Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commodore, Dr. Raymond King appeared on The Rundown talk show this week where he spoke about corruption within the force.

Dr. King spoke about the recent United States indictment of Bahamians including former Chief Petty Officer Darrin Roker in connection with drug trafficking. According to the indictment, among other offences, Roker used his position with the RBDF to provide sensitive information about U.S. Coast Guard and DEA-led OPBAT operations to drug traffickers.

King said, “when we work jointly with our regional partners, in particular the United States, the Coast Guard and those other units, when we work jointly, we are not privy to where their assets are. It’s not even shared, you’ll only have an area of operation. So we don’t have access to the information in terms of where our counterparts vessels are. So I don’t know how is it a promise was made to provide this information.”

When speaking about corruption within his organization, Dr. King said he has suggested to the government that officers of certain ranks and position should be made to declare their finances. He also spoke the penalties for RBDF officers charged with corruption. “For the release of confidential information you can get two years, seven years if it is considered to be a matter of treason, you could be sentenced to death.”

The RBDF is working with US partners to develop ethics regulations.