Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – Haitian citizens living legally in the Turks and Caicos Islands, who for years have quietly traveled to Nassau for their U.S. visa interviews without controversy, could now find themselves caught in the crossfire of a diplomatic storm.

On September 4, the U.S. State Department announced that all Haitian immigrant visa processing would be moved from Port-au-Prince to the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, effective November 1. Washington said the decision was driven by worsening instability in Haiti and the inability of its embassy there to safely operate.

That explanation is not without evidence. On July 28, the U.S. ordered the evacuation of non-emergency diplomatic staff and family members from Port-au-Prince, warning all American citizens to leave Haiti amid rising gang violence. On August 6, the embassy was forced to temporarily close after gunfire erupted near its Tabarre compound, resuming service only once the immediate danger subsided. By August 31, the situation was so dire that the U.S. deployed Marines to Haiti, confirming that a security contingent was sent to strengthen the embassy, protect facilities, and assist with troop rotations. A UN report noted that more than 1,500 people were killed in gang-related violence between April and June alone, underlining the deteriorating conditions.

Against this backdrop, the State Department’s relocation of visa processing may seem logical. Yet the choice of Nassau as the new venue has sparked outrage in The Bahamas. Prime Minister Philip Davis’s government insists it was not consulted and rejects the idea of becoming a visa hub for Haitian citizens. Officials have been explicit that Haitian citizens will not be permitted to enter The Bahamas solely for the purpose of attending U.S. visa appointments.

That stance carries immediate consequences for Haitian citizens in Turks and Caicos. To visit The Bahamas, they must hold a Bahamian visitor visa. If Nassau enforces its refusal, then even those legally resident in TCI could suddenly lose access to their long-standing consular route — a quiet arrangement that has functioned for years without issue.

The controversy also raises a question: why Nassau and not Santo Domingo? The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has greater capacity, and already hosts a sizeable Haitian population. But strained relations between the two countries, coupled with Santo Domingo’s recent mass deportations and a politically charged border crackdown, may have made it an unattractive or unworkable option for Washington.

For Bahamians, however, the optics are galling. Already grappling with irregular migration from Haiti, they see the U.S. decision as an imposition that disregards national sovereignty. Davis’s administration argues the move would create a de facto transit pipeline the country neither requested nor supports.

Lost in much of the uproar is the nuance: Haitian applicants traveling from Turks and Caicos have long relied on Nassau as their nearest U.S. consular post. That practice was manageable and largely unnoticed. What is new — and politically explosive — is the wholesale relocation of all Haitian visa cases to Nassau, thrusting the Bahamian government into a role it is unwilling to play.

Unless Washington reconsiders its plan or Nassau shifts its hardline stance, Haitian citizens in Turks and Caicos — once able to quietly secure U.S. visa interviews in the Bahamian capital — may find themselves stranded, locked out by the very visitor visa requirement that until now was just a formality.

Caption: Photo of US Embassy in Haiti

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

CUTLER BAY, FL — Her smile lit up the hallway of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital as 22-year-old Hannah Smith rang the bell and wheeled herself out the door — a triumphant signal that she had conquered the worst.

After losing both legs in a traumatic boating accident while vacationing in The Bahamas, Smith has made a stunning recovery.  “It’s just a big win for something I didn’t see a couple months ago,” she told WSVN 7News. “Big motivation.”

The recent graduate from Miles College in Alabama was in the country celebrating her graduation when she was struck by a boat’s propellers during an excursion on May 12.  The incident caused massive injuries, leading to the amputation of both legs — one in The Bahamas, the other in Miami.

Despite unimaginable trauma, Smith radiates strength and perspective.

“I traded my legs for my life,” she said.  “Besides God, definitely my parents.  When I have any sad moments, they pull me out.  I told them I don’t think I’d be as positive in this situation without them.”

Smith’s story has moved many, not just because of the tragedy she endured, but for her resilience, optimism, and deep faith in God.

She now faces a long road ahead: prosthetics, outpatient therapy, and ongoing recovery.  Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the journey.  Those wishing to help can search for “Hannah Smith Recovery Journey” on the platform.

Her words are a reminder that strength isn’t just physical.  “It’s up to you—whether you’re happy or sad,” Smith said. “I choose to be happy.”

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

USA, August 29, 2025 – The Trump administration’s latest offensive against transnational narcotics networks is earning praise from Caribbean partners, even as the U.S. Coast Guard reports its largest-ever drug seizure in the region. The twin developments highlight the scope of America’s crackdown on Venezuelan-linked trafficking routes and the shared struggle Caribbean nations face as drug smuggling corrodes their societies.

At a White House cabinet meeting press debriefing this week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed that Washington’s strategy is not only an American effort but a regional one.

“Many Caribbean nations … have applauded the administration’s counter-drug operations and efforts,” Leavitt said, framing the fight against narcotics as a collaborative battle that strengthens security across the hemisphere.

Her comments come against the backdrop of a record-setting U.S. Coast Guard haul: more than 76,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at $473 million, intercepted in multiple operations across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea. The seizures included major interdictions 35 miles southwest of Haiti and 130 miles south of Jamaica, underscoring how vulnerable Caribbean waters remain to traffickers moving product north.

Regional Costs of the Trade

While the United States is the largest consumer market for narcotics, the Caribbean often pays the price as a transit zone. Small islands are

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloads more than 76,140 lbs of illicit narcotics at Port Everglades, Florida, on August 25, 2025. This is the largest cocaine offload to date in Coast Guard history, with the assistance of partner agencies, during counterdrug operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

used as refueling points, stash hubs, and smuggling corridors, leaving local law enforcement outgunned and communities scarred by addiction and violence. Police in several territories warn that narcotics are no longer just passing through; they are spilling into neighborhoods and schools, feeding turf wars and addiction.                                                                                                                                                                   “Narcotics is killing us too,” a senior Caribbean officer told regional media this week, stressing that U.S. interdiction efforts relieve pressure on island societies grappling with rising crime tied to the trade.                                                                                                                                                                                  Numbers Tell the Story                                                                                                                                               The Coast Guard said the seizures resulted from 19 interdictions coordinated with the U.S. Department of Defense and allied navies, detaining 34 suspected smugglers. In July alone, interdictions in the Caribbean Sea netted an additional 5,500 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, valued at over $20 million.

Florida Senator and Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the campaign as a turning point:

“For the first time in modern history, we are truly on the offensive against organized cartels that are pumping poison—deadly poison—into our cities.”

Shared Struggle

For Caribbean governments, the message resonates. Regional leaders have quietly acknowledged that Washington’s heightened presence on the high seas relieves overstretched island police and coast guard units. Every ton intercepted before reaching shore is a victory not just for U.S. cities but for fragile Caribbean communities on the front line of smuggling routes.

With seizures mounting and more patrols expected, the offensive against drug cartels appears to be gathering momentum. And if Caribbean applause is any measure, Washington’s push is being felt—and welcomed—far beyond its borders.