Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NASSAU332
2007-03-16 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DISCUSS PSI,

Tags:  BF ECON KJUS KNNP MARR PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBH #0332/01 0751607
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161607Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3987
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEABND/DEA FIELD DIVISION MIAMI FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000332 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP L/OES AND EB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2017
TAGS: BF ECON KJUS KNNP MARR PREL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DISCUSS PSI,
AUTEC, PENDING U.S. TAX LEGISLATION

REF: NASSAU 0032

Classified By: DCM D. Brent Hardt. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000332

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP L/OES AND EB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2017
TAGS: BF ECON KJUS KNNP MARR PREL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DISCUSS PSI,
AUTEC, PENDING U.S. TAX LEGISLATION

REF: NASSAU 0032

Classified By: DCM D. Brent Hardt. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Rood and Attorney General Allyson
Maynard-Gibson discussed the status of ongoing joint criminal
investigations, extraditions, and other law enforcement issues under
the AG's jurisdiction. The Attorney General provided her reaction to
elements of the just released human rights report critical of the
Bahamian judicial system for lengthy pre-trial delays. From that
defensive beginning, the meeting covered the U.S. request to add an
additional area to our Navy undersea testing range leased from the
government and recently introduced tax legislation, and the
Proliferation Security Initiative. The Ambassador noted the arrival
of the Embassy's new FBI Assistant Legal Attachi, and expressed his
hope for closer coordination of ongoing investigations. The
Ambassador and AG agreed that monthly meetings between the her office
and the Embassy should be held on the last Friday of each month with
Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Turner to review ongoing
cases and ensure adequate coordination. End Summary.


Human Rights Report
--------------


2. (C) The meeting began with the sometimes prickly Attorney
General responding formally to the just released U.S. Human Rights
Report. She flatly denying that there were any human rights abuses
at the prison, despite the well-documented and widely recognized poor
conditions that exist there. Given this clear, documented record on
the issue, the Ambassador chose to simply point the Attorney General
to the specifics detailed in the report and move onto other areas of
discussion.

Proliferation Security Initiative
--------------


3. (C) From his meeting the previous day with Foreign Minister Fred
Mitchell, the Ambassador understood that the Attorney General's
office had drafted a lengthy memo outlining the reasons why The
Bahamas did not need to conclude a Proliferation Security Agreement

(PSI). According to the FM, the AG's office argued that all the
legal authorities envisioned in a PSI were already available through
the existing Comprehensive Maritime Agreement between our countries.
The Ambassador requested a copy of the memo, and the Attorney General
said that attorneys from both sides could discuss the issue.

AUTEC
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador raised the issue of the U.S. request to
install new hydrophones at the Atlantic Undersea Testing and
Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the Tongue of the Ocean between New
Providence and Andros Islands. He noted that the Foreign Minister
had indicated his support for the request. The AG, however, raised
the issue of an increase in U.S. payments if the concessions were to
be granted to install the new equipment. The Ambassador flatly
stated that the lease was firm and that the payments would not
change. He further emphasized that the hydrophones would reduce
hazards to navigation by eliminating the need for the ship and
temporarily installed hydrophones that currently perform the same
function. Finally, he stressed that AUTEC was an outstanding
corporate citizen on Andros that provides employment to over 200
Bahamians. Its presence there was a win-win situation for the
community and the U.S. Navy, he added.

Pending Tax Legislation
--------------


5. (C) The AG raised the issue of a bill recently introduced by
Senators Levin, Obama, and Coleman regarding tax havens. [Note:
Senator Dorgan has also introduced legislation about tax havens which
includes The Bahamas.] The Government of the Bahamas is deeply
troubled that it has been included in the scope of this legislation,
especially since it has a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the
United States. The Attorney General is preparing a letter on this
issue which she will forward to the Embassy when it is ready. The
Ambassador promised to look into the matter.

Electronic Monitoring
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador took the opportunity to express his support
for an amendment to the Bail Act now before the Parliament that would
permit the use of electronic monitoring bracelets by law
enforcement. (Comment: A high volume of crime in The Bahamas is
committed by individuals out on bail awaiting trial. End Comment.)
The U.S. company that produces the bracelets had previously contacted
the Embassy and briefed us on the program. The AG said that the GCOB
supported the use of the bracelets and urged the company to contact
the AG's office to follow up on the matter.

Enhancing Law Enforcement Cooperation
--------------


7. (C) Both the Ambassador and the Attorney General stressed the
importance of close and open communication on law enforcement
issues. The AG said she looked forward to working with the new FBI
Assistant Legal Attachi and the Ambassador promised to bring him over
for an introductory call. The AG also expressed interest in a
renewed dialogue on asset forfeiture. There is no agreement
currently in place, but The Bahamas has expressed interest in
concluding such an agreement. The AG and Ambassador agreed that
meetings should be held on the last Friday of each month among U.S.
law enforcement and the Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard
Turner to discuss ongoing cases. The AG also suggested that a task
force be created to discuss formalizing procedures for joint
investigations. (Comment: This proposal likely stems from the
political fallout within the Bahamas of the December 2006 Nassau
Flight Services arrests (reftel). End Comment.) The Ambassador
agreed to explore the merits of such a task force.


8. (C) Comment: The release of the Human Rights Report, which
garnered extensive Bahamian media coverage, led to a surprisingly
tense meeting between the sometimes prickly AG and the Ambassador.
Nevertheless, her support for a monthly meeting and her proposal to
create a task force to address issues arising from joint
investigations reflect her commitment to close law enforcement
cooperation with the U.S. With elections looming, the AG and other
members of the government are sensitive to negative publicity that
joint investigations can sometimes generate. (Some more cynical
Bahamian observers would argue that the government is also wary of
antagonizing certain individuals who may be the subject of
investigations, who are known to contribute to political campaign
coffers.) The tax haven bills pending in the U.S. Congress could
become a major bilateral issue, given that the financial services
sector is the second largest contributor to the Bahamian economy.
Even before the Attorney General raised the issue, the Bahamas
Financial Services Board had contacted the Embassy on the matter.
The Bahamas already believes it was unfairly treated by the
international community in the FATF review process, and this
legislation could deepen the perception that The Bahamas is being
unfairly treated -- especially in light of the fact that they have
signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the U.S.

HARDT