The Security and Intelligence Branch (Grand Bahama Division)
The Security and Intelligence Branch (S.I.B) was formed in 1958 and charged with coordinating intelligence activities, which dealt mainly with threats to security and public order in the Bahamas. Several years later, a detachment was created in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
SIB (Freeport) is presently under the direction of Inspector Steven G. Strachan, who is ably assisted by Detective Sergeant 24 Ricardo Johnson and a small yet highly motivated and dedicated team of officers. The Branch reports directly to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Grand Bahama and to the Director of Security and Intelligence Branch, New Providence. The responsibilities of this section include the collection, collation and dissemination of information vital to the National Security of the Bahamas generally and to the Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas District in particular. Additionally, protective security advice is provided to Government Ministries.
Please feel free to contact us at 1-242-352-2452 (office) 1-242-352-2395 (fax) or email us at sib_gbd@msn.com or the Officer-in-Charge at Stegeo2@hotmail.com .
The Security and Intelligence Branch Annual Report 2004
The
Security and Intelligence Branch (Freeport) is presently under the direction of
Inspector Steven G. Strachan, who is ably assisted by Detective Sergeant 24
Ricardo Johnson and a
small yet highly motivated and
dedicated team of officers. The Branch and its officers are obligated to the
provisions of the Official
Secrecy Act of the Bahamas. The
responsibilities of this section assimilate those of the head office in New
Providence. These include the collection, collation and dissemination of
information vital to the National Security of our archipelago. Additionally,
protective security advice is provided to Government Ministries.
The SIB Freeport has placed great emphasis on the intelligence led aspect of policing in the Northern District to assist in the overall reduction, detection and prevention of crime. This has led to SIB playing significant roles in the Police seizure of quantities of dangerous drugs and the arrest of several persons for various offences. A benefit of SIB efforts has been a greater sharing of information and collaboration among the crime family and several uniformed divisions in the district.
The 9/11 Commission Report in the United States revealed that two of the men implicated in the attacks on the World Trade Center Towers that killed many innocent souls, visited Grand Bahama briefly on 19 May 01. A sobering fact is that these men had reservations at the Bahamas Princess Resort. Other investigations indicate that another of the attackers may have flown through the Abacos. The need to keep terrorism related issues and current events on the fore of law enforcement in the district has led to this office publication of a newsletter. The Newsletter will be produced on a monthly basis beginning Jan 2005.
The SIB officers this year embraced opportunities to share their expertise and knowledge with several law enforcement departments. These included the Eastern Division, Central Detective Unit, Complaints and Corruption Unit, the Police Reserve Trainees and Security Staff of the Grand Bahama International Airport. Some of the topics covered included Principals of Airport Security, Intelligence Gathering, V.I.P Chauffeuring and aspects of Terrorism that could affect our district. These occasions has afforded every SIB officer in Grand Bahama the opportunity to gain invaluable experience in public speaking.
SIB staff continued to fulfill their mandate to provide security protection for VIPs both foreign and domestic particularly during visits to hurricane ravaged areas of Grand Bahama. They included:
In 2005, SIB will incessantly perform its’ tasks in order to have a positive impact on all aspects of our duties in the Northern Bahamas District.
