THE GAMBIA: TSA AND USCG SECURITY ASSESSEMENT VISIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANJUL 000382 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, AF/EPS, EB/TRA/OTP FAA FOR AIA TRANSPORTATION FOR OST USCG ROTTERDAM FOR LCDR PATRICIA SPRINGER ROME PASS TO TSA FRANKFURT PASS TO TSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECONEAIR FAA PTER ASEC OTRA EWWT ETRD GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: TSA AND USCG SECURITY ASSESSEMENT VISIT REF: STATE 50595 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. The port and airport of Banjul were reviewed by visitors from USCG and TSA in early June. Gambian officials welcomed the visits and were open to all recommendations for improvements to enhance security. Both the port and airport received overall favorable reviews and are judged to meet minimum international security standards. The TSA visit coincided with the resumption of direct flight service between Baltimore and Banjul on June 4 by North American Airlines. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) LCDR Patricia Springer, an International Port Security Liaison Officer based in Rotterdam, visited The Gambia from 29 May to June 1. While here she was able to meet with senior officials at the Gambia Port Authority (GPA) and the Works, Construction & Infrastructural Development Ministry, which oversees the port and airport. The intention of her visit was to follow up on recommendations made in a March demarche (ref a) to bring Banjul's port into compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Her overall assessment of the port was favorable and she recommended that The Gambia need not/not be placed on the ISPS boarding matrix (detailed ref a) at this time. ¶3. (SBU) LCDR Springer commented that security measures had improved since her October 2005 visit, particularly in the area of access control and identification procedures, where she noted vast improvement. The use of metal detectors and plain clothes roving security were also noted as new 'best practices' at the port. In her meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Works (attended by TSA Rep and Poloff),LCDR Springer recommended that GPA receive funding to acquire for hand-held radios for all security personnel and that the area of waterside patrol and security still needs to be addressed. She suggested the possibility of enlisting the help of local fishermen and boaters in a type of "community watch" used in other countries in this sub-region. COMMENT: Both the GPA and the Works Ministry received all recommendations with a positive attitude. The Coast Guard visit was seen as an opportunity to improve and explore areas for possible cooperation rather than an inspection. Any further outreach, training, or support that the Coast Guard could provide would be welcomed by the GPA. END COMMENT. ¶4. (SBU) The Coast Guard visit took place simultaneously with a security visit by Rome-based TSA Attach John Halinski and two aviation security inspectors. Their visit focused on procedures in place for the resumption of direct flights between Banjul and Baltimore as well as working with the Gambian Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to bring the country into compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) minimum standards. RSO and Poloff met with the inspectors, who reported their assessment that the airport meets ICAO minimum standards. Both Halinski and the inspectors expressed confidence in the management and security teams at GCAA. When deficiencies were noted, for example with the perimeter fence, officials moved quickly to remedy them. The security team did note that The Gambia is overdue for conducting an ICAO full-scale security exercise, which should be held as soon as possible. GCAA cited high management turnover (four Director Generals in three years) as their main limiting factor in undertaking initiatives such as a full-scale exercise. COMMENT: As with GPA, GCAA welcomes visits and support from US security experts, and the management demonstrates an awareness that cooperation with USG on airport security is vital if Banjul is to move towards its goal of becoming a regional air hub. END COMMENT. ¶5. (U) The inaugural North American Airlines flight to Baltimore took off as scheduled on June 4, and returned on June 5, bringing many airline executives and private Americans exploring possible projects in The Gambia. The bi-annual Roots Festival was being held the same week, resulting in relatively high number of American visitors from different private organizations (the Rotary Club of Parole, Maryland, the Eddie Robinson Foundation, and the African King of Comedy, to name a few.) The Ambassador held a welcoming reception for North American Airlines, which provided an opportunity to bring together many of these American visitors with contacts in the Gambian government and private sector. BANJUL 00000382 002 OF 002 ¶6. (U) COMMENT: Embassy Banjul wishes to extend thanks to our visitors from TSA and USCG. GPA and GCAA are two of The Gambia's better-run government agencies, and we support any capacity- building programs that can help them meet and exceed international security standards, and, in the case of the airport, achieve Category One status that would enable Gambian registered aircraft to fly directly to the United States. END COMMENT. STAFFORD