Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NASSAU62
2008-01-23 22:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:
BAHAMAS REMAINS COMMITTED TO DEPORTEE
how-toPaul I Jukic 03/20/2008 03:10:44 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS NASSAU 00062 SIPDIS CXNASSAU: ACTION: POL INFO: AMB DCM ECON NAS CONS RSO DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:HARDTDB DRAFTED: POL:PIJUKIC CLEARED: POL:DBOCONNER VZCZCBHI293 RR RUEHC RUCNCOM DE RUEHBH #0062 0232238 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 232238Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5137 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS NASSAU 000062
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM BF EAID
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REMAINS COMMITTED TO DEPORTEE
REINTEGRATION PILOT PROJECT
REF: A. 07 NASSAU 1455
B. 07 NASSAU 1458
C. 07 STATE 153189
D. 07 STATE 144021
UNCLAS NASSAU 000062
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM BF EAID
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REMAINS COMMITTED TO DEPORTEE
REINTEGRATION PILOT PROJECT
REF: A. 07 NASSAU 1455
B. 07 NASSAU 1458
C. 07 STATE 153189
D. 07 STATE 144021
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Top Bahamian government officials remain
committed to implementing IOM's State Department-funded
Deportee Reintegration Pilot Project, voicing no regional
reservations or caveats. The Bahamian position indicates
that there is no "CARICOM consensus" to decline U.S. aid on
deportees. With crime now the single most important domestic
political issue, as elsewhere in the Caribbean, the
government is clearly unwilling to forego assistance that
could help it solve practical problems and maintain
law-and-order credentials. Coordination among government
agencies, rather than regional sensitivities, remains the
main challenge to the project's quick implementation. Post
will continue to urge expeditious attention to starting the
program. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) In continuing Post contacts with top Bahamian
government officials, The Bahamas remains committed to
implementing IOM's Deportee Reintegration Pilot Project
without reservations or caveats. The Minister of National
Security, Tommy Turnquest, inquired about the progress of the
program during a courtesy call with the Ambassador January
11, and was assured that the U.S. was fully committed to
pressing ahead. DCM noted that the 18-month implementation
clock was ticking and that Post was eager to see the program
begin. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Brent Symonette, subsequently confirmed to DCM
January 21, in response to a request for a status report,
that the government would proceed with the program. Top
government officials have expressed no reservations regarding
regional solutions or participation of other CARICOM states,
nor have they raise objections to the pursuit of bilateral
solutions.
3. (SBU) The government continues to wrestle with its
internal limitations, however, as it is still not clear who
in the government will take the lead on the issue. IOM is
awaiting an answer from the MFA on its letter of November 2,
2007 to conduct the initial fact-finding visit (see ref A).
In a December 10 meeting, attended by WHA Bahamas Desk
Officer, officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
indicated they were unable to answer the original IOM request
due to a lack of internal government coordination; whether
within the MFA or among ministries was not clear. (Some
Ministry of National Security (MNS) officials had at that
time expressed surprise at the MFA's apparent position,
indicating that they were not all on the same page.)
Working-level contacts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now
confirm the government's willingness to move forward without
further reference to any regional issues. The Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, meanwhile,
SIPDIS
indicated to DCM in mid-January that she was unaware that the
ball was in the Bahamian court, though she did realize that
the GOCB needs to identify a clear lead to ensure it responds
effectively to IOM's needs.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: With crime emerging as the single
greatest domestic political issue facing The Bahamas (see ref
B),the government is clearly unwilling to forego any form of
practical assistance that could help it solve existing
problems and meet its law enforcement obligations to an
anxious citizenry. The government shows no inclination to
turn away U.S. help due to nebulous concerns about regional
approaches or solidarity with CARICOM on what appears to be a
plain-vanilla bilateral issue. In that light, there does not
seem to be a "CARICOM consensus" to decline U.S. aid on
deportees. While political will is not lacking, coordination
among government agencies remains a challenge to the
project's quick implementation. Post is continuing to work
with the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of National Security
to identify a single principal point-of-contact within the
government and to coordinate with IOM to ensure the initial
visit occurs in the shortest possible time frame. END
COMMENT.
SIEGEL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM BF EAID
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REMAINS COMMITTED TO DEPORTEE
REINTEGRATION PILOT PROJECT
REF: A. 07 NASSAU 1455
B. 07 NASSAU 1458
C. 07 STATE 153189
D. 07 STATE 144021
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Top Bahamian government officials remain
committed to implementing IOM's State Department-funded
Deportee Reintegration Pilot Project, voicing no regional
reservations or caveats. The Bahamian position indicates
that there is no "CARICOM consensus" to decline U.S. aid on
deportees. With crime now the single most important domestic
political issue, as elsewhere in the Caribbean, the
government is clearly unwilling to forego assistance that
could help it solve practical problems and maintain
law-and-order credentials. Coordination among government
agencies, rather than regional sensitivities, remains the
main challenge to the project's quick implementation. Post
will continue to urge expeditious attention to starting the
program. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) In continuing Post contacts with top Bahamian
government officials, The Bahamas remains committed to
implementing IOM's Deportee Reintegration Pilot Project
without reservations or caveats. The Minister of National
Security, Tommy Turnquest, inquired about the progress of the
program during a courtesy call with the Ambassador January
11, and was assured that the U.S. was fully committed to
pressing ahead. DCM noted that the 18-month implementation
clock was ticking and that Post was eager to see the program
begin. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Brent Symonette, subsequently confirmed to DCM
January 21, in response to a request for a status report,
that the government would proceed with the program. Top
government officials have expressed no reservations regarding
regional solutions or participation of other CARICOM states,
nor have they raise objections to the pursuit of bilateral
solutions.
3. (SBU) The government continues to wrestle with its
internal limitations, however, as it is still not clear who
in the government will take the lead on the issue. IOM is
awaiting an answer from the MFA on its letter of November 2,
2007 to conduct the initial fact-finding visit (see ref A).
In a December 10 meeting, attended by WHA Bahamas Desk
Officer, officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
indicated they were unable to answer the original IOM request
due to a lack of internal government coordination; whether
within the MFA or among ministries was not clear. (Some
Ministry of National Security (MNS) officials had at that
time expressed surprise at the MFA's apparent position,
indicating that they were not all on the same page.)
Working-level contacts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now
confirm the government's willingness to move forward without
further reference to any regional issues. The Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, meanwhile,
SIPDIS
indicated to DCM in mid-January that she was unaware that the
ball was in the Bahamian court, though she did realize that
the GOCB needs to identify a clear lead to ensure it responds
effectively to IOM's needs.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: With crime emerging as the single
greatest domestic political issue facing The Bahamas (see ref
B),the government is clearly unwilling to forego any form of
practical assistance that could help it solve existing
problems and meet its law enforcement obligations to an
anxious citizenry. The government shows no inclination to
turn away U.S. help due to nebulous concerns about regional
approaches or solidarity with CARICOM on what appears to be a
plain-vanilla bilateral issue. In that light, there does not
seem to be a "CARICOM consensus" to decline U.S. aid on
deportees. While political will is not lacking, coordination
among government agencies remains a challenge to the
project's quick implementation. Post is continuing to work
with the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of National Security
to identify a single principal point-of-contact within the
government and to coordinate with IOM to ensure the initial
visit occurs in the shortest possible time frame. END
COMMENT.
SIEGEL