Bahamas News
Protection Against Violence Bill 2023, passed in the Senate: “An investment in the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of Bahamian citizens,” said the AG
By BETTY VEDRINE
Bahamas Information Services
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas through legislation has implemented increased and better coordinated systems of protection and support for victims of violence: the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023 was passed in the Senate on Wednesday, 2nd August. Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. L. Ryan Pinder outlined the main objectives of the Bill. He said that the Bill is a multi-faceted one aimed at covering several issues not previously covered or no longer relevant in the existing Bill.
Senator Michela Barnett Ellis
“The Protection Against Violence Bill, 2023 is a comprehensive legislation designed to provide protection and support for victims of violence in The Bahamas. The Bill not only seeks to uphold the nation’s commitments under international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1981 (CEDAW) and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, 1994 (Convention of Belem do Para), but also creates a domestic framework for supporting victims, handling complaints, and raising public awareness, ” said Senator Pinder.
He said that the Bill is not about imposing new bureaucratic structures, but about improving response mechanisms, better coordinating efforts, and providing much-needed support to victims. Mr. Pinder said that the bill should be seen as “an investment in the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of Bahamian citizens.”
The Senator outlined the general objectives of the Protection Against Violence Bill, 2023 and said that the Bill will provide a national strategy to prevent and respond to violence by promoting a multi-disciplinary approach to community and services to assist victims and manage offenders,
provide for a system of information gathering to generate reliable statistics on violence against women which result in death, and compliance with regional and international human rights treaty obligations.
The Bill allows for the establishment of the Protection Against Violence Commission, which will work with the responsible Minister to ensure that victims are treated with compassion and dignity and have access to justice without unnecessary delays and impediments. The Minister said that the work of the commission will inform policies, promote awareness of human rights, allocate resources for specialised services, promote education and sensitivity training, and promote programmes and policies that are gender-sensitive, equitable and lead toward greater gender equality and improved gender relations.
Not only would the commission advise the government on policies, but will also oversee the implementation of a National Strategic Plan for Combatting and Responding to Violence.
Senator Maxine Seymour
“The Commission will serve as the gathering point for collaboration and coordination of all stakeholders who work to combat and respond to violence. The Commission will also keep the government abreast of the need to maintain an adequate number of shelters. The Commission is also responsible for establishing a Federation of Community Organisations Against Violence to act as an apex body of support services to victims, the vehicle that will bring together the various NGOs and other community organisers together and ensure that their input plays a major role in the Commission’s work. This is an acting Commission, one designed to provide results for the benefit of all those who are victims of violence,” he said.
The Commission, he noted, is comprised of representatives from the Ministries of Health, Local Government, Education, Science and Technology, the Attorney General’s Office and Legal Affairs, Youth, Sports, and Culture, as well as the Department of Social Services, the Commission, its Foundation, and Divisional Heads, as well as three other appointed stakeholders with active involvement on these issues. “This composition,” he said, “is substantially the same as the composition of Gender-Based Violence Authority found in the 2016 Bill.”
The Senator said that the bill also allows for the establishment of the Protection Against Violence Foundation, which will be used to raise funds to support the Commission. He pointed out that the funds of the Foundation can never be used for the personal benefit of any directors, officers, or private persons.
Included in the Commission’s portfolio is a technical body called the ‘Protection Against Violence Secretariat’ which will coordinate, formulate, publish and implement protocols and procedures, manage applications for funding and assistance, as well as oversee negotiations with regional and international bodies and assist the Commission with matters of importance.
The Bill will also provide for compliance with Regional and International Obligations – Rights of Victims of Violence.
“Noted in the draft Bill are the binding principles to which the Protection Against Violence Commission must adhere to in carrying out its functions. These binding principles align with the CEDAW and Belem Do Para and prescribe that victims are treated with an enhanced level of compassion and respect, and are able to access prompt justice and redress through strengthened judicial and administrative mechanisms,” said Mr. Pinder.
The Commission will engage legal services to assist with complaints, liaise with police investigators to ensure that they are upholding their obligations, and provide legal guidance as necessary throughout the process. The legal element will play an even more important role with the introduction of a slate of protected rights under this Bill. “There will be a Right To Be Treated With Compassion And Dignity, which means that every victim of violence has the right to be treated with compassion and dignity by EVERY person who comes in contact with them in a professional capacity.”
Senator Tyrel Young
He continued: “You will have the Right to Confidentiality from all people who provide any kind of relevant service or support to you, including members of the commission itself and persons acting on behalf of the Commission. That confidentiality will apply to your identity, the offender’s identity, the identity of witnesses, and the circumstances of the offence. Trust is such a critical element in empowering survivors of violence and encouraging others to step up. Through the establishment of these rights, we are taking the necessary steps to protect all parties involved.”
The Minister said that a major element of the Bill is focused on Procedures for the Making and Handling of Complaints, which allows those directly impacted by violence, as well as those with information about an act of violence, to make a formal complaint. “Any formal complaint will be made in-person to a police officer, which will be signed and dated inclusive of all relevant details. Police officers will be required by law to investigate such complaints, and in the course of that investigation will be expected to assist the victim with obtaining treatment, getting to a safe space, accompanying the victim to remove personal belongings, informing the victim of necessary details and procedures, including the importance of preserving and collecting evidence, and connecting them with the Protection Against Violence Commission.”
As it relates to Care and Support Services, he said the Bill has provisions that speak specifically to sexual violence and abuse and expected related care and support services. “The Commission will be obligated to provide safe housing and shelter for women who are victims of sexual violence and any accompanying children,” he explained. “The Commission will make any necessary accommodations for the arrangement of psychological, medical and legal assistance. There is also an obligation to provide safe spaces for victims in addition to age-appropriate counselling, group sessions, and alternative means of resolution and restorative justice. It was very important for the Bill to directly support victims of sexual violence as a group that specifically requires support that is not always available in the way it needs to be. Thankfully, we are providing for those specific needs through this Bill.
In instances when violence results in death, the Senator said that a ‘Violent Fatality Review team’ — comprised of a retired Supreme Court Justice and representatives from Social Services, Public Health, and the Public Health Authority, in addition to two other appointees recommended by the Commission — will make recommendations to the Minister regarding potential legal changes based on their research and their review of closed cases. “The objective,” he noted ” is not to respond to individual cases, but to take a big-picture view of the situation and provide recommendations to respond to identified trends in ways that are likely to directly address any emerging contributory issues through legislative and policy change or specific initiatives and actions.”
“This is the framework of the Protection Against Violence Bill, 2023 fulfilling the recommendations as set on in 2017 narrowing the focus and prioritizing the creation of institutions/mechanisms for GBV prevention and response,” he said. “Specifically, the recommendation was that this Bill should focus exclusively on establishing the Gender Based Violence Authority and its institutions. It was agreed that reference to further revision of the law, policy and other matters could be thoroughly addressed upon the establishment of the Authority.”
Senator Kirkland Russell
He also pointed to other efforts that the bill would address.
“The work on the legislative framework is not the only aspect to close the gaps with respect to GBV and violence in general. I noted in the discussion of the 2015 GAP analysis the second Gap is that the archipelagic nature of The Bahamas presents major challenges in terms of implementation, monitoring and enforcement of a national GBV system. We have been working hard to address this issue. The Government continues its efforts to implement the National Strategic Plan to address Gender-Based Violence, with the most recent achievement being the implementation of the Family Island Coordination Councils (FICC) to address GBV. The purpose of the Councils are to focus on community-based partnerships to prevent GBV in our Family Island communities and to ensure that victims of GBV receive professional support and clinical services needed to recover from such situations. These Councils represent a multi-sectoral, coordinated approach to achieving an effective and integrated response to GBV while assisting in the rehabilitation of the perpetrators of abuse.”
He said that this is complemented by the efforts of ‘Men’s Desk’ in building support for the prevention of GBV against women. ‘The Urban Renewal Task Force Relief Unit also conducts door-to-door home visits to residents experiencing conflict or abusive relationships to problem solve and prevent the escalation of violence. The ten (10) Urban Renewal Centers throughout the country are mandated to report all incidents of GBV to the Relief Task Force Unit. The Department of Social Services provides temporary shelter for survivors of GBV, onsite counseling and accompaniment to court.”
He said that the government continues to take a holistic approach to violence, and particularly gender-based violence.
“Overall, the Protection Against Violence Bill, of 2023, is a testament to The Bahamas’ dedication to eradicating violence against women, ensuring victim support, and promoting public education about this pressing issue. After the passage of this Bill, we will need to make a tremendous effort to generate and allocate resources, to hold training sessions, and to update our systems and processes to meet our goals.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Ryan Pinder delivers his contribution on the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023 in the Senate on Wednesday, 2nd August. Among senators who also contributed, are several pictured here. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)
PM: Project delivers on promise and invests in youth, sports and national development
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — Calling it the fulfillment of a major commitment to the island, Prime Minister Philip Davis led the official groundbreaking for the Grand Bahama Aquatic Centre, a facility the government says will transform sports development and create new opportunities for young athletes.
Speaking at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on February 12, the Prime Minister said the project represents more than bricks and mortar
— it is an investment in people, national pride and long-term economic activity. The planned complex will feature a modern 50-metre competition pool, designed to meet international standards for training and regional and global swim meets. Davis said the facility will give Bahamian swimmers a home capable of producing world-class performance while also providing a space for community recreation, learn-to-swim programmes and water safety training.
He noted that Grand Bahama has long produced outstanding athletes despite limited infrastructure and said the new centre is intended to correct that imbalance, positioning the island as a hub for aquatic sports and sports tourism.
The Prime Minister also linked the development to the broader national recovery and revitalisation of Grand Bahama, describing the project as part of a strategy to expand opportunities for young people, create jobs during construction and stimulate activity for small businesses once operational.
The Aquatic Centre, he said, stands as proof that promises made to Grand Bahama are being delivered.
The project is expected to support athlete development, attract competitions, and provide a safe, modern environment for residents to access swimming and water-based programmes for generations to come.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, February 15, 2026 – For the better part of three years, Bahamians have been told that major Afreximbank financing would help transform access to capital, rebuild infrastructure and unlock economic growth across the islands. The headline figures are large. The signing ceremonies are high profile. The language is ambitious. What remains far harder to see is the measurable impact in the daily lives of the people those announcements are meant to serve.
The Government’s push to secure up to $100 million from Afreximbank for roughly 200 miles of Family Island roads dates back to 2025. In
its February 11 disclosure, the bank outlined a receivables-discounting facility — a structure that allows a contractor to be paid early once work is completed, certified and invoiced, with the Government settling the bill later. It is not cash placed into the economy upfront. It does not, by itself, build a single mile of road. Every dollar depends on work first being delivered and approved.
The wider framework has been described as support for “climate-resilient and trade-enhancing infrastructure,” a phrase that, in practical terms, should mean projects that lower the cost of doing business, move people and goods faster, and keep the economy functioning. But for communities, that promise becomes real only when the projects are named, the standards are defined and a clear timeline is given for when work will begin — and when it will be finished.
Bahamians have seen this moment before.
In 2023, a $30 million Afreximbank facility for the Bahamas Development Bank was hailed as a breakthrough that would expand access to financing for local enterprise. It worked in one immediate and measurable way: it encouraged businesses to apply. Established, revenue-generating Bahamian companies responded to the call, prepared plans, and entered a process they believed had been capitalised to support growth. The unanswered question is how much of that capital has reached the private sector in a form that allowed those businesses to expand, hire and generate new economic activity.
Because development is not measured in the size of announcements.
It is measured in loans disbursed, projects completed and businesses expanded.
The pattern is becoming difficult to ignore. In June 2024, when Afreximbank held its inaugural Caribbean Annual Meetings in Nassau,
Grand Bahama was presented as the future home of an Afro-Caribbean marketplace said to carry tens of millions of dollars in investment. What was confirmed at that stage was a $1.86 million project-preparation facility — funding for studies and planning to make the development bankable, not construction financing. The larger build-out remains dependent on additional approvals, land acquisition and further capital.
This distinction — between financing announced and financing that produces visible, measurable outcomes — is now at the centre of the national conversation.
Because while the numbers grow larger on paper, entrepreneurs still describe access to capital as out of reach, and communities across the Family Islands are still waiting to see where the work will start.
And in an economy where stalled growth translates into lost opportunity, rising frustration and real social consequences, the gap between promise and delivery is no longer a communications issue.
It is an inability to convert announcements into outcomes.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
A hardline strategy that reduced murders, gunfire, and collateral deaths
The Bahamas, February 8, 2026 – What happens when police stop routinely granting bail to high-risk suspects and aggressively execute outstanding warrants? In The Bahamas, the answer in 2025 was fewer murders, fewer gunshots, and safer communities.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force arrested 4,337 individuals on outstanding warrants last year, ensuring suspects were brought directly before the courts instead of being released back onto the streets. At the same time, police significantly curtailed the use of police bail for high-risk and repeat offenders, particularly those already entangled in violent disputes.
Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said the shift was informed by hard lessons from previous years. Intelligence reviews showed that
many homicide victims were not random targets, but men already wanted by law enforcement and — critically — by other criminals. When released on bail, those individuals often became targets themselves, triggering retaliatory shootings that spilled into neighbourhoods, roadways and public spaces.
By keeping high-risk suspects in custody pending court appearances, police say they disrupted that cycle — removing both potential offenders and potential victims from the streets.
The impact was stark. Murders declined by 31 percent in 2025, falling from 120 in 2024 to 83, the largest percentage decrease in homicides since national tracking began in 1963 and the lowest murder count in nearly two decades.
Police leaders say the strategy also reduced the collateral damage that had increasingly alarmed communities. Innocent residents had been caught in “sprays of gunfire” as targeted attacks unfolded in residential areas, at traffic stops, and in public settings.
Gun-violence indicators reflected the change. Gunshot reports fell by 35 percent, while incidents detected by ShotSpotter technology declined by 29 percent, confirming that fewer shots were being fired across the country.
“Gunshots ringing out and cutting through our peaceful paradise were down remarkably,” Commissioner Knowles said, attributing the improvement to decisive enforcement, tighter bail practices, and sustained pressure on offenders.
Police also intensified enforcement against breach of bail conditions, charging and detaining more suspects than in any previous reporting period. Officers say the approach removed the opportunity for repeat offending while matters were before the courts.
Police leadership said the results go beyond statistics. By limiting bail for high-risk suspects and executing warrants at scale, the strategy saved lives, protected bystanders, and restored confidence in public safety.
In 2025, fewer people were hunted, fewer bullets were fired, and fewer families were left grieving — a shift police say was no accident, but the result of deliberate, hardline choices.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
