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