FY2010 DEMARCHE/OBJECTIVES FOR THE MAJORS LIST

UNCLAS NASSAU 000160

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR CFED CJAN PREL PGOV SOCI BF
SUBJECT: FY2010 DEMARCHE/OBJECTIVES FOR THE MAJORS LIST
REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE
BAHAMAS (GCOB)


1. (SBU) Narcotics Affairs Officer (NAO) delivered reftel demarche
to Ministry of National Security Permanent Secretary Missouri
Sherman-Peter on March 13. NAO shared reftel points regarding the
Majors List process and, while Sherman-Peter said she understood the
rationale behind including The Bahamas on the Majors List as a
transit country, she expressed concern about negative portrayals in
Bahamian and American news media. Noting the GCOB's successful
participation in Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and bilateral
counternarcotics efforts since the 1980s, NAO told Sherman-Peter the
embassy had engaged with local media in the past to ensure accurate
coverage of the Majors List announcement and would continue to do
so.


2. (U) Per reftel instructions, the text of the Majors List
diplomatic note is included below. The diplomatic note was delivered
on March 13.

BEGIN TEXT

No. 045/09

The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The
Bahamas and has the honor to request the Ministry transmit the
following information regarding the United States Government's
annual narcotics "Majors List" report to relevant officers in the
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The United States Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA),
requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report
identifying each country determined by the President to be a major
drug transit country or major illicit drug producing country. The
President is also required in that report to identify any country on
the majors list that has "failed demonstrably. . . to make
substantial efforts" during the previous twelve months to adhere to
international counternarcotics agreements and to take certain
counternarcotics measures set forth in United States law. United
States Government assistance under the current foreign operations
appropriations act may not be provided to any country designated as
having "failed demonstrably."

While the President will make his Majors List determinations based
on The Bahamas compliance with all aspects of the 1988 UN Drug
Convention, our bilateral agreements, other multilateral agreements,
and the elimination of corruption, there are specific areas of
interest that we will highlight during the Majors List process.

Though The Bahamas was identified as a major drug transit point last
year, the United States Government appreciates the efforts of the
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to disrupt drug
smuggling operations in Bahamian territory. The Bahamas' commitment
and cooperation in Operations Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and
The Bahamas' collaboration with United States Government partner
agencies including the Department of State, the Department of
Defense, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard,
and other U.S. law enforcement agencies. These partnerships have
helped build a solid foundation for our efforts to stop the flow of
illegal narcotics. The United States Government appreciates and
highly encourages continued combined operations and cooperative
efforts to maintain close partnership and mutual understanding of
regional threats and challenges. Continued use of the Comprehensive
Maritime Agreement for law enforcement operations is particularly
effective.

The United States Government appreciates the Government of the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas efforts to maintain and operate its
maritime assets in key locations to respond to smuggling threats in
Bahamian waters and the decision to acquire new aviation and
maritime assets for the Royal Bahamian Defense Force should enhance
its effectiveness. This same spirit of cooperation and foresight
should be applied to our efforts to insure the rapid reconstruction
of OPBAT facilities in Matthewtown, Great Inagua - a critical
location for OPBAT's continued strong and effective counternarcotics
presence in the southern Bahamas.

In addition to efforts to interdict illicit drugs transiting The
Bahamas, the United States Government asks the Government of the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas to continue to facilitate the
extradition of individuals involved in narcotics trafficking. The
extradition of Dwight and Keva Majors last year was an outstanding
example of cooperation. Future cooperation that results in more
rapid extradition is needed.

The United States Government also encourages the Government of the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas to assist the Government of Haiti in its
efforts to fight narcotics trafficking and upgrade the capabilities
of the Haitian National Police (HNP). Recent training programs
conducted by the Royal Bahamian Police Force with the HNP were good
step in the right direction. Further cooperation, such as the
placement of a HNP officer at Great Inagua would facilitate
interviews of Haitian vessel crewmembers transiting The Bahamas and
help deter drug and migrant smuggling.


Finally, the United States Government appreciates the many steps the
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has taken to enhance
security at Lynden Pindling International Airport, however it
continues to be a concern since it remains vulnerable to illicit
drugs and illegal migrants traveling to the United States. A robust
program of oversight, vetting and training should be considered to
counter that threat.

The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas the assurances of its highest
consideration.


Embassy of the United States of America,
Nassau, March 13, 2009.


ZUNIGA-BROWN