The government last week signed an agreement with a Dutch Ship Building company for a new fleet of Defence Force Vessels at a cost of 232 million dollars. After more than two years in office, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is pleased that this PLP administration has finally turned its attention to addressing the needs of the country’s marines.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the organization responsible for protecting our country’s borders has, for some time, been grossly under-manned and in need of much needed upgrades to both equipment and facilities. Despite its best efforts however, the Christie government continues to be its own worst enemy, failing again to make decisions that could facilitate real change in that regard.

On the surface, the idea to purchase more boats may seem like a good one; however there are some questions which need to be considered. Is adding to the country’s already substantial financial burden in the best interest of the country at this time? Particularly if the monies borrowed are being funneled into vessels which over time will deteriorate in value? Would that money not be better spent by investing in technologies which will have significant and longer term benefits for the country?

Successive administrations have sadly ignored the major advancements in border patrol technologies currently being employed by first world nations in favor of the same vessel intensive tactical methods The Bahamas has used for the past 40 years.

While the Democratic National Alliance is not fully discounting the effectiveness of active vessel patrol vessels, it must be noted that as with all other sectors of today’s modern world, the use of technology can and must become an integral part of the plans of any responsible government in addressing the needs of its residents.

For more than 40 years, illegal immigrants, human and drug smugglers and poachers have managed to evade any number of Defence Force Vessels patrolling our expansive marine borders. The time has come for the government to immediately rethink its strategy in favor of a more progressive and technology driven approach. Doing so would yield long term benefits for our archipelagic nation.