Director General Ali and Commander Smith Meet with Multinational Support Mission Leaders in Haiti
17th August, 2024
Ambassador Jerusa Ali, Director General of Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commander Julian Smith-Chargé d’Affaires of The Bahamas Embassy in The Republic of Haiti, Captain Chapell Whyms – Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Captain Frederick Brown – Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) Lead and incoming Defence Attaché along with a team of Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) marines visited the MSSM Base yesterday to meet with Kenyan Force Commander Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Godfrey Otunge who is working in close collaboration with the Haitian National Police.
Prior to their technical talks, the delegation toured the LSA1 base, which is designed to accommodate 1000 security support personnel from multiple contributing countries, with the Kenyan officers and base contractors. The LSA1 tour included a Level 2 hospital, a water treatment and recycling plant, washing area, mess hall, and a main serving area.
Kenyan Force Commander Otunge thanked The Bahamas for their diplomatic presence in Port au Prince. He also thanked the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Officers and marines, many of whom received Canadian PKO training in Jamaica specifically for MSSM, for uplifting the spirits of his personnel. He encouraged and endorsed The Bahamas’ continued efforts to secure regional and international support for resource mobilization to advance the deployment of CARICOM personnel to support the MSSM.
Ambassador Ali thanked Kenya for their exceptional support for MSSM and reported that the government of The Bahamas has made significant progress in the preparatory phase of their maritime mission. At present, The Bahamas is the only CARICOM country with an Embassy in Port au Prince. The Embassy is working to have the weekly Port au Prince to Nassau flight resume.