The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been at the center of the Bahamian government’s emergency response management efforts, leading a coalition of local and international governmental and nongovernmental partners. 

During the initial stages of the emergency response, NEMA and its partners worked diligently to get resources to the people in the places that needed them most. As the efforts now transition from the immediate response stage to the recovery stage, security and rebuilding have played an increasingly important role in the work of NEMA and its partners, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. 

In the wake of a large-scale natural disaster such as Hurricane Dorian, residents have faced unique security challenges. The RBPF and RBDF have been responsive to that end, combining efforts to provide general security to the islands’ residents through conducting mobile patrols and monitoring key locations such as ports of entry and major population centers. 

The armed forces have not only focused on law enforcement to curtail illegal activities but are also actively engaged in the process to help communities rebuild. The Bahamian security forces are receiving additional assistance in this regard from regional civil-military partners, the Jamaican Defence Force and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. 

More than 300 officers are currently on the ground, with approximately 65 percent in Abaco and the remainder in Grand Bahama.

According to NEMA Spokesperson Carl Smith, the security and rebuilding efforts led by the RBPF and RBDF are an important part of restoring a sense of normalcy to the affected communities.

He added, “Our police officers and defence force officers are committed to providing a sense of security for the residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama and to those who are assisting with the emergency management response efforts. Thanks to the work of these brave men and women, NEMA and its partners can continue to proactively transition to the next stage of the emergency management response process.”