CUBAN REFUGEE MEDEVAC CONTINGENCY: BAHAMAS STILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001133 SIPDIS PRM/ECA ROBERT GEHRING; WHA/CAR FOR JTILGHMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL CU BF SUBJECT: CUBAN REFUGEE MEDEVAC CONTINGENCY: BAHAMAS STILL EVALUATING U.S. REQUEST REF: A. A) SECSTATE 114475 ¶B. B) SECSTATE 123223 ¶1. (C) Post conveyed the Department's initial request for Medevac contingency (REF A) to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas August 17. Charge also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister at that time, and later noted to the Minister that the Hungarians had agreed to accept the individuals, ending their hunger strikes. ¶2. (C) Following receipt of reftel B, Pol Chief contacted MFA Permanent Secretary Sheila Carey September 8 to reiterate U.S. interest in pursuing the initial request in the event of future cases that could necessitate medical evacuation from Guantanamo. Pol Chief that while the immediate crisis had passed, the United States would still welcome Bahamian reaction to a contingency plan that would allow the U.S. to send ailing Cuban refugees awaiting resettlement to The Bahamas for medical treatment should their condition exceed the capabilities of our hospital at Guantanamo. The Permanent Secretary said that the request had been received and that the GCOB would respond in due course. ¶3. (C) The two main hospitals in Nassau are the Princess Margaret Hospital and Doctors Hospital. Princess Margaret Hospital is a public facility with 405 beds and offers a wide range of medical specialties. Doctors Hospital is a smaller, private facility with 72 beds, which also offers a wide range of medical care. The quality of care has been an issue at PMH, and the facility has chronic problems with overcrowding. Embassy personnel use Doctors Hospital for medical emergencies. ¶4. (C) Post will continue to follow up on this request in its contacts with senior MFA officials and report the GCOB decision as soon as it is received. Given the various ministry competencies involved in this issue, it could take some time for it to work through the Bahamian inter-agency process. HARDT