Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NASSAU1133
2007-09-11 21:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:
CUBAN REFUGEE MEDEVAC CONTINGENCY: BAHAMAS STILL
how-toPaul I Jukic 03/14/2008 09:48:44 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 01133 SIPDIS CXNASSAU: ACTION: DCM INFO: POL AMB DISSEMINATION: DCM CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA:DBHARDT DRAFTED: POL:DBO'CONNOR CLEARED: NONE VZCZCBHI038 RR RUEHC RUCNCOM RUEHDG RUEHUB DE RUEHBH #1133 2542109 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 112109Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4732 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2865 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0513
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
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
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