Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NASSAU400
2009-06-30 20:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:
BAHAMAS: POLICE COMMISSIONER FERGUSON RULES OUT
how-toTelegramC O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 00000400 VZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBH #0400 1812058 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 302058Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6487 INFO RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 3636 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USNORTHCOM RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHDC//G-OPL/G-OCA// RUEABND/DEA FIELD DIVISION MIAMI FL RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC RHMFISS/DIR JIATF-SO KEY WEST FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000400
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR SMIG PGOV KCRM HA BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: POLICE COMMISSIONER FERGUSON RULES OUT
EXCHANGE WITH HAITIAN POLICE
REF: A. 09 NASSAU 64
B. 09 NASSAU 360
Classified By: CDA TIMOTHY ZUNIGA-BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000400
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR SMIG PGOV KCRM HA BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: POLICE COMMISSIONER FERGUSON RULES OUT
EXCHANGE WITH HAITIAN POLICE
REF: A. 09 NASSAU 64
B. 09 NASSAU 360
Classified By: CDA TIMOTHY ZUNIGA-BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) During a June 25 Embassy-hosted luncheon to discuss
joint law enforcement efforts, Royal Bahamas Police Force
(RBPF) Commissioner Reginald Ferguson down-played previously
mentioned prospects for law enforcement cooperation between
The Bahamas and Haiti. Ferguson rejected the idea of
stationing Haitian National Police (HNP) officers in The
Bahamas to support investigations targeting Haitian
smugglers, saying that while Haitian officers might be
useful, particularly in Nassau, The Bahamas and Haiti did
"not have that kind of relationship." He stated there were no
plans to ask the Government of Haiti (GOH) to send HNP
officers to The Bahamas nor to send a RBPF liaison to Haiti.
2. (C) COMMENT: The concept of exchanging RBPF and HNP
officers to improve communication and joint investigations
has been raised with the GCOB before, but this is the first
time we have heard such a definitive response. While several
HNP officers have attended RBPF training courses in Nassau
over the last two years, it is clear the RBPF's leadership
retains deep misgivings about information sharing and
cooperation with the HNP. This mistrust extends to The
Bahamas' own Haitian community and is a primary reason for
the dearth of Creole speakers in the RBPF's ranks. Such
perceptions of Haitians and Haitian Bahamians, common in
Bahamian society (REF B),continue to undermine the GCOB's
efforts to address drug smuggling and illegal migration from
Haiti. END COMMENT.
3. (C) BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Reginald Ferguson, age 64,
was named Commissioner of the RBPF in March 2009 after
serving as the Acting Commissioner since November 2007 (REF
A). He is a respected, no-nonsense official who puts a
premium on integrity and often speaks out against corruption,
accusations of which do not taint him but may stick to others
under his command. He also has a good relationship and solid
track record of professional cooperation with U.S. law
enforcement agencies. Recently, Ferguson has come under fire
from the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for a
series of police abuses and mistakes in two recent high
profile murder cases. Although Ferguson himself has not been
accused of misconduct, published allegations of witness
intimidation and evidence tampering by the RBPF call into
question his ability to discipline and modernize the police
force. Ferguson's brother, Johnley Ferguson, is the Chairman
of the ruling Free National Movement (FNM).
ZUNIGA-BROWN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR SMIG PGOV KCRM HA BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: POLICE COMMISSIONER FERGUSON RULES OUT
EXCHANGE WITH HAITIAN POLICE
REF: A. 09 NASSAU 64
B. 09 NASSAU 360
Classified By: CDA TIMOTHY ZUNIGA-BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) During a June 25 Embassy-hosted luncheon to discuss
joint law enforcement efforts, Royal Bahamas Police Force
(RBPF) Commissioner Reginald Ferguson down-played previously
mentioned prospects for law enforcement cooperation between
The Bahamas and Haiti. Ferguson rejected the idea of
stationing Haitian National Police (HNP) officers in The
Bahamas to support investigations targeting Haitian
smugglers, saying that while Haitian officers might be
useful, particularly in Nassau, The Bahamas and Haiti did
"not have that kind of relationship." He stated there were no
plans to ask the Government of Haiti (GOH) to send HNP
officers to The Bahamas nor to send a RBPF liaison to Haiti.
2. (C) COMMENT: The concept of exchanging RBPF and HNP
officers to improve communication and joint investigations
has been raised with the GCOB before, but this is the first
time we have heard such a definitive response. While several
HNP officers have attended RBPF training courses in Nassau
over the last two years, it is clear the RBPF's leadership
retains deep misgivings about information sharing and
cooperation with the HNP. This mistrust extends to The
Bahamas' own Haitian community and is a primary reason for
the dearth of Creole speakers in the RBPF's ranks. Such
perceptions of Haitians and Haitian Bahamians, common in
Bahamian society (REF B),continue to undermine the GCOB's
efforts to address drug smuggling and illegal migration from
Haiti. END COMMENT.
3. (C) BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Reginald Ferguson, age 64,
was named Commissioner of the RBPF in March 2009 after
serving as the Acting Commissioner since November 2007 (REF
A). He is a respected, no-nonsense official who puts a
premium on integrity and often speaks out against corruption,
accusations of which do not taint him but may stick to others
under his command. He also has a good relationship and solid
track record of professional cooperation with U.S. law
enforcement agencies. Recently, Ferguson has come under fire
from the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for a
series of police abuses and mistakes in two recent high
profile murder cases. Although Ferguson himself has not been
accused of misconduct, published allegations of witness
intimidation and evidence tampering by the RBPF call into
question his ability to discipline and modernize the police
force. Ferguson's brother, Johnley Ferguson, is the Chairman
of the ruling Free National Movement (FNM).
ZUNIGA-BROWN