Bahamas News
Prime Minister Philip Davis – Resolution on a Select Committee on Immigration
Resolution on a Select Committee on Immigration
HON. PHILIP DAVIS QC, MP PRIME MINISTER & MINISTER OF FINANCE
COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS
February 20, 2023
Madam Speaker,
As I believe everyone in this House is aware, the security situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, and as misery and fear rise there, the effects are felt here, with more and more Haitians fleeing the instability. From the opening days of our administration, we have worked to build a comprehensive national strategy to manage this crisis, takinga number of diplomatic, legal and law enforcement steps that together have built a strong foundation for action and change, as I described yesterday in an address to the nation.
On the diplomatic front, we have strengthened relationships with regional partners and international friends, because the problem of illegal migration is one that, by definition, crosses borders, and so we must be prepared to work across borders for solutions. As Chair of CARICOM, it was my distinct honour to preside over last week’s meetings, at which we worked together to lay the groundwork for Haitian-led solutions to strengthen their
National Police and pave the way for safe and free elections. I have been in extensive contact with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and we are gratified that Canada will be amplifying their efforts, including with a naval presence
off of Haiti’s coast.
As we take steps at home to strengthen our capacity to protect our borders, we are strengthening our partnerships with neighbouring countries like the US, Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Haiti for enhanced cooperation and intelligence sharing. We will also increase border protection operations with key partners like the US Coast
Guard.
I have been very clear, in our extensive dealings with the United States, the United Nations, and others, however, that The Bahamas is in no position to bear any additional burdens. We are a compassionate people, but we have a great many very serious challenges, and limited resources with which to address those challenges. (By the way, I never miss an opportunity to remind our international friends that a very significant portion of our nation’s debt comes from the Category 4 and 5 hurricanes of the last decade – hurricanes that arrive with greater frequency and more intensity because of the carbon emissions of other countries).
On the legal and law enforcement front – we have worked aggressively and systematically to take the surveillance and other steps necessary to successfully appeal a Supreme Court injunction that stood in the way of action
on the shantytowns. Now we are in a position to see real change, finally, on this issue.
The police, defence, and immigration officers are working together now, on Operation Secure, to make sure the laws of our land are enforced. We appreciate the Opposition’s interest in these issues. If you oppose Operation Secure or any of our efforts to uphold and defend our laws, we believe you have many opportunities to say so. If you have good ideas and solutions to propose, to add to our efforts, those of course are most welcome, and will be given all due consideration; there is nothing to stop you from PROPOSING along with all the OPPOSING you like to do.
We urge you to stick to the facts at all times. For example, this fact: over the course of one year, we have repatriated more individuals than in any other year in our country’s history. And in 2023 alone, 1,024 persons have already been repatriated – meaning we’re on track to break the record we set last year. Only one sloop has landed on an inhabited island in The Bahamas since September 2021.
That is undeniable progress, Madam Speaker.
The records make it clear that we have taken appropriate action. And while we secure our borders, we are also addressing the shantytown issue and repatriating the undocumented migrants already here in record numbers. This is the data, and these are the facts, and no amount of theatrical rhetoric and grandstanding can change them.
Madam Speaker,
We are a nation of laws and will continue to enforce those laws responsibly and humanely. It was only a week and a half ago, Madam Speaker, that the Supreme Court lifted their injunction. Immediately following, we launched Operation Secure, a joint security operation between the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Defence Force, and the Department of Immigration, to address security and migration-related issues in unregulated and unlawful communities. The operation is focused on identifying irregular migrants, documented migrants, and Bahamians living in these communities and addressing their status in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
Madam Speaker,
Our priority is decisive action based on the laws of our land. Undocumented migrants will continue to be processed and repatriated. Documented migrants living in unregulated communities must relocate at their employer’s expense or face repatriation. Any Bahamian citizens found to be living in these communities will be required to relocate. Any
landowner or business that is flouting our immigration laws will be held accountable.
Madam Speaker,
We will be working closely with the business community to ensure that everyone is aware of their legal obligations and that they are held accountable for any illegal activities. There will be no excuses. Any business breaking our laws will face the consequences, including prosecution and potentially losing their business license.
Madam Speaker,
As a nation, we must come together to find sustainable solutions. Our government is committed to taking action, and we will not be slowed down by those who seek to politicise this issue. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens. I also want to take a moment to say that everything we do, we do to protect our citizens and our country. But we do not act with malice or hate.
To the contrary:
As a Christian nation, we must always enforce our laws as humanely as possible, in the recognition that all of God’s children deserve dignity.
Madam Speaker,
We are taking decisive and comprehensive action to address the issue of irregular migrants and shantytowns. The Bahamian people will see for themselves that we are working to protect our communities and our country. Everyone who is prepared to stand together to protect the sovereignty and security of our great nation is invited to do so. Let us have a minimum of theatrics, and a maximum of cooperation.
Bahamas News
Next U.S. Ambassador? Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas
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.
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.”
