Press Release
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, represented by Director General Jerusa Ali and Royal Bahamas Defence Force Deputy Commander and DCDF Captain Carlon Bethell and Captain and Commander of Operations Gregory Brown of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, participated in a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reconnaissance mission in Cap-Haïtien, Republic of Haiti, from 20th–23rd June, 2026.
The mission was coordinated by Joshua Areta Gonzalez of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Border Management Branch Maritime Team under the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), with funding provided by Global Affairs Canada. Bahamian officials observed maritime exercises conducted by the Haitian Coast Guard, led by Divisional Commissioner Jean Pedro Mars, Head of the Haitian Coast Guard within the Police Nationale d’Haïti (PNH), and provided constructive feedback on training in seamanship, coxswain operations, and maritime boarding procedures. Notably, three of the participating Haitian Coast Guard officers had previously received training at Coral Harbour in The Bahamas, further underscoring the close bilateral cooperation between The Bahamas and Haiti in strengthening maritime security and operational capacity.
The reconnaissance mission formed part of a broader regional initiative to strengthen maritime governance, enhance law enforcement cooperation, and address transnational organised crime in the Caribbean. Participants engaged in structured discussions and observed practical exercises to assess existing operational capacities and identify avenues for further collaboration.
The mission facilitated dialogue between the Haitian Coast Guard, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas on shared maritime security challenges, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, irregular migration, and other forms of transnational crime.
The mission also outlined a framework for future capacity building initiatives for the Haitian Coast Guard, to be jointly developed by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and UNODC through its Global Maritime Crime Programme, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas and external funders.
The Bahamas remains committed to regional and international efforts to preserve the security and stability of the Caribbean maritime domain. This mission reflects the Government’s recognition that maritime threats require coordinated, partnership-driven responses grounded in mutual trust and shared responsibility.
This engagement further underscores the collaborative relationship between The Bahamas and the Republic of Haiti, and the shared commitment of both nations to addressing common maritime security concerns and strengthening regional resilience.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commends UNODC for its continued leadership in maritime capacity development and looks forward to sustained collaboration with UNODC, Haiti, and regional stakeholders in advancing a secure and rules-based maritime environment.
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