RHODE ISLAND NATIONAL GUARD PARTNERSHIP FORGES

UNCLAS NASSAU 001616 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MASS PHUM BF SUBJECT: RHODE ISLAND NATIONAL GUARD PARTNERSHIP FORGES EDUCATION, DISASTER AND SECURITY LINKS -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. Since its inception in December 2005, the Bahamas-Rhode Island National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) has helped forge new avenues of cooperation between the United States and the Bahamas. These SPP initiatives have supplemented Embassy efforts to build local capacity and have helped advance vital mission and USG security and stability goals. Events conducted thus far include: a consortium on disaster mitigation and hurricane preparedness held jointly with the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency; crime scene investigation training for the Royal Bahamas Police Force; riot control and cell extraction training for Bahamian prison guards, and firefighter training conducted in Rhode Island. The SPP has also developed civilian contacts between Rhode Island and Bahamian economic development agencies and academic contacts between university administrators and professors. The latter contacts have taken off and will soon be formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Rhode Island and the College of the Bahamas (COB) that will lead to student exchanges, in-state tuition for Bahamian students, and faculty exchanges. The SPP has engaged senior levels of the Bahamian government, police, and security forces and has emerged as a true public diplomacy success story for the United States. END SUMMARY. -------------- Building New Partnerships -------------- ¶2. The National Guard State Partnership Program, funded by DOD through the National Guard Bureau and SOUTHCOM, brings together U.S. State National Guard programs with partner nations through a range of civil and military activities using the National Guard as a conduit and force provider. In December 2005 and January 2006, The Bahamas and Rhode Island delegations finalized Bahamian participation in the program. Thanks to the leadership of the Rhode Island National Guard and with strong support from the Embassy, the program has started up quickly, with a series of successful events in The Bahamas and Rhode Island and a growing range of civil and military contacts between Rhode Island and The Bahamas. -------------- Disaster Preparedness -------------- ¶3. The first event held under the SPP was a national �0A;disaster and hurricane preparedness conference February 26-31. The conference facilitated exchange of ideas between the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and its Bahamian counterpart regarding mental health counseling of disaster victims, command and control structures used in disasters, and coordination of civilian and military responses. The conference received extensive national media coverage that positively highlighted U.S. support for improved disaster management and mitigation. Combined with ongoing USAID support in this area, the event strengthened Bahamian perceptions of common US-Bahamian interests in disaster preparedness and of general US support for the Bahamas. -------------- Crime Scene Investigation -------------- ¶4. In May, the SPP with support from the Rhode Island State Police and the Providence Police Department conducted a forensics/crime scene investigation training event to help build Bahamian capacity in crime scene management, fingerprinting, blood splatter investigation, ballistics trajectory analysis and other aspects of crime scene investigation. Bahamian detectives also shared case management techniques responsible for the nearly 100 percent case closure rates on Bahamian homicides. Beyond the topics covered, the event also helped strengthen the law enforcement cooperation between The Bahamas and the United States -- already among the closest in the region. -------------- Economic Development -------------- ¶5. In June, a ten-person Bahamian delegation traveled to Rhode Island for a planning meeting. The group included Bahamian representation from the Police, Defense Force, Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association, and College of The Bahamas. Contacts were developed between the RI Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) and Bahamian economic leaders to discuss hotel and port development, economic redevelopment, and tourism promotion. This meeting also launched educational discussions that would generate subsequent formal cooperation. The delegation also attended the annual RI Air Show, a major aviation showcase. -------------- Support for Embassy July 4th -------------- ¶6. At the request of the Ambassador, the National Guard literally and figuratively showed the flag in supporting our July 4th reception when the 88th Army Band performed for our annual representational event with a wide assortment of patriotic music and classic American jazz. . -------------- Prison Training -------------- ¶7. From August 7-11, the SPP sponsored a security training event at Her Majesty's Prison at Fox Hill in Nassau conducted by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. The event provided training in riot and crowd control, use of non-lethal force, and cell-extraction techniques. The training addressed specific needs reflected in the State Department's annual Human Rights Report and supported ongoing local efforts to improve human rights conditions at the centuries-old prison. The Prison Superintendent and his guards welcomed the training, which many guards noted had been minimal prior to this program. The extensive press coverage of the event allowed us to achieve greater public focus on our human rights objectives within The Bahamas. -------------- Fire Training -------------- ¶8. From September 18-22, the SPP sponsored a fire services training and exchange involving the Fire Service branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and several Rhode Island town fire services. The training, held in various towns in Rhode Island, focused on confined space rescue, safety techniques, and live fire fighting. It identified deficiencies in Bahamian fire services and was extremely well-received by the Bahamians. Press coverage of the visit in Rhode Island and the Bahamas added to the strong positive response the program has received among both partners since inception. -------------- Educational Partnerships -------------- ¶9. Contacts developed at the first SPP event in March when two professors from URI's world-renowned Graduate School of Oceanography explored potential educational cooperation with administrators and faculty at the College of the Bahamas have quickly taken root in what is emerging as one of the most important areas of the partnership. During a visit in September, a senior COB administrator reached agreement with the University of Rhode Island for student and faculty exchanges. The program will begin in the upcoming spring semester, with two Bahamian students already identified to go to URI. URI has also agreed to allow selected Bahamian students to attend for in-state tuition rates -- a persistent request from Caribbean countries in recent meetings with Secretary Rice. According to URI Vice Provost Pasquerella, SIPDIS "(t)he value of the agreement is just exceptional, the different culture and different perspective on how to carry out research, how to apply scientific problems, how to work collectively." COB Vice President Davis expressed hope that the program would allow development of joint US-Bahamian research capabilities, including marine research. The COB's President recently phoned the Charge to convey how vital this program is for the College, which is seeking to move to university status. She noted that she has briefed Prime Minister Christie on the developments, which he welcomed and pledged to personally support. Continued SPP engagement will be instrumental in connecting these two institutions and other RI educational institutions. -------------- Comment: Vital Support for U.S. Objectives -------------- ¶10. Post and the Bahamian government appreciate the innovative efforts of the Rhode Island National Guard under the leadership of Adjutant General Bray in developing an SPP tailored to Bahamian interests and drawing on shared interests as small, ocean-oriented states with major tourism industries. The extraordinary range of partnerships developed during the first year of the program attest to the potential of this program to contribute to our broader bilateral relationship and policy goals by enhancing security, developing local knowledge, and creating the strong personal and institutional linkages. The program has also provided outstanding opportunities for public diplomacy by affording opportunities to highlight a wide range of cooperative initiatives of interest to a cross section of the Bahamian people. We particularly welcome the development of the educational partnerships through the program, which responds to a long-standing request for greater U.S. support for Caribbean higher education from the highest levels of the Bahamian government, (and which has also been a persistent request from Caribbean foreign ministers during discussions with the Secretary. END COMMENT. HARDT