The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that all seven Bahamian diplomats who were airlifted out of Port-au-Prince, Haiti by helicopter on Friday (January 27) have landed safely in the Dominican Republic.

In a statement, Prime Minister Dr Philip Davis expressed “deep gratitude to the President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez for the execution of this process”.

On Thursday, the prime minister ordered all Bahamian diplomatic personnel in Haiti to immediately leave the country as soon as security conditions permitted, citing the rapidly devolving and unstable conditions in the wake reported violent gang killings of police officers and protests in the Community (CARICOM) member state.

Over the past few days outraged rebel police officers “paralysed” Port-au-Prince in protest against a slew of killings of police officers by Haitian gangs.

This week, more than 100 protesters blocked roads, shot guns into the air, and broke through gates in the capital’s airport and the prime minister’s house.

This comes after a protracted period of violence and tension in Haiti after its President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home by armed men in July 2021.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, once conditions improve, a team from The Bahamas will be sent back into Haiti.