Commodore Admits “Rotten Apples”

In his first appearance on a talk show since taking over the helm of the military organization, Defence Force Commodore Clifford Scavella said on Tuesday he believes another 50 percent of the officers on the force are honest, hardworking individuals and the other 25 percent of them can "go either way" if influenced.

He said despite the recent negative publicity, like the alleged involvement of a marine in a fight with a civilian in Inagua, the force’s public image remains in tact.

"Inevitably, one will find that there are bad apples in everything that we do and those are products of our society, but the thing that this administration will do is once we find those bad apples, we will seek to remove them from the good apples so that the Bahamian people can continue to be proud of this Royal Bahamas Defence Force," he said while appearing on the Love 97 programme, "Issues of The Day".

Commodore Scavella admitted that there is a problem of discipline within the ranks of the Defence Force and said that officers have not been disciplined as swiftly as he would have liked.

"Back in the day I found that if you committed an offence in the morning, you were charged by the afternoon or the very next day," he said. "Those are the things that I would like to see back in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Only then will I be satisfied that the country would have a better force and something that we can be proud of."

The Defence Force has legal procedures that it follows when handling disobedient officers, which is much like the country’s legal system. The system allows for trials and appeals, according to Commodore Scavella.

He also sprang to the defense of the majority of officers he said are committed and duty bound to the force.

"They are dedicated, committed and hardworking people. What is happening is, we’ve looked at the public perception and I was on the outside, so I heard what the public was saying. They were talking about inaction, sexual harassment and they were talking about corruption," he said.

"While that may be a few people, the men and women in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force are impressive, dedicated and hardworking, honourable people."

The Defence Force over the years has been plagued with inadequacies which have posed challenges, according to various officials.

Then there are allegations of corruption and reported inappropriate behaviour from senior officers towards junior female marines.

As it regards the recent Inagua incident, a team of investigators was deployed to look into the matter.

Mr. Scavella said once the investigation is complete and if it is determined that officers were wrong, then they would be disciplined.

However, he said they would not be terminated.

Mr. Scavella forecasted serious changes in the coming months. He said the force would undergo a major transformation.

The new commodore took over the reigns at the Defence Force on November 2. He is only the third Bahamian to hold the high post.

Holding on to his promise, Mr. Scavella said the first order of business would be to restore prestige and honour to the RBDF.

During the talk show, Mr. Scavella highlighted plans to revamp the organization.

While there are approximately 1,002 persons employed with the Force, Mr. Scavella said there is a need for more officers to patrol the entire Bahamas.

The Bahamas, which is an archipelago, makes it increasingly difficult to patrol waters, according to Mr. Scavella.

He said the force’s fleet has deteriorated over the years. The RBDF is currently operating with two boats.

"We are operating, but we are having difficulties; we are stretched. I am one of those persons who believes in focusing on what I’ve got rather than what I don’t have," he said.

The Defence Force has also had to face criticism over its handling of foreign poachers.

Some Bahamian fishermen have criticized the Defence Force for failing to arrest Dominican poachers who continue to fish in Bahamian waters.

For weeks, angry fishermen have flooded the airwaves with complaints about the RBDF and its alleged inaction.

Mr. Scavella said his organization is currently in the process of drafting a proposal that would address community policing at sea.

He said the proposal would be forwarded to the Department of Fisheries. However, he did not elaborate on the details.

"In a couple of months when you speak to those fishermen again, they will tell you that they are very comfortable," he said.

The Defence Force has also faced a number of challenges while dealing with the interdiction of illegal immigrants who, in spite of Defence Force presence, still manage to make their way down to Yamacraw, South Beach and Prince George Wharf.

But Commodore Scavella denied that his force is incapable of policing waters around New Providence.

He said he plans to make it very difficult for immigrant vessels to land in the Bahamas.

Bahamians who smuggle illegal immigrants to the Bahamas make it increasingly difficult for the RBDF to interdict them, according to Commodore Scavella.

"We have a duty to find them, arrest them and turn them over to the Immigration Department," he said. "The immigrants are no longer just coming here as a means of getting to the US. They are deliberately trying to come here. Wherever there is economic activity they will go there."

He added, "When they get in, they blame us, and I accept full responsibility for the waters of the Bahamas. But in a few months that will all change. You will see more detections, more apprehensions and we will fill the Detention Centre."