BAHAMAS REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000867

SIPDIS

WHA/CCA FOR DAVID MCFARLAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE
LIBERTAD ACT

REF: STATE 126578

Classified By: DCM Zuniga-Brown 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 had a cordial relationship with Cuba, has supported Cuba
in international fora, and has engaged in both cultural and
economic exchanges with Cuba, including promotion of Cuban
trade. The Bahamian government under Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham has a more skeptical approach, but recently
appointed a veteran immigration official as new ambassador to
Cuba. The Prime Minister traveled to Cuba December 8 for a
CARICOM-Cuba high-level meeting. The extremely close
bilateral cooperation between The Bahamas and the U.S. in
drug interdiction, alien interdiction, anti-terrorism and
border security, however, merits a waiver of the provisions
of the Libertad Act. END SUMMARY.

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Bahamas-Cuba Diplomatic Relations
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2. (C) The Governments of The Bahamas and Cuba have
maintained cordial relations. The Prime Minister traveled to
Cuba December 8 for a CARICOM-Cuba high-level meeting. The
Bahamas justifies the need for its relations by citing the
need to provide consular services, to address bilateral
migration issues, explaining the appointment of an
experienced immigration official to the post of ambassador,
and to promote trade and travel. The Bahamian government has
also noted the need for close relations to avoid repetition
of incidents such as the 1980 sinking by Cuban forces of a
Bahamian Defense Force vessel resulting in the deaths of
several Bahamian sailors. Like the U.S., the Bahamian
government works with Cuba to combat drug and migrant
trafficking. The Government of Cuba maintains an embassy in
Nassau, and a new Ambassador was accredited in late August

2007. The Bahamas did not offer or deliver official
humanitarian or other assistance to the Cuban people in the
wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, though it did provide aid
to Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands.


3. (C) Illegal migration to The Bahamas from other Caribbean
states, Haiti and Cuba in particular, is one of the country's
biggest political issues. Illegal Cuban migrants interdicted
in Bahamian waters are detained in Nassau. The repatriation
process is lengthy and expensive. Controversies surrounding
the presence of Cuban migrants in The Bahamas occasionally
arise. The GCOB sees a pragmatic need to maintain a
relationship with Cuba to manage repatriation and any
concomitant international complications.

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Business and Cultural Exchanges
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4. (C) Direct Bahamian investment in Cuba is minimal given
The Bahamas' exchange controls, limited scope for
international investment among Bahamian businesses, and the
country's economic dependence on the United States. Third
country investment in Cuba via Bahamian financial
institutions is likely, but unknown. According to the GCOB,
The Bahamas imported less than $5 million in Cuban goods in
2007, with few to no exports. There are currently no
bilateral trade agreements in force.


5. (C) There is a Havantur office in Nassau and Cubana
Airlines offers 5 direct flights to Havana from Nassau
weekly. The GCOB in October 2008 extended for another year an
agreement allowing 40 Cuban teachers to teach special
education, Spanish, math and science in The Bahamas. Over
the five years of the program, over 60 Cuban teachers
reportedly worked in 11 outer islands at the primary and
secondary levels. The GCOB is considering resuming a Cuban
eye care program, which it stopped for review upon taking
office in May 2007, amidst opposition criticism for ignoring
a useful benefit. Approximately 600 Bahamians received
Cuban-paid health care in Cuba and Cuban doctors provided
approximately 1,750 eye exams to Bahamians in The Bahamas in

2007. According to the GCOB, approximately 20,000 Bahamians
visit Cuba each year and approximately 150 Bahamian students
study in Cuba on scholarship.

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Bahamian Support for Human Rights
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6. (C) The Bahamas has worked to promote the advancement of
democracy and human rights in Cuba, though more could be
done. The Bahamian Government which took office following May
2, 2007 elections did not downgrade relations with Cuba from
a full Embassy to a Consulate, as intimated before the

elections, and appointed a new ambassador to Cuba in
September 2008. The GCOB has supported human rights in
international fora, including all U.S.-sponsored
country-specific resolutions in the UNGA Third Committee in
late 2008, for the third year running. The Bahamas has in the
past typically voted with CARICOM and the NAM in
international fora and continues to oppose the U.S. embargo
of Cuba.

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Recommendation for Waiver
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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 The Bahamas should continue
to be granted a waiver from implementation of Title III of
the Libertad Act.
SIEGEL