Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NASSAU1234
2006-08-14 15:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:
THE BAHAMAS IS NEWEST PARTICIPANT IN CONTAINER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBH #1234 2261557 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141557Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3050 INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE 1279 RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5436 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3546 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8383 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3404 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4564 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2678 RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS NASSAU 001234
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS KHLS BF
SUBJECT: THE BAHAMAS IS NEWEST PARTICIPANT IN CONTAINER
SECURITY INITIATIVE
UNCLAS NASSAU 001234
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS KHLS BF
SUBJECT: THE BAHAMAS IS NEWEST PARTICIPANT IN CONTAINER
SECURITY INITIATIVE
1. SUMMARY: After nearly a year of negotiations and
last-minute jitters that nearly scuttled the deal, US and
Bahamian customs officials signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) regarding the Container Security
Initiative (CSI) in Nassau on Friday August 4. The MOU
provides for technology and man-power to examine cargo and
prevent shipments that might contain terrorist devices from
entering the United States through the Freeport Container
Port. The agreement is the latest in a line of cooperative
arrangements demonstrating the strength of US-Bahamian
cooperation against terror. END SUMMARY.
2. On August 4, Charge d'Affaires Brent Hardt and Bahamian
Comptroller of Customs John Rolle signed an MOU on CSI.
During the ceremony, each cited the outstanding partnership
between The Bahamas and the United States on terrorism and
security matters. Comptroller Rolle also touted the
potential benefits of CSI to the struggling economy of
Freeport. Through the MOU, DHS will provide x-ray equipment
and staff to screen containers for weapons of mass
destruction and other implements of terrorism at the Freeport
Container Port. The port, which processes roughly 950,000
containers a year, was the 44th port to join the program.
3. Negotiations had been ongoing for nearly a year following
the Prime Minister's expression of interest in the program to
the Ambassador. Despite substantive agreement about the
program, the Bahamian Cabinet had postponed approval pending
clearance regarding the form of the MOU from the Attorney
General. Post and DHS frustrations over delay led to
imposition of a July 31 deadline. With significant pressure
from the Ambassador and other Post efforts, a final signing
was scheduled for August 4. Last-minute jitters regarding
Bahamian costs under the MOU nearly scuttled the signing,
which ultimately went forward as planned.
4. The signing received significant positive press,
including coverage from the national news network and all
three major newspapers. As stated in an editorial in the
Nassau Guardian: "This initiative can only be good for all
concerned: The Americans, the Bahamians and the people of all
those countries of the world to which goods are directed
through the Freeport Container Port. The safety of the port
could also be an economic boon for The Bahamas as shippers
worldwide will know of the pre-screening and will encourage
clients to use it for its safety and the fact that goods are
unlikely to be tampered with."
5. COMMENT: Though negotiations were lengthy, there was
genuine interest from The Bahamas in the screening program.
The slow pace in bringing CSI to conclusion was more
reflective of an overburdened Attorney General than a lack of
interest in security cooperation. The delays are also
instructive about how Cabinet prioritizes its agenda --
overwhelmed by its involvement in the most minute details of
government, it chooses to address items only when critically
important to do so. END COMMENT.
HARDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS KHLS BF
SUBJECT: THE BAHAMAS IS NEWEST PARTICIPANT IN CONTAINER
SECURITY INITIATIVE
1. SUMMARY: After nearly a year of negotiations and
last-minute jitters that nearly scuttled the deal, US and
Bahamian customs officials signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) regarding the Container Security
Initiative (CSI) in Nassau on Friday August 4. The MOU
provides for technology and man-power to examine cargo and
prevent shipments that might contain terrorist devices from
entering the United States through the Freeport Container
Port. The agreement is the latest in a line of cooperative
arrangements demonstrating the strength of US-Bahamian
cooperation against terror. END SUMMARY.
2. On August 4, Charge d'Affaires Brent Hardt and Bahamian
Comptroller of Customs John Rolle signed an MOU on CSI.
During the ceremony, each cited the outstanding partnership
between The Bahamas and the United States on terrorism and
security matters. Comptroller Rolle also touted the
potential benefits of CSI to the struggling economy of
Freeport. Through the MOU, DHS will provide x-ray equipment
and staff to screen containers for weapons of mass
destruction and other implements of terrorism at the Freeport
Container Port. The port, which processes roughly 950,000
containers a year, was the 44th port to join the program.
3. Negotiations had been ongoing for nearly a year following
the Prime Minister's expression of interest in the program to
the Ambassador. Despite substantive agreement about the
program, the Bahamian Cabinet had postponed approval pending
clearance regarding the form of the MOU from the Attorney
General. Post and DHS frustrations over delay led to
imposition of a July 31 deadline. With significant pressure
from the Ambassador and other Post efforts, a final signing
was scheduled for August 4. Last-minute jitters regarding
Bahamian costs under the MOU nearly scuttled the signing,
which ultimately went forward as planned.
4. The signing received significant positive press,
including coverage from the national news network and all
three major newspapers. As stated in an editorial in the
Nassau Guardian: "This initiative can only be good for all
concerned: The Americans, the Bahamians and the people of all
those countries of the world to which goods are directed
through the Freeport Container Port. The safety of the port
could also be an economic boon for The Bahamas as shippers
worldwide will know of the pre-screening and will encourage
clients to use it for its safety and the fact that goods are
unlikely to be tampered with."
5. COMMENT: Though negotiations were lengthy, there was
genuine interest from The Bahamas in the screening program.
The slow pace in bringing CSI to conclusion was more
reflective of an overburdened Attorney General than a lack of
interest in security cooperation. The delays are also
instructive about how Cabinet prioritizes its agenda --
overwhelmed by its involvement in the most minute details of
government, it chooses to address items only when critically
important to do so. END COMMENT.
HARDT