The Permanent Secretary - Bahamas Immigration Department

Mr. Ellison Greenslade, C.D. QPM, Dr. h.c., MBA

Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration

Ellison Edroy Greenslade was appointed a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, with deployment to the Ministry of Immigration and National Insurance, effective 12 February 2024. Following the General Election in May 2026 and the subsequent restructuring of ministerial portfolios, he now serves as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, with responsibility for the supervision and direction of the Ministry’s headquarters and the Department of Immigration of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Prior to his appointment as Permanent Secretary, Mr. Greenslade served as the non-resident Ambassador Designate to South Africa and southeastern African countries. He assumed this role on 1 December 2022 after completing a five-year assignment in the United Kingdom, where he served as Resident High Commissioner to Great Britain and Northern Ireland and as non-resident Ambassador to Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Malta and Ireland.

Mr. Greenslade is a retired Commissioner of Police of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). On 4 January 2010, following the completion of a one-year secondment with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Canada, he was appointed the sixth Commissioner of Police in an independent Bahamas. Shortly after his appointment, he was elected President of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) and was subsequently re-elected for two consecutive terms.

Mr. Greenslade joined the Senior Executive Leadership Team (SELT) of the RBPF after being promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in July 2000, following service in several divisional command positions. Upon his promotion, he was transferred to Freeport, Grand Bahama, where he led a team of 430 sworn officers, 120 reservists and 15 civilian support staff. His portfolio for the Northern Bahamas included Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini and the Berry Islands. He served seven years in this post, earning the distinction of being the longest-serving District Commander for the Northern Bahamas.

During his tenure in the Northern Bahamas, Mr. Greenslade received national acclaim for his leadership during investigations into the mysterious disappearance of five young boys and for leading search and rescue operations following Hurricanes Frances (2004), Jeanne (2004) and Wilma (2005).

Beyond his operational accomplishments, Mr. Greenslade is highly regarded for his leadership and pioneering role in the automation of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He also designed and produced the first credit card-sized driver’s licence for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Born in Nassau, The Bahamas, Mr. Greenslade attended primary schools in Cedar Harbor, Abaco; Lovely Bay, Acklins; Kemp’s Bay, Andros; Knowles, Cat Island; and Stephen Dillet and Jordan Memorial Schools in Nassau. He received his high school education at Government High School in Nassau.

In the summer of 1979, he entered the Bahamas Police Academy as a recruit constable. In November of that year, he graduated at the top of his class, receiving the coveted Baton of Honor. He continued his studies on a part-time basis and subsequently obtained an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from The College of The Bahamas.

Mr. Greenslade later completed several executive-level professional programmes in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, including Senior Police Administration (SPAC – RCMP Canada, 1994), the International Commanders Programme (ICP – Bramshill, UK, 1997) and the International Strategic Leadership Programme (ISLP – Bramshill, UK, 2005), in addition to a range of other law enforcement courses in the United States.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Miami, graduating with honors in 1997. He also holds a postgraduate certificate in police management and criminal justice from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. On 12 June 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree by Sojourner-Douglas College, Baltimore, USA, in recognition of his exemplary police leadership and contributions to the communities of The Bahamas.

Throughout his career, Mr. Greenslade has received numerous honors and distinctions, including the Bahamas’ Companion of Distinction (C.D.), the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished police service, and the Prime Minister’s “Above and Beyond” Award. He is also the recipient of the Police Force’s medals for gallantry, meritorious service, long service and good conduct.

In 2003, Mr. Greenslade was selected Boss of the Year for the Island of Grand Bahama. In early 2006, he received the Communications and Leadership Award from Toastmasters International for exemplary leadership. In October 2006, he was commended by His Excellency the Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for distinguished service in saving lives during a natural disaster.

Mr. Greenslade holds membership in the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and, in October 2017, was appointed International Vice President of the distinguished law enforcement organization, marking a first for The Bahamas and the Caribbean.

He is a Distinguished President of the Kiwanis Clubs of The Bahamas and was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2005. He has also served as a Trustee of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Dependants Trust and as a member of the Advisory Board of The Salvation Army, Bahamas.

Mr. Greenslade is married to Kimberley Michelle Greenslade, née Morley, and is the proud father of one daughter and four sons.