Confiscated assets to bolster Bahamas security forces
|
| Published on Monday, March 3, 2008 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
By Matt Maura
NASSAU, The Bahamas (BIS): The government of The Bahamas will utilise nine million dollars from the Confiscated Assets Fund to bolster the Capital Budgets of both the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces, Minister of National Security, O.A.T. “Tommy” Turnquest said last week.
Turnquest also announced that the government is expected to purchase an aircraft for the RBPF, which will serve twin purposes: firstly, to help reduce the cost of the amount of commercial travel officers have to undertake in the execution of their duties throughout The Bahamas and, secondly, to ensure the safe transport of prisoners throughout the country.
 |
Bahamas Minister of National Security,
Tommy Turnquest |
Addressing Parliament during his contribution on the Supplementary Appropriation Bills, Turnquest said five million of the nine million dollars accessed from the Confiscated Assets Fund would go towards the RBPF Capital Budget with the remaining four million dollars earmarked for RBDF’s Capital Budget. The monies will be accessed in accordance with Section 52(3) of the Proceeds of Crime Act (Chapter 93).
The Confiscated Assets Fund was established from the proceeds of criminal conduct recovered under a Confiscation Order and currently boasts a total of $20 million.
“I can say that the government is providing the necessary resources and support to ensure that the agencies and bodies under the Ministry of National Security (as with other ministries) get the job done and that we are strengthening our institutions to make them more effective,” Turnquest added.
The Minister of National Security said the purchase of the aircraft for use by the Royal Bahamas Police Force is as a result of the extensive travel officers have to undertake throughout the Family Islands.
He said policing The Bahamas requires extensive commercial travel throughout the islands to investigate crime, apprehend perpetrators and to see that those charged, are brought before the courts, primarily in New Providence. Turnquest said an additional $700,000 has been allocated to the police for this purpose.
“We intend to shortly address the police’s travel by commercial aircraft around the Family Islands by purchasing an aircraft for the Force. Not only will this facilitate the police, but it will also facilitate the safe transfer of prisoners,” Mr. Turnquest said.
“It will be noted from the budget that an additional two million dollars will be allocated to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. I must emphasise that our archipelagic configuration bears centrally on the nature of various aspects of the support the Police needs, transportation equipment – cars, jeeps, motorcycles, bicycles - that we purchase from the budget amount will be deployed throughout The Bahamas."
"The increase in the price of fuel has also increased operations costs to the Police. This fact is being taken into consideration in the increased allocation of $400,000 for fuel. We make these additional allocations to the Police consistent with the importance of their work and their significant accomplishments, particularly in the flagship Neighbourhood Community Policing Programme,” Turnquest added.
The Minister of National Security said the government will also continue to give tangible support to the growth and development of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force as it is “an important objective” to make the Defence Force a “Bahamas-wide Force rather than a New Providence-based Force.”
He said the government “is very much on track” with its phased acquisitions of assets for the Defence Force, which will result in 12 new vessels being added to its fleet – two of which have already been received and commissioned – and the acquisition of two aircraft over the course of the next year.
Turnquest said that four million dollars was spent from the Defence Force’s Capital Budget over the first half of 2007, $3.4 million of which was committed to the purchase of two, 40-foot Dauntless Vessels ($1.411million), a Cessna Caravan Aircraft ($1.240 million) and a Vulcan Aircraft ($816,487).
“The tangible proof that our investments are well placed is already evident on our southern border (where) a Royal Bahamas Defence Force Southern Command is no longer an idea, but a reality. The Inagua Base is operational and has in its service two craft purchased as part of the phased acquisition of assets,” Turnquest said.
Turnquest said efforts are also being made to recruit more Marines to the RBDF in order to facilitate the Force’s new focus. A similar exercise is being undertaken with the RBPF in an effort to “consistently” strengthen that Force through the addition of regulars and Reserves.
“With the new focus on a seagoing Force, which the Defence Force must be, recruits are being challenged to pass the test, as well as the Math, English and General Knowledge tests. I wish to encourage young, able bodies and academically-sound young men and women to try out for the Defence Force,” Turnquest added. | | | | Reads : 336 | | | |
|
|
