RBDF - History

Prior to 1973, The Bahamas government's only legislated law enforcement branch was the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Formed in 1840, two years following the abolition of slavery, the law enforcement efforts of the Royal Bahamas Police Force were primarily land-based until 1958. It was during that year when the organization received their first boat, The Sea Lion, and was able to perform limited harbour patrol duties. Until Independence, sporadic patrols were performed by units of the Royal Navy.

The Police Marine Division (PMD) was formed in 1971 with the acquisition of four 60 foot Mark I Keith Nelson type vessels- Acklins, Andros, San Salvador and Eleuthera.

The Police Marine Division was tasked with eradicating the escalated 1960s flow of narcotics and illegal immigrants, particularly from Haiti into Bahamian territory. The Police Marine Division operated from the Old Lighthouse Depot, on East Bay Street, which currently serves as the home base of the Drug Enforcement Marine Unit. The Marine Division experienced several successes in both the immigration and poaching trends.

An increasing narcotic trade and its shipment through Bahamian waters were also brought to light in the 1970s. The Police Marine Division also proved successful in apprehending a great deal of narcotics traffickers and confiscating their shipments, planes and boats. Despite these triumphs, however, the unit proved inadequate for the large number of illegal operatives availing themselves of the amenities in Bahamian waters. Consequently, an alternative was sought—hence the birth of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Prime Minister Lynden Oscar Pindling agitated for the Marine Division of the Police Force to be transformed into a Coast Guard that would be trained to operate on land, in the air and on the sea. In his October 28th 1975 speech to the 20th National General Convention of the Progressive Liberal Party

“I propose that the Bahamas proceed immediately to develop a defence capability; that the Marine Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force be reorganized, retrained and expanded as a Coast Guard; and that the Coast Guard be augmented by a unit trained with flexibility to operate on land, in the air and on the sea. It is my considered judgment that such a combined and integrated force would more adequately protect our nation's vital interests.

“Let me hasten to advise you, however, that the national interest will not be served by a mere show piece; that at defence force, in the ordinary sense of the word, will not be worth the investment that is necessary. What I am talking about is an agency which will function in a manner consistent with the aims and objectives of national development; one which will operate in a manner consonant with our social and economic priorities: one which will be trained and prepared to itself implement some of the tasks of national development.”

“I see a force which will not only safeguard our sovereignty and independence but will also rescue lives at sea; a force which not only will keep out poachers and smugglers but will man our lighthouses and watch our sea-lanes; a force which not only will help to keep the peace but will also supply food and emergency relief to an island community ravaged by a disastrous hurricane or take needed medical services to isolated communities; a force which not only will exemplify discipline, but will also exemplify the same by example in our communities whether they may help to repair schools and roads and drains. In other words, fellow delegates, I see a people's defence force which fits totally within our philosophy of development, is dedicated to progress with self-reliance and further helps us to tighten up and toughen up."

A team from Vosper Thornycroft in the United Kingdom in 1975 carried out a feasibility study for the expansion of the Police Marine Division into a Defence Force with additional patrol craft, personnel and possible sites for a venue. A complete check and refitting of all craft were also carried out. A letter of Instruction to Vosper Thornycroft to proceed with design drawings was issued on 1 May 1976 and the work on the companion site surveys was commissioned.

The Prime Minister's speech began the groundwork for today's Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The Speech was delivered in 1975. On January 1st, 1976, the Ministry of Defence was formed and the actual Act that would legalize the Force ratified in 1979.

From 1976, however, personnel of the Police Marine Division were preparing for the inevitable transfer to the Defence Force, upon the dissolution of their unit, which was met with some resistance. This in itself was not smooth sailing. Naturally, the men of the Royal Bahamas Police Force were well established and were reluctant to transfer to an entity whose orders, regulations, pay and benefit schemes were less attractive compared to what they were presently receiving, and would not be known until the passing of the Defence Act.

The Ministry of Defence in England along with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office soon selected Captain William Casper Carnegie Swinley. This was in conjunction with requests from the Bahamian Government. The British Admiralty Board approved his nomination for a three year loan service, of course subject to him satisfactorily reaching terms and conditions of service as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding.

The only combat experience of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force was the Flamingo Incident, also known as the Cuban Incident, the Cay Santo Domingo Incident, or the Sinking of HMBS Flamingo, which occurred on 10 May 1980, just under six weeks of the Force's official establishment. HMBS Flamingo, a 103ft patrol vessel purchased at 4.5 million dollars from Vosper Thorneycroft had been in service for nearly two years.

After arresting two (2) Cuban fishing vessels near the Ragged Island Chain, HMBS P02 Flamingo was sunk on May 10 1980 by two Cuban FAR MiG-21s during an incident in which Flamingo had arrested two Cuban fishing vessels. Then two FAR MiG-21s, at the command of Coronel Jorge Vilardel and Mayor Juan Colina, were dispatched to overfly the Ragged islands and to sink the Flamingo, which they did killing four crews and injuring three others. The crew lost were Fenrick Sturrup, Austin Smith, David Tucker and Edward Williams and their bodies were never found. The survivors as well as the Cuban fishermen took refuge on land. The next day the FAR MiG-21s did overfly again Duncan Town on Ragged Island performing mock attacks while Mi-8 helicopters landed troops. As soon as they recovered the fishermen the troops left.

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and The Bahamas before the attack was very peaceful. This tragic incident would produce a rift between the two neighboring countries especially in the ensuing months, but diplomatic relations were maintained.

The Cubans first said the attack was a mistake. But that was soon replaced by a face-saving formula which accused The Bahamas of working for the US Central Intelligence Agency. Cuba agreed to pay $10 million in reparations for the sinking of HMBS Flamingo and the murder of the four marines. And the eight Cuban fishermen who started it all were convicted of poaching in July, 1980.

The Flamingo Incident was a nation building exercise which legitimized the need for a Defence Force in the minds of Bahamians at last. It proceeded to do what no Bahamian politician was able to do before. This instance of widespread national shock helped Bahamians to grasp the idea of sovereignty and independence and brought out the first instance of patriotism to the Bahamian flag.