The Bahamian government signed a contract in May 2021 with a technology company to help send a “Marco Alert,” which will be used in child abductions like an AMBER Alert. The alert is named after Marco Archer who was murdered after he went to buy candy in September 2011. “The billboards are only here in New Providence,” said Minister of National Security Marvin Dames. “This contract will give us the ability to communicate cross country via cell phone.”
The Bahamas now has the MARCO Alert, a child abduction alert system patterned after the AMBER Alert. Government and law enforcement leaders gathered on August 21, 2019, for a signing ceremony for the new law. The alert is named for Marco Archer who went missing in 2011 and was later found dead. The MARCO Alert will notify law enforcement and the public through traditional and social media. Minister of National Security Marvin Dames noted that the following day, August 22, was Marco’s birthday and he would have turned 19-years-old. “He once indicated to his mother that he wanted to be a policeman to arrest the ‘bad guys’,” Minister Dames shared. “While Marco may never suit up in a uniform, Marco’s Law and Marco’s Alert, both named in his honor, will ensure that he will always play a critical role in assisting the police in arresting the bad guys.”
The Bahamas started a pilot child abduction alert program in July 2018, similar to the U.S. AMBER Alert. The country is calling the notifications “Marco's Alert,” after 11-year-old Marco Archer who disappeared and was later found dead in 2011. The public has to opt-in to receive the alert but police can decide if the situation is so critical that a message will be sent to everyone regardless of opting in. The alerts can be sent by phone, email, pager, fax, computer pop-up screens, and social media.
An 11-year-old boy who was abducted and murdered five years ago has prompted the Bahamas to issue child abduction alerts, and to end the practice of waiting 24 hours to begin searching for a missing child. The new regulations are part of Marco's Law, named after Marco Archer who was abducted, sexually abused and murdered.
The Mandatory Action Rescuing Children Operation (MARCO) Alert is similar to the U.S. AMBER Alert and will be disseminated to the media. The victim's family is also asking the country to create a sex offender registry.