, but also its dedication to creating meaningful connections between visitors and the Bahamian community.

“This milestone represents much more than the passage of time,” said Mike Maura, Jr., CEO and Director of Nassau Cruise Port. “It reflects our promise to continually elevate the guest experience, contribute to the local economy, and provide opportunities for Bahamians. During our first year (2019) of operating the Nassau Cruise Port, Nassau welcomed approximately. 3.85 million cruise guests, and 2025 will see well over 6 million cruise visitors visit Nassau. Our focus on driving cruise tourism and the $350 million investment in our downtown waterfront is a testament to our vision of making Nassau a premier cruise and leisure destination.”

The new pool offers a refreshing retreat for visitors enjoying Nassau’s waterfront, while the expanded marina will accommodate additional yachts, boosting tourism and local commerce. The ferry terminal expansion enhances passenger flow and supports convenient, seamless transfers to the Royal Beach Club, strengthening Nassau’s position as a hub for Caribbean cruising and leisure.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, NCP will host a series of internal and external activities to celebrate its team and to highlight its ongoing investments in the Bahamian economy, including job creation, local vendor opportunities, and cultural showcases at the port.

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