By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE Christie administration will today table a resolution to borrow $232 million to purchase nine new Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessels.
The move was announced yesterday by National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage.
The loan with Deutsche Bank will facilitate $149 million to build each of the ships and an additional $75 million to cover civil works for a total of $224 million. The remaining $8 million, Dr Nottage said, will accommodate any changes that may arise during the scope of the project.
It is the government’s intent, Dr Nottage further revealed last evening, to increase the RBDF’s staff complement over the next five years by 800 personnel. Additionally officials will move to approve marine and shoreside port infrastructural work at the Coral Harbour Base, Gun Point, Ragged Island, and Mathew Town, Inagua.
The Minister was speaking during a press conference and contract signing with Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, based in The Netherlands, at the Churchill Building. Officials, including Prime Minister Perry Christie, and his entire Cabinet attended.
Dr Nottage said: “The obligations of the Defence Force are very demanding and are becoming more challenging as the Bahamas is increasingly being threatened with illicit activities that are inclusive of trafficking in firearms and ammunition, the trafficking of drugs, human smuggling, trafficking in persons and the poaching of our marine resources.
“The increased threats require that we adopt new and improved strategies, particularly given the expansiveness and porosity of our borders.
“The government of the Bahamas is determined to protect the security and economic well-being of the people of the Bahamas.
“Of utmost importance as well, the investment will substantially improve the Force’s ability to deter, interdict and apprehend poachers of our marine resources.”
The contract is for the sale of four Damen Stan Patrol 4201 vessels – 138 feet long with an 8 feet draft, four Damen Stan Patrol 3007 vessels – 98 feet wide with a 6.5 feet draft, and 9 Rigid Inflatable Boats.
One Damen Roll-on Roll-off Landing Craft to be named HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna, in honour of the former Governor General, is also to be constructed. This vessel will be fitted with a 25-ton crane and demountable disaster relief equipment. It is expected to make its maiden voyage in Bahamian waters on June 13, 2014.
Special containers will be acquired to provide medical facilities, desalinated water, sanitary equipment and other emergency relief supplies.
Last March, the government announced the signing of a letter of intent with Damen Shipyards to acquire the vessels.
The vessel types were chosen by the RBDF as they have been proven of significant worth in navies and coast guards of countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, Honduras, the United States of America , Canada and the Netherlands.
Damen Area Director of the Americas Sander van Oord, said his company was extremely proud to be contracted to carry out the works. He pledged to keep the project within its budget and expected completion date.
He said: “Daman and van Oord are leaders in their respective markets. One of the reasons we are so successful is that we share the same philosophy with our clients. We care for their reputation by delivering a quality product on time and on budget. This cooperation does not end over the last vessel or when we complete the final piece of construction being family businesses. We will remain committed over the long term.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 1 month ago
I tell you all one thing. We will not be getting any boats or docks. Now what they ga to with quarter billion is the real question...
JohnDoes 10 years, 1 month ago
They're gonna raise our debt and increase our VAT percentage.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 1 month ago
The government has to first answer some questions: What happened to the Ragged Island base since 2012?.......... What happened to the Matthew Town base since 2012????????? What is going on with the Proceeds from Crime fund????????????? What will happen when the defence Force be seconded to work the crime streets????????????
carlh57 10 years, 1 month ago
Yet there are 8-9 boats setting over at the police academy going to ground! Large boats that somehow just set there not repaired and deteriorating. Wonder who the PM is paying off now with Bahamian money!!!
Bahamianpride 10 years, 1 month ago
Seize the 500 plus million profits from illegal gambling enterprise and use some to pay for the boats & the rest for education.. Legalize them and tell them to start from nothing like everyone else or go to jail.. There is one solution, would never happen, but hey better than leveraging us out of existence.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 1 month ago
we do need more boats ,but lets maintain these ,but there is no way in HELL OR HEAVEN we need 800 more RBDF personal ,,as long as 1 in 4 people work for the Government we have keep borrowing and taxing ,,it really is that simple ,,the only solution is salt peter in the water supply
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 1 month ago
The ones we got now never leave Prince George... What they ga do with 9 mo? Build a new dock downtown to show em off?
moncurcool 10 years, 1 month ago
Years ago the crime commission suggested that the government needed to buy planes for the defense force to assist in the illegal immigration. Those planes could do a sweep at dusk off Inagua and then another at dawn and would be able to spot any illegal sloop coming off of Haiti. It is a wonder with all this money that they do not have one plane on order. Boats? Come on.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
Yall have bad memory http://www.tribune242.com/news/2012/a..." rel="nofollow">http://www.tribune242.com/news/2012/a...
...money miscalculated btw
newcitizen 10 years, 1 month ago
This is really getting to be to much. We're broke. The government refuses to collect taxes owed to them, while wanting to institute new taxes and telling everyone that these are hard times, and then goes on a spending spree with money they do not have.
Honestly, do these ministers have no idea how to balance our books? We cannot afford to be spending this way. This is a joke!
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 1 month ago
I tell ya man the PLP are amateurs. They don't run to govern. They run so they can get the inside track. Rumor is Ryan is involved in the water park in Freeport. Looks like Brave is involved in the landfill.
They don't wanna govern, they wanna win next election... Stuff like this is just PR to help them win so they can get in the next big business deal....
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