Keith Smith

Royal Bahamas Defence Force

The Defence Force has responsibility for patrolling some 100,000 square miles of territorial waters that consist of more than 1,000 islands, rocks and cays sprawled over a distance of some 600 miles. Our territorial boundaries cover a distance roughly equivalent to the distance between Puerto Rico in the northern Caribbean Chain to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the south. When added together, the combined distance of The Bahamas' coastline is approximately 2,200 miles, second only to that of the Republic of Cuba, creating a porous border that is difficult to monitor. Stratergy Our strategy is to decentralize Defence Force operations through the establishment of bases in the north, south and central Bahamas equipped with patrol boats and aircraft to maximize the use of minimal resources in patrolling the territorial boundaries of our islands. Additionally, it is intended to work more closely with local law enforcement agencies and regional partners as a force multiplier for addressing current challenges. The Defence Force is primarily an armed service, whose roles also encompass some aspects of a coast guard as well as a disaster relief agency. These roles require Defence Force personnel to assume the duties of: - Naval and infantry personnel - Police Officers (Peace Officer) - Customs Officers - Immigration Officers - Fisheries Inspectors - Emergency rescue personnel - Search and rescue - Sentry - Detention Center security - Maintenance of Navigational Aids