BAHAMAS REVIEW OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000678

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2016
TAGS: ETTC ETRD PREL CU BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REVIEW OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 57782

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission D. Brent Hardt for Reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Post recommends waiver of the provisions of
Title III of the Libertad Act for The Bahamas. The Bahamas
has a cordial relationship with Cuba, generally supports Cuba
in international fora, and engages in both cultural and
economic exchanges with Cuba, including promotion of Cuban
trade. The Bahamian government justifies its relationship as
a pragmatic policy needed to address bilateral migration
issues, provide support to Bahamian travelers and address
issues of common concern to a nation on their maritime
border. The Bahamian government claims to advocate human
rights concerns to Cuba privately. The extremely close
on-going bilateral cooperation between The Bahamas and the
U.S. in drug interdiction, alien interdiction, anti-terrorism
and border security matters merits a waiver of the provisions
of the Libertad Act. END SUMMARY.

Bahamas-Cuba Relations
--------------


2. (C) The Governments of the Bahamas and Cuba maintain
cordial relations. The Government of the Commonwealth of The
Bahamas (GCOB) maintains an embassy in Cuba, believing a
physical presence is necessary to provide consular services
to Bahamian citizens in Cuba, to address bilateral migration
issues and to avoid a repeat of miscommunication such as
occurred in 1980 between the Cuban and Bahamian navies that
led to the deaths of several Bahamian sailors. The Government
of Cuba also maintains an embassy in Nassau.


3. (C) Illegal migration to The Bahamas from Haiti and Cuba
is one of the country's biggest domestic political issues.
Illegal Cuban migrants interdicted in Bahamian waters are
taken to the Carmichael Road Detention Center. The
repatriation process tends to move slowly and in small
numbers, which increases costs to the GCOB to keep the
migrants detained. There are sometimes international issues
surrounding Cuban migrants in The Bahamas, and the GCOB sees
a pragmatic need to maintain a functioning relationship with
Cuba to manage repatriation and any concomitant international
complications.


4. (C) In international fora, the GCOB typically votes as a
block with CARICOM in favor of maintaining an open dialog
with Cuba, opposing the U.S. embargo of Cuba and abstaining
from country-specific human rights resolutions. Prime
Minister Perry Christie did not attend the December 2005
CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Barbados between Fidel Castro and
Caribbean heads of state, sending Foreign Minister Fred
Mitchell in his place. Christie has told the Ambassador and
other embassy officials that he has spoken out in support of
democracy and respect for human rights by Cuban authorities
in his private meetings with Fidel Castro and other senior
Cuban officials. Post is unaware of other GCOB support for
human rights and democracy in Cuba.

Business and Cultural Exchanges are Ongoing
--------------


5. (C) There is a Havantur office in Nassau. According to
the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately
20,000 Bahamians visit Cuba every year. Additionally, there
are approximately 150 Bahamian students studying in Cuba on
scholarship, approximately 20 Bahamians in Cuban prisons and
over 600 Bahamians who received Cuban-paid health care in
Cuba last year. An unknown number of Cuban doctors at work
in The Bahamas provide thousands of Bahamians with health
care. In one effort late last year, Cuban doctors provided
1,729 eye exams to Bahamians. Cuban teachers work closely
with Bahamian authorities, particularly in the area of
special education. Cubana de Aviacion offers direct flights
to Havana from Nassau.


6. (C) Direct Bahamian investment in Cuba is estimated to be
minimal given the country's exchange controls and economic
dependence upon the United States. Third country investment
in Cuba via Bahamian financial institutions is likely, but
unknown. According to the GCOB, The Bahamas imported $1.6
million in Cuban goods in 2004. The Bahamas Agricultural and
Industrial Corporation and the Government of Cuba sponsored a
Cuban trade show in Nassau in March 2006 featuring 23 Cuban
companies. A trip to Cuba for a Bahamian trade show and
related trade agreements are currently under discussion.
There are currently no bilateral trade agreements in force.

Recommendation for Waiver
--------------


7. (C) In light of the extremely close on-going bilateral
cooperation between the U.S. and The Bahamas in drug
interdiction, alien interdiction, anti-terrorism, and border
security matters, post believes that The Bahamas should
continue to be granted a waiver from implementation of Title
III of the Libertad Act.

ROOD