Oran Munroe, a Bahamian pilot who was arrested in Venezuela in 2021, returned to The Bahamas yesterday afternoon.
He was met by relatives, including his mother and uncle, at Jet Nassau.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said Munroe’s father passed away before his return to The Bahamas.
Munroe’s uncle, Livingston Marshall, expressed his gratitude.
“On behalf of my sister, Patricia, my nephew, Oran, and my siblings, the Marshall family, we are immensely grateful for all the efforts by everybody standing here … who worked tirelessly to make this happen,” he said.
“This is an experience you wouldn’t want anybody to go through, and to have Oran home and see him in his mother’s arms is a truly answered prayer from the Lord above.”
Marshall said the family will now focus on helping Munroe get the attention and care he needs.
Munroe was reported missing in July 2021, and police later said that he and a Colombian man were arrested by Venezuelan police in that country after the plane they were on crashed. Both men were arrested and questioned in reference to drug trafficking, police said.
Mitchell said Munroe’s case had been dragging on, with him having been charged but never prosecuted.
“The case just seemed to be going nowhere, and we couldn’t get an explanation,” he said.
“You cannot just hold somebody indefinitely.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday welcomed Munroe’s return in a statement.
“The government extends its sincere appreciation for the coordinated diplomatic efforts undertaken over the course of several years, which contributed to, and culminated in, its successful resolution,” it said.
The ministry said the effort was initiated by Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, who wrote a letter to former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, seeking a release on “humanitarian grounds”.
“Throughout this period, Mr. Munroe and his family remained strong, patient and steadfast,” the ministry.
“Their resilience serves as a meaningful reminder of the human element at the center of consular cases such as these.”
The ministry also recognized the efforts of The Bahamas’ Ambassador to Venezuela, Melanie Hilton, “whose sustained diplomatic engagement was instrumental in advancing dialogue and facilitating cooperation throughout the matter”.
“The government of The Bahamas recognizes the willingness of Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and the Vice Minister for Caribbean Affairs Raul LiCausi and the government of Venezuela to engage in dialogue in a cooperative and constructive manner,” it said.
“This engagement underscores the importance of diplomacy grounded in respect, dialogue, and adherence to international principles, including the rule of law and the protection of human rights and due process.”
