General Glen VanHerck (right), and Prime Minister Philip Davis (centre left) cut the ribbon on the new radar system, along with US Chargé Usha Pitts (second from right), Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe (left), and Commodore Raymond King (centre).
GENERAL Glen D VanHerck, the commander of US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), officially delivered a $2.4 million-dollar radar system to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force during an official handover ceremony at the Coral Harbour base on Thursday.
The new radar system is part of a commitment of over $10 million by the US government to support maritime security in The Bahamas. The new radar (also known as a Maritime Surveillance System or MSS) in Coral Harbour empowers the government to better ensure the safety and security in the archipelago.
It is the second MSS installed with funding from NORTHCOM, the first having become operational on the island of Great Inagua in 2019. The third and fourth systems have been proposed for Ragged Island and Great Exuma.
“This maritime domain awareness capability will dramatically expand the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s ability to detect, localize, and track vessels in the waters surrounding their nation,” said General VanHerck. “This radar and the capability it provides will greatly enhance domain awareness for The Bahamas.”
He was accompanied by a high-level delegation of US officials for his first official visit to The Bahamas, including Rear Admiral Dan Cheever of USNORTHCOM, and US Chargé d’Affaires Usha E Pitts.
While speaking at the event, Prime Minister Philip Davis said on Thursday, “When we make the waters of The Bahamas safer, the US border is safer as well… In my government you [the United States] will find an ally and a partner in securing our waters and borders.”
Earlier in the day, before the donation, the general and his delegation also had a meeting with Mr Davis, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe, and RBDF Commodore Raymond King for in-depth discussions on the many areas of common interest and shared values between the United States and The Bahamas, and opportunities to continue strengthening the US-Bahamas relationship.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
Id take those scissors. Thats the stuff to win wars with!
4 star general! Im always slighty surprised when senior US military presence comes into the spotlight. Its like how fdd they even know we existed? But then you remember that they have an entire naval facility in Andros, its like those sci-fi movies where the group of aliens are around the circle looking down at activity of Earthlings...
This sounds like a big deal. Using technology instead of attempts to man millions of miles of ocean by sight of eye.
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
Btw. The Lets be the Difference vaccination campaign should really modify their messaging to include early treatment and signs and symptoms of a worsening condition... before you get to the I really cant breathe part
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
These 'big' time US generals appear to have something in common with our 'big' time police officers who occasionally prance around in their brown suits to get a little exercise.
I guess now that we have a radar we can begin to focus on eventually getting many of our 'most of the time docked' interceptor sea vessels seaworthy again. LOL
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
I bet he's not here to cut a ribbon.... again... Tom Clancy
Proguing 2 years, 5 months ago
I wonder how long it will be functional???
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
What they should do when they hand over these technologies is also agree to an oversight program. Maybe they do already, we won't know. But part of the agreement is they get full oversight for say 2 years they ensure the regular maintenance checks and upgrades are completed as they train, then for the next 3 years they pay for the upgrades and servicing, then for the next five years we have to report that the servicing was completed. 10 years is a good run and good time to develop a habit
I bet it doesnt detect submarines:)
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
Did our government ever tell us how much that major collision down in Belize involving one of our largest and most state of the art Defense Force vessels has cost us? Is the vessel still inoperable?
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
Yeah I always thought that was weird how the Surinamese woman said she was raped by a defence force officer while under guard at a defence force manned detention center then a few weeks later a defence force vessel is rammed on dry dock in Suriname... I mean what are the odds? But then again my mind is overactive and Ive read too many Tom Clancy novels
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
I guess this small gesture from the US government is meant to help soothe the anger of Bahamians who are being forced by the 'Biden in name only' administration to get jabbed multiple times over if they wish to travel to the US, including even those unvaccinated Bahamians who developed a stronger and much long lasting natural immunity to COVID-19 and its many variants.
American citizens returning to the US do not have to be vaccinated which makes this new draconian travel requirement by the 'Biden in name only' administration an outright discriminatory act based on nationality alone. And to think we all thought the US could now be counted on to set a good example for global travel that would not involve building a wall around the entire US that is much, much bigger and more imposing than the wall Trump was building.
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
Its probably not small for us. Illegal immigration and poaching are 2 of our biggest national security threats. If this system allows us to attack the problem more efficiently and with better outcomes its a big deal
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
You're really quite the lost cause when it comes to seeing the much bigger picture. But like all of us you're certainly entitled to your opinion. LOL
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 5 months ago
I get that this gift might be miniscule for Big Daddy USA, I get that they have an agenda, so does everyone. Im looking at it not from what they want or have, but how have we benefitted. Its like giving the starving man a bowl of soup. Sure you had it in your power to lay out a five course meal, but to him that bowl of soup saved his life. Thats not nothing. This gets us a system that we can start monitoring for migrant sloops more efficiently tomorrow, hopefully...
Its within our power to lay out a complete defence strategy and not wait for them go tell us what we need. Thats on us.
juju 2 years, 5 months ago
Another machine for them to break
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