PRESS STATEMENT
HON. MICHAEL C. PINTARD, M.P.: Operation SHIELD Explained: FNM Aims to Shut Down Smuggling Networks
The Free National Movement (FNM) today unveiled more details of the second pillar of its comprehensive immigration policy platform, Operation SHIELD: H – Heighten Surveillance. This announcement continues the FNM’s national mission to restore trust, uphold the rule of law, and defend the sovereignty of The Bahamas.
“Our priority to heighten surveillance takes direct aim at improving border security and stopping unlawful entry into the country by land and sea. Central to this effort is a pledge to strengthen maritime enforcement. Under Operation SHIELD, we will bolster Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) patrol operations and enhance coastal surveillance through close cooperation with CARICOM and our US partners to stop smuggling networks, protect lives at sea, and ensure our borders are no longer wide open to abuse.”
“We are seeing a clear and dangerous shift. In 2022 alone, the RBDF reported 3,605 migrant apprehensions, more than the three previous years combined. Motorised vessels are replacing sailboats, signaling a more coordinated, sustained, and illegal effort to enter The Bahamas.”
“We will also fully activate the already-legislated Immigration Reservist Body. Trained Bahamians on every island will be appointed to assist overburdened immigration officers and defend their communities. We know local knowledge is vital, and no one knows their communities better than the people who live in them. Our immigration reservists will serve with professionalism and pride.”
“To support effective deportation and entry tracking, the FNM will expand the use of biometric technology, including facial recognition and fingerprint systems. Other countries use these systems to verify identities, and we will do the same to streamline deportation, reduce opportunities for corruption, and prevent repeat offenders from re-entering our country undetected.”
The urgency of this policy pillar is underscored by tragic real-world consequences. In one 2022 case, a 33-foot vessel carrying more than 50 Haitian migrants capsized just six miles from Bahamian shores. Seventeen people, including a one-year-old child, drowned.
“Human smugglers are exploiting desperation. They pack unseaworthy boats beyond capacity and profit from human suffering. We mourn every life lost in these senseless tragedies, and we are determined to shut these operations down.”
“We will also implement clear protocols to ensure effective surveillance does not harm the tourism industry. Smugglers often use legally registered yachts and fishing boats that mimic tourist vessels, complicating enforcement. Our plan strikes the right balance, enhancing patrols without disrupting legitimate maritime activity.”
“This is a turning point. The Bahamas needs a fair, transparent, and lawful immigration system that our people can trust. That means no shortcuts, no political favors, and no special treatment. Our mission is clear: protect our borders, enforce our laws, and restore order to our immigration system.”