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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03NASSAU1066 |
POWERS BEHIND THE THRONE IN THE PLP GOVERNMENT - [...] (C) In two separate meetings May 27 and 28, DCM and POL/ECON section chief met the two individuals outside of the Bahamian government considered to have the most influence on Prime Minister Perry Christie's government. Wealthy businessman Frankie Wilson, a prominent campaign contributor and [...] |
2003-06-03 20:54:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR BF |
| 03NASSAU1635 |
BAHAMIAN OFFICIALS VISIT TO CHINA -- COURTESY OR CONFIDANTS? [...] No summary [...] |
2003-08-21 18:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EINV PINR PGOV CH JA BF |
| 03NASSAU1972 |
OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 800 POUNDS OF COCAINE [...] On October 1, 2003 charges were filed before a Nassau Magistrate against eight of the nine individuals arrested on September 27 in connection with a seizure of more than 800 pounds of cocaine. The seizure was completed by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in cooperation with the membe [...] |
2003-10-03 16:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | BF SNAR OPBAT |
| 03NASSAU2089 |
THREE MAJOR SEIZURES FOR OPBAT THIS WEEK [...] (U) In a particularly successful week's work, the Royal Bahamian Police Force and Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) scored three significant successes during October 10-14, arresting 13 individuals and seizing over $10 million dollars worth of cocaine, marijuana and hasish oil in addi [...] |
2003-10-17 14:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF SNAR OPBAT |
| 03NASSAU2124 |
BAHAMIAN DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES TO CUBA AND CHINA [...] (C) Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell is pursuing a new activist foreign policy focused around overtures to both Cuba and the People's Republic of China. Both Havana and Beijing should be pleased. Reportedly, The Bahamas will send a resident consul general to Havana and, in addition t [...] |
2003-10-22 12:35:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV BF CU UK |
| 03NASSAU2321 |
CHALLENGES OF ILLEGAL MIGRATION; CAN THE BAHAMAS [...] (C) Nancy Iris, Deputy Director for the Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration (PRM) visited Nassau from October 13 - October 17, 2003. The Political Officer and Ms. Iris attended meetings with various government officials, members from NGOs, and toured the migrant detention center in [...] |
2003-11-24 16:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM SMIG BF |
| 03NASSAU2421 |
BISHOP ELLIS RELISHES ROLE AS POLITICAL [...] No summary [...] |
2003-12-09 18:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF PGOV PINR SCUL SOCI |
| 03NASSAU2452 |
OPBAT OPERATIVE SEIZED 1159 POUNDS OF COCAINE [...] Summary. On December 8, 2003 charges were filed before a Nassau magistrate against three individuals arrested on Saturday in connection with the seizure of 1,159.40 pounds of cocaine. The seizure was completed by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in cooperation with members of the Op [...] |
2003-12-15 16:25:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | BF SNAR OPBAT |
| 03NASSAU577 |
BAHAMAS - THRID ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN [...] The Bahamas, although rife with alien and drug smuggling, has no indications of being a country of origin, transit, or destination for international trafficking in men, women, or children. Post discussed this issue with governmental sources including the Foreign Ministry, The Department of [...] |
2003-03-17 21:52:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB BF |
| 03NASSAU586 |
CODEL ACKERMAN MEETINGS WITH MUBARAK, SULEIMAN, [...] (C) Summary: In separate June 28 meetings with President Hosni Mubarak, EGIS Director Omar Suleiman, and FM Ahmed Aboul Gheit, CODEL Ackerman and the Ambassador discussed Israeli-Palestinian developments (focusing on Egypt's goals for building upon the current "calming period"), Egypt's region [...] |
2003-03-18 16:47:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF ECON EFIN PREL CARICOM |
| 03NASSAU722 |
HUBERT INGRAHAM A YEAR LATER - NO EXCUSES, NO [...] (C) POL/ECON section chief met with former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham on April 8 for a wide-ranging discussion of his tenure in office and current Bahamian politics. Ingraham freely gave his opinions about current political developments such as the upcoming Free National Movement (FNM) co [...] |
2003-04-10 10:58:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR BF SNAR |
| 03NASSAU766 |
BAHAMAS UNLIKELY TO PRESSURE ARISTIDE [...] (C) After returning from the OAS/CARICOM meeting on Haiti in Miami, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell dismissed the possibility of invoking the democracy provision of the OAS Charter in the case of Haiti. He acknowledged problems with democracy in Haiti, but made it clear that the Bahamian gove [...] |
2003-04-17 14:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PREF HA BF |
| 03NASSAU925 |
ARTICLE 98 -- A NON-ISSUE FOR CARICOM [...] Bahamian Ambassador to CARICOM Archer infers that CARICOM will not support Article 98 and clears post confusion based on mixed signals from the Prime Minster (positive) and the Foreign Ministry (negative). In relation to Cuba, he states that CARICOM will not support discussion on the country [...] |
2003-05-13 21:55:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL BF PGOV CARICOM |
| 04NASSAU1033 |
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: AN UNDERDOG FIGHTS AN [...] (C) Charge and Political Officer met with Senator Tommy Turnquest, Leader of the Opposition, on May 18, 2004, to discuss current events in The Bahamas. Under the Ingraham administration from 1992-2002, Tommy Turnquest held the positions of Minister of Public Service, Immigration and Housing, [...] |
2004-05-21 12:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL BF |
| 04NASSAU1072 |
OPBAT SETS STAGE FOR $200 MILLION DRUG BUST [...] Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) provided vital intelligence and assets to USG drug enforcement authorities that led to six arrests and the seizure of 820 kilos of cocaine. 2. On May 25, 2004 OPBAT personnel received human intelligence of two go-fast boats attempting to compl [...] |
2004-05-27 19:49:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR BF OPBAT |
| 04NASSAU1148 |
ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFERS TO THE ALL-POWERFUL FRED [...] (C) Charge, Political Officer, and DEA Country Attache held a private lunch with Bahamian Attorney General and Minister of Education, Alfred Sears, on June 8, 2004 to discuss the long list of issues he faces in his two massive portfolios. Overwhelmed and underpaid, Sears still claimed that h [...] |
2004-06-10 19:00:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PARM PINR BF |
| 04NASSAU1282 |
U.S.- BAHAMAS COMPREHENSIVE MARITIME AGREEMENT [...] On June 29, 2004 The Bahamas and the United States put into force the Comprehensive Maritime Agreement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bahamian signatory, Minister of Foreign Affairs Frederick Mitchell and U.S. signatory, Charge d'Affaires, Robert M. Witajewski, gave brief remarks and met [...] |
2004-06-29 21:25:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIA PHSA PBTS PHUM KCRM SMIG EWWT EAIR SNAR BF |
| 04NASSAU1382 |
TOURISM VS. RELIGION: ANTI-GAY RALLY TARGETS U.S. [...] (C) A number of prominent Bahamian religious figures led a "Save the Bahamas" rally in downtown Nassau on July 11 to protest the pending arrival of the cruise ship "Norwegian Dawn" which is scheduled to dock in Nassau with a group of "gay family" travellers on board the morning of July 16. S [...] |
2004-07-15 19:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PREL BF |
| 04NASSAU1397 |
SOME BAHAMIANS DON'T ACCEPT ALL COLORS OF THE [...] (SBU) An estimated 150 protesters gathered early July 16 in downtown Nassau to denounce the government's willingness to allow the "Norwegian Dawn" cruise ship, which on this particular cruise had a large contingent of U.S. citizen-gay families on a trip organized in part by U.S. celebrity Rosi [...] |
2004-07-19 15:28:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PREL PGOV BF |
| 04NASSAU1400 |
BAHAMAS PLANS TO UPGRADE DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN [...] (C) On Friday, July 16, 2004, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell and Under Secretary for Consular Affairs Carlton Wright returned from a Caricom meeting in Cuba, and held a conference during which Foreign Minister Mitchell reiterated his hope that The Bahamas will be able to open a consulate/emba [...] |
2004-07-19 19:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | OFDP PREL CU BF |
| 04NASSAU1515 |
PRIME MINISTER CHRISTIE’S CHINA TRIP, THE LATEST IN A STRING OF VISITS [...] (SBU) Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie will lead an official government delegation to China on August 14-21, continuing a two-year upswing in diplomatic exchanges between The Bahamas and China. In addition to numerous cultural programs, the two nations have exchanged high-level delegations to [...] |
2004-08-11 13:21:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OVIP BTIO ECON SCUL CH BF ASEC |
| 04NASSAU153 |
TURKS AND CAICOS: HAITIAN INFLUX THREATENS PARADISE [...] (C) Charge, NAS, CONS, USCG, and DEA officers visited Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) January 20-23, 2004 and met with the Governor, Chief Minister, other cabinet members and senior civil servants and law enforcement personnel. TCI officials were unanimous in fearing further degradation of [...] |
2004-01-27 20:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF CA PGOV PREL SMIG SNAR UK |
| 04NASSAU1534 |
TOURISM UPDATE 2004 [...] SUMMARY: The Bahamian tourism industry continues to rebound from the effects of 9/11. Visitor arrivals are up and economic indicators reflect increased growth in visitor arrivals and tourism development throughout 2004. The national flag-carrier, Bahamasair, acquired two new jets and resol [...] |
2004-08-13 13:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV ETRD BEXP BF |
| 04NASSAU1535 |
THE BAHAMIAN SENATE: INFLUENCE WITHOUT POWER [...] (C) Charge, Acting DCM, and Political Officer hosted groups of senators from the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) on July 27 and August 4, 2004, respectively. The senators, who were unusually frank in their assessments, discussed Baham [...] |
2004-08-13 13:42:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CU BF |
| 04NASSAU1542 |
SCANDAL IN THE FAMILY? PRIME MINISTER DENIES [...] (C) Iranian businessman Mohammed Harajchi presented documentation of some of his financial contributions to the ruling Progressive Liberal Party during a press event held at his multi-million dollar Paradise Island home on 11 August 2004. Harajchi denied that his contributions were designed [...] |
2004-08-13 21:05:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EFIN BF |
| 04NASSAU1837 |
CHRISTIE WANTS TO BE THE TONY BLAIR OF CARICOM [...] (C) PM Perry Christie confidant Franklyn Wilson argued during a September 30 luncheon that the U.S. should support Christie's hope to become a regional leader since the Bahamian Prime Minister was America's "Tony Blair" inside Caricom. Wilson again raised the Prime Minister's belief that he w [...] |
2004-10-01 16:34:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV BF CARICOM |
| 04NASSAU1855 |
PM CHRISTIE: ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN U.S. [...] (U) Prime Minister Perry Christie told an international audience in Miami on October 1 that while U.S. good intentions toward the English-speaking Caribbean are not in doubt, there is room for improvement in the overall relationship. Christie believed that the U.S. was not sufficiently sensi [...] |
2004-10-05 21:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON BF CARICOM |
| 04NASSAU1904 |
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER EXTOLS OPBAT, U.S. [...] (C) In his courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt, Ambassador stressed the importance of Bahamian officials acknowledging OPBAT's importance to Bahamian national security. The Deputy Prime Minister extolled the bilateral relationship and acknowledged that OPBAT was critical to B [...] |
2004-10-14 10:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL BF OPBAT |
| 04NASSAU1936 |
UNCONFIRMED TUBERCULOSIS AND ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AT [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 18, 2004, Amnesty International released a report alleging the abuse of two Cuban asylum-seekers and several Haitian detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Center in Nassau. Severe conditions including deprivation of food and water, an outbreak of tuberculosis, an [...] |
2004-10-20 11:10:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | SMIG PGOV PHUM CU BF |
| 04NASSAU2086 |
SURGE IN INTERDICTIONS OF HAITIAN MIGRANTS [...] SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted over 300 illegal Haitian migrants in five separate interdictions since November 5, a higher rate than usual. Deputy Prime Minister Pratt and other Bahamian officials have expressed directly to the DCM their concerns at the increased number of migr [...] |
2004-11-08 20:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PREF PREL PGOV BF |
| 04NASSAU2336 |
RIOT AND FIRE AT MIGRANT DETENTION CENTER [...] (C) Detained Cuban migrants set fire to a dormitory at the Carmichael Road Detention Center the morning of December 9, 2004, with three detainees temporarily escaping. Violence broke out between some of the migrants and the Bahamian personnel attempting to regain control of the situation. 11 [...] |
2004-12-13 11:52:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | SMIG PREL PGOV PHSA CU BF |
| 04NASSAU2369 |
MIXED MIGRATION FLOWS: IOM/UNHCR CONFERENCE IN [...] The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) co-hosted the second annual regional seminar in Nassau, The Bahamas on November 8-12, 2004. Entitled "Contingency Planning for Mixed Migratory Flows in the Caribbean: Effective Pr [...] |
2004-12-16 15:40:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PHSA SMIG PHUM CU HA BF |
| 04NASSAU2407 |
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RENEWS CALL FOR DETENTION [...] (C) 37 Cuban nationals remain in detention in The Bahamas after a December 9 fire at a Nassau immigration facility following a disturbance initiated by detainees. Amnesty International continues to call for an independent inquiry into the fire and accompanying melee, in which 11 Royal Bahami [...] |
2004-12-22 16:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | SMIG PREL PGOV CU BF |
| 04NASSAU322 |
ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENSE FORCE PREPAREDNESS -- A ROOT [...] No summary [...] |
2004-02-13 16:45:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | MCAP PBTS PHSA PINS PREF |
| 04NASSAU341 |
TOURISM UPDATE FOR 2003 [...] SUMMARY. Led by cruise ship arrivals, particularly to the Family Islands, overall tourism arrivals to The Bahamas increased in 2003 for the fifth consecutive year. However, there was a downturn in hotel room revenues and arrivals to Grand Bahama also declined slightly. After highly conten [...] |
2004-02-18 22:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV BEXP ETRD BF |
| 04NASSAU364 |
ANXIOUS PRIME MINISTER REQUESTS MEETING ON HAITI [...] No summary [...] |
2004-02-23 21:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SMIG BF HA |
| 04NASSAU384 |
BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT SEEKS SUPPORT FOR FUTURE UN [...] No summary [...] |
2004-02-24 22:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF HA PGOV PREL SMIG |
| 04NASSAU413 |
TIPS REPORT - FOURTH ANNUAL - BAHAMAS [...] (SBU) There is no currently-available indication of trafficking in persons in, from, or through The Bahamas. Although migrant smuggling and drug trafficking are serious problems for The Bahamas, no evidence is available to show that men, women, or children are being forced by coercion or frau [...] |
2004-03-01 14:43:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB BF |
| 04NASSAU487 |
CARICOM SURPRISED, UPSET, BUT NOT ANGRY BEING LEFT [...] (C) Charge and Political Officer met with the Bahamian Ambassador to Haiti, Dr. Eugene Newry, and the Under Secretary in the Consular Section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bahamian-Haitian expert, Mr. Carlton Wright, on March 8, 2004 to discuss Bahamian views of the current situation [...] |
2004-03-09 17:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SMIG HA BF |
| 04NASSAU733 |
BAHAMIAN PERSPECTIVE ON CARICOM AND HAITI [...] (C) Charge hosted a lunch for the Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, and Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ms. Patricia Rodgers on March 29. A/DCM and Consular Section Head also participated. The discussion covered a number of topics: The dynamics of recently-completed Caricom h [...] |
2004-04-06 15:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHSA HA BF CARICOM |
| 04NASSAU937 |
BAHAMAS: BUDGET CUTS HINDER OPBAT OPERATIONS [...] The withdrawal of air assets currently committed to Operations Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) has already had a measurable impact on drug interdiction in The Bahamas. Over the longer term, failure to restore assets committed to OPBAT to the status quo ante could adversely impact bilateral [...] |
2004-05-04 16:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR BF OPBAT |
| 05NASSAU1071 |
CARICOM FOREIGN MINISTERS CLOSE MEETING [...] Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), meeting as COFCOR (Council for Foreign and Community Relations), concluded a series of meetings in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on June 4 (reftel). In their discussions, the ministers focused on relations with third countries (the U.S., Can [...] |
2005-06-06 16:58:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV ETRD BF CARICOM |
| 05NASSAU1088 |
PROFILE OF HAITIAN COMMUNITIES IN ABACO [...] An estimated 40-60,000 legal and illegal Haitians live in The Bahamas among a total population of roughly 305,000. Most Bahamians view cheap Haitian labor as a necessary evil but balk at what they see as the erosion of Bahamian culture as well as the health care and education costs associated [...] |
2005-06-08 19:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM PREL PGOV HA BF |
| 05NASSAU1156 |
2005 COUNTERNARCOTICS CERTIFICATION [...] In accordance with Reftel request, Post submits the following report card on The Bahamas' counter narcotics performance during 2005: 1) The USG asked the GCOB to complete its National Anti-Drug Plan. -- During the Joint Task Force meeting, on December 13, 2005, the Ministry of Foreign A [...] |
2005-06-21 11:50:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KCRM BF OPBAT |
| 05NASSAU1173 |
MIGRANT DEPORTATIONS DOUBLE IN FIRST HALF OF 2005 [...] Minister of Labor and Immigration Vincent Peet reported during the House of Assembly's budget debate in June that Bahamian authorities had apprehended and repatriated 2165 illegal migrants between January 1, 2005, and June 15, 2005. The number of repatriations more than doubled from the same [...] |
2005-06-23 17:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PREL EFIN BF |
| 05NASSAU1191 |
BAHAMAS: ENERGY MINISTER TO ATTEND MEETING WITH [...] (U) Ambassador raised CARICOM's upcoming meeting with Venezuelan President Chavez in general terms with Foreign Minister Mitchell on June 23. Minister Mitchell indicated that The Bahamas would be represented by the Ministry of Trade of Industry, which has oversight over the country's energy [...] |
2005-06-27 18:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL KDEM BF VZ |
| 05NASSAU1225 |
PETROCARIBE: "A DREAM COME TRUE" FOR MINISTER [...] (C) Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller returned from Venezuela on June 30 waving the PetroCaribe agreement and declaring cheap gas prices in our time. Minister Miller stated that, "What we got from the Venezuelans is a dream come true. This is an extraordinary agreement, one that I h [...] |
2005-07-01 17:26:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL BF |
| 05NASSAU1323 |
PM CONCERNED ABOUT PETROCARIBE, MOVING ON LNG [...] (C) Ambassador met privately with PM Perry Christie on July 20. The PM discussed several energy matters as well as his political future. PetroCaribe: We Have Concerns ----------------------------- 2. (C) The PM indicated that he "has concerns" about the PetroCaribe agreement signed on [...] |
2005-07-20 20:25:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL PGOV BF |
| 05NASSAU158 |
BAHAMAS: MIGRANT INTERDICTION STATISTICS FOR 2004 [...] The U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force cooperatively worked to interdict over 5,000 illegal migrants in the waters in and around The Bahamas in 2004. The two largest nationality groups interdicted were Haitians (the overwhelming majority with just under 4800) and Cubans (les [...] |
2005-01-24 20:47:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PHUM HA CU BF |
| 05NASSAU159 |
IMMIGRATION MINISTER DEFENSIVE OVER U.S. PRESS [...] (C) The Miami Herald ran a front-page article on January 23 reporting allegations of abuse and mistreatment made by Cuban and Haitian detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Center in Nassau. The allegations, which included reports of beatings, mock executions, lack of drinking water and [...] |
2005-01-24 20:48:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | SMIG PHUM CU BF |
| 05NASSAU1601 |
CHINESE ACTIVITIES IN THE BAHAMAS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Chinese presence in The Bahamas has been steadily expanding since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1997. The PRC and the GCOB have exchanged high-level delegations to discuss the full range of international political issues, explore economic opportunitie [...] |
2005-09-08 18:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | ECON PREL ETRD ETTC EINV ENRG EAGR EFIN PHUM EMIN CH BF ESENV |
| 05NASSAU1610 |
BAHAMAS SKEPTICAL OF PETROCARIBE IMPLEMENTING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Bahamas sent a ministerial delegation to the September 6 Petrocaribe discussions in Jamaica but did not sign an implementing agreement. The Cabinet remains sharply divided on Petrocaribe but expects to discuss the issue at its next meeting on September 13. The chief governm [...] |
2005-09-09 17:26:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL BF |
| 05NASSAU166 |
NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE BAHAMAS CALLS ON [...] (C) Newly-arrived Chinese Ambassador ((Li)) Yuanming paid a courtesy call on Ambassador January 25. Ambassador Li was accompanied by his senior staff members, Li Boheng (DCM); Song Zhenguang (First Secretary); and Chen Dayu (Second Secretary). DCM Robert Witajewski also joined in the meetin [...] |
2005-01-25 18:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PINR CH BF |
| 05NASSAU1799 |
Bahamas Gets Serious about Tourist Safety [...] SUMMARY: In an effort to better protect tourists, the Bahamian Government organized a major, high-level conference to establish a public/private advisory board on visitor safety. Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the meeting included frank talk about [...] |
2005-10-17 19:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC ASEC PGOV BF |
| 05NASSAU1827 |
CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS CONFRONTS STIGMA [...] Summary: On October 3 and 4, Post hosted international HIV/AIDS experts and 10 Caribbean mission representatives for the 4th Caribbean Chiefs of Mission Conference on HIV/AIDS. Ambassador Rood opened the conference with an appeal to reduce the 2.3 percent Caribbean infection rate by compassi [...] |
2005-10-21 16:06:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAID TBIO OVIP KHIV XL BF |
| 05NASSAU1834 |
LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS DECISION PROVIDES REMEDY FOR [...] Summary. American Citizen Tamara Merson sued the Bahamian Government in 1987 for civil rights abuses arising from wrongful imprisonment. In an October 13, 2005 decision, the Privy Council, The Bahamas' highest court, held that a person may seek damages for breach of constitutional rights. P [...] |
2005-10-25 11:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL CASC KJUS BF |
| 05NASSAU1847 |
POSSIBLE SMUGGLING OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS OF MIDDLE [...] (SBU) Information was passed on October 27, 2005 to RSO John V. Kane by DEA Country Attachi (CA) Kevin Stanfill that DEA recently recruited a Confidential Informant (CI) in the Bahamas who is a boat captain by SIPDIS trade. The CI returned from the United States in September 2005 to the Ba [...] |
2005-10-27 14:59:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC |
| 05NASSAU332 |
BAHAMIAN FOREIGN MINISTER EQUATES ISRAEL WITH [...] (C) Visiting non-resident Israeli Ambassador David Dadonn was not given a meeting with Bahamian Prime Minister Perry G. Christie during his current visit to Nassau. Ambassador Dadonn also reported that his first meeting with Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell ended abruptly after five minutes af [...] |
2005-02-16 20:44:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV IS BF |
| 05NASSAU393 |
FOREIGN MINISTER POISED TO RAISE PROFILE IN CARICOM [...] (C) His intelligence, work ethic, and undisguised ambition have made Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell one of the three or four most powerful members of the Perry Christie Government and a person of growing influence in the Caribbean. Currently the vice-chairman in the Commonwealth Min [...] |
2005-02-25 16:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL OFDP PGOV XL BF CARICOM |
| 05NASSAU408 |
FIFTH ANNUAL TIPS REPORT - BAHAMAS [...] (SBU) There have been no substantiated reports indicating that the Bahamas is a country of origin or destination for trafficking in persons. There have, however, been unconfirmed reports of women being trafficked through Bahamian waters on the way to the United States, possibly for prostitut [...] |
2005-03-01 16:08:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB BF |
| 05NASSAU465 |
CHINESE ACTIVITY IN THE BAHAMAS [...] (S/NF) On March 10, 2005, at 1030 hours, TDY Deputy Chief of Mission's Secretary, Shirley Hampton, received a telephone call from Chen Dayu, (DOB: 12AUG1964, Diplomatic Passport Number: D90006400) the Second Secretary, from The Embassy of the People's Republic of China. Chen Dayu indicated he h [...] |
2005-03-10 16:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | ASEC |
| 05NASSAU504 |
BAHAMAS DENIES ASYLUM AND REPATRIATES 29 CUBANS [...] (C) The Bahamian Department of Immigration repatriated 29 Cubans on March 15, 2005, including nine Cuban men who had claimed to be members of the "November 30 Frank Pais Party." Bahamian Immigration, upon the recommendation of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), denied the [...] |
2005-03-15 19:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM SMIG PHSA PREF PREL CU BF |
| 05NASSAU659 |
EARLY REACTION TO NEW U.S. PASSPORT REQUIREMENT -- [...] (SBU) The announcement of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) on April 5 elicited a mixed response from Bahamians. The Minister of Immigration is hopeful that the new requirement will aid his efforts to gain adoption of a new, more secure document/passport for Bahamians. The Mini [...] |
2005-04-07 20:52:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | CPAS CASC PREL ECON KPAO BF |
| 05NASSAU775 |
POSSIBLE EXPLOSIVES DETECTED IN NASSAU [...] (U) On April 22, 2005 at 0515 hours, Embassy/Nassau local guard conducted three random swipes of two trailers parked outside the McDonalds Restaurant, located approximately 45 feet from the entrance to Embassy. The trailers are utilized by McDonalds Restaurant to store food and supplies and are [...] |
2005-04-22 18:28:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PTER |
| 05NASSAU851 |
DECISION ON LNG PROJECT STILL PENDING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Representatives from the U.S.-based AES Corporation visited the Ambassador on April 27 to discuss the status of their proposed $650 million Liquefied Natural Gas project. AES expressed its frustration at the inability to get a final decision from Prime Minster Perry G. Christie, [...] |
2005-05-03 22:11:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET EINV PREL PGOV BF |
| 05NASSAU917 |
BAHAMIAN COURT DECISION HALTS [...] (C) A surprising May 10, 2005, decision from Supreme Court Justice Jon Isaacs has ruled the U.S. - Bahamas Extradition Treaty valid but constitutionally unenforceable due to a failure on the part of the Bahamian government to obtain parliamentary approval for public funds expended during the [...] |
2005-05-12 22:47:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF KCRM PGOV SNAR PREL OPBAT |
| 06NASSAU1044 |
BAHAMAS, CARICOM LIKELY TO BACK VENEZUELA FOR UNSC [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that The Bahamas will follow CARICOM's lead on the vote for the regional representative to the UNSC. Reports from those present at CARICOM'S Heads of Government meetings in St. Kitts indicate that CARICOM will vote as a block [...] |
2006-07-07 20:02:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL BF |
| 06NASSAU1050 |
BAHAMAS CLAIMS NO FINAL DECISION FOR VENEZUELA ON [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-11 20:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC VE BF |
| 06NASSAU1051 |
NORTH KOREA MISSLE LAUNCH DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-11 20:23:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KN PARM KNNP BF |
| 06NASSAU1096 |
BAHAMAS STRENGTHENS DIPLOMATIC TIES TO CUBA [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Bahamas opened an embassy in Cuba July 17. This expansion of diplomatic ties appears driven by a pragmatic goal of addressing chronic Cuban migration issues. However, as a result of embarrassing incidents involving Cuban migrants, The Bahamas' vote for Cuba on the United Na [...] |
2006-07-19 20:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CU BF |
| 06NASSAU1117 |
C-NC6-00829: BAHAMAS IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-07-24 18:55:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PINR PINS PTER CIVS KFRD BF |
| 06NASSAU1196 |
DEA/OPBAT PROPOSES NEW PROGRAM TO COMBAT SMUGGLING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) representatives have proposed a new program to the Bahamian Government to improve cooperation in the interdiction of illegal migrants and drugs from Haiti, which could also serve as excellent source of [...] |
2006-08-08 21:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PREL SMIG SNAR PINR HA BF |
| 06NASSAU1234 |
THE BAHAMAS IS NEWEST PARTICIPANT IN CONTAINER [...] SUMMARY: After nearly a year of negotiations and last-minute jitters that nearly scuttled the deal, US and Bahamian customs officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the Container Security Initiative (CSI) in Nassau on Friday August 4. The MOU provides for technology and [...] |
2006-08-14 15:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PINS KHLS BF |
| 06NASSAU1239 |
BAHAMAS UNGA REPRESENTATION AND RELATED QUESTIONS [...] (U) This is in response to reftel request. The Bahamas will be represented at UNGA by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, Bahamas Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Paulette Bethel, and a junior officer to be determined. Prime Minister Christie will not attend. ---- [...] |
2006-08-15 21:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR UN BF |
| 06NASSAU1273 |
BAHAMAS REQUEST - WHA SPRING 2007 INTERN PROGRAM [...] The Bahamas requests two interns as part of the WHA Spring 2007 intern program. Our response is formatted pursuant to reftel request: a. Internships offered: Two. b. Language requirements: None. c. Other special selection criteria: Graduate experience preferred but not required; inte [...] |
2006-08-18 15:59:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL BF |
| 06NASSAU1300 |
BAHAMAS LEANING TOWARD SUPPORT OF UN MIGRATION [...] (U) The Bahamas provided no initial response following July delivery of reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Permanent Secretary Patricia Rodgers or following re-delivery of the demarche to MFA Undersecretary Marilyn Zonicle on August 17. 2. (C) On August 23, Poloff again [...] |
2006-08-24 21:05:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PREF SMIG UNGA BF |
| 06NASSAU1302 |
BAHAMAS FOCUSED ON SEPTEMBER NAM MEETING [...] (C) Per Department's request, Poloff spoke with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Marilyn Zonicle regarding The Bahamas participation in the Non-Aligned Movement's (NAM) September 14 meeting in Havana. Ms. Zonicle confirmed that Foreign Minister Mitchell would attend, possibly with th [...] |
2006-08-24 21:31:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR BF |
| 06NASSAU1312 |
PRIME MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR REVIEW RELATIONS, [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a frank discussion in a one-on-one meeting with the Ambassador, Prime Minister Christie expressed surprise at the Bahamian voting record in the U.N. and limited multilateral cooperation with the U.S. at the UN. The Prime Minister and Ambassador agreed that bilateral coop [...] |
2006-08-28 22:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PINR UNGA BF |
| 06NASSAU1313 |
FOREIGN MINISTER MITCHELL RAISES CONCERNS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Mitchell meet with the Ambassador August 28 to express his concern about an Op-Ed that called for closer cooperation between the U.S. and Bahamas in the UN that had appeared in the Nassau Guardian earlier this month. Mitchell told the Ambassador he felt that th [...] |
2006-08-28 23:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM UN BF |
| 06NASSAU1566 |
MEDIA REPORTS ON CUBAN INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES IN [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: Local media sources have reported the presence of at least five Cuban intelligence officers in The Bahamas. The operatives, allegedly working undercover in Bahamian retail establishments and with Havantur, are reportedly gathering intelligence regarding Cuban-Americans in Th [...] |
2006-10-17 13:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PINR PREL CU BF |
| 06NASSAU1597 |
NO ANTICIPATED TAIWAN PRESSURE ON BAHAMIAN [...] (C/NF) Bahamian elections must be held no later than May 2007, and are expected sooner. Campaigning is underway without any known Taiwanese involvement. For both Bahamian political parties, the potential to open The Bahamas' tourism economy to millions of Chinese tourists, the attraction of [...] |
2006-10-20 12:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL TW BF |
| 06NASSAU1609 |
BAHAMAS UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT OAS DECLARATION ON US [...] On October 23, Poloff delivered Reftel talking points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting Permanent Secretary Marilyn Zonicle. Following discussion of U.S. concerns, Zonicle acknowledged similar Bahamian sensitivity to border control issues in light of Bahamian challenges with Haitian and [...] |
2006-10-23 20:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PTER SMIG MX XM OAS BF |
| 06NASSAU1610 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNGA RESOLUTION ON HUMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-23 20:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | UNGA PREL PHUM PTER IS LE BF |
| 06NASSAU1611 |
PRIME MINISTER CHRISTIE CALLS FOR DELAY IN WHTI [...] (U) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Perry Christie called on Caribbean countries to form a united front in seeking to postpone implementation of the passport requirement until the land and sea requirement is implemented in 2009. Addressing the 29th Caribbean Tourism Conference in Freeport, Christie [...] |
2006-10-23 21:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CPAS PREL ECON BF |
| 06NASSAU1616 |
RHODE ISLAND NATIONAL GUARD PARTNERSHIP FORGES [...] Since its inception in December 2005, the Bahamas-Rhode Island National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) has helped forge new avenues of cooperation between the United States and the Bahamas. These SPP initiatives have supplemented Embassy efforts to build local capacity and have helped [...] |
2006-10-24 21:29:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MASS PHUM BF |
| 06NASSAU1659 |
ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENSE FORCE SHAKEUP STARTS AT THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Lt. Commander Clifford "Butch" Scavella has been named the new Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF), pushing former Commander Davy Rolle into retirement. The long-expected move is the first major step in implementing a major overhaul of the neglected and underutil [...] |
2006-11-01 19:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MCAP PINR BF |
| 06NASSAU1663 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ISRAEL AT UNGA [...] DCM delivered reftel talking points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting Permanent Secretary Marilyn Zonicle October 27. Zonicle acknowledged the U.S. points without significant comment, and promised to forward them to The Bahamas UN PermRep. 2. COMMENT: The Bahamas generally follows t [...] |
2006-11-01 21:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL BF UNGA |
| 06NASSAU1675 |
CHURCH LEADER SPEAKS OUT ON THE NEED FOR CAMPAIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In wide-ranging remarks on October 24, Anglican Archbishop Drexel Gomez criticized the role of money in Bahamian politics, lamented corruption in government, and called for a stronger focus on character in selection of political leaders. The remarks, witnessed by Gomez special [...] |
2006-11-02 22:23:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | BF PGOV PREL KCOR |
| 06NASSAU1704 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-14 14:31:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UNGA UN CU |
| 06NASSAU1706 |
CUBAN PROPAGANDA AND THE BAHAMIAN FRIENDS OF THE [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: The Bahamian Friends of the Cuban Five -- a small group of leftist Bahamians with pro-Cuban sympathies -- has recently organized pro-Castro rallies and supported anti-U.S. propaganda in The Bahamas. The group, which is aided by the Cuban embassy in Nassau, has described Cuba [...] |
2006-11-14 18:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PREL PINR CU BF |
| 06NASSAU1707 |
UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE: BAHAMAS ASSESSING COUNTRY [...] (C) Charge d'Affaires delivered reftel demarches to Foreign Minister Mitchell and MFA Permanent Secretary Rodgers, noting that the Secretary had asked that we convey strong U.S. opposition to the use of 'no action' motions to block UNGA consideration of human rights issues. He emphasized tha [...] |
2006-11-14 18:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UNGA BF |
| 06NASSAU1711 |
HURRICANE ANNA NICOLE WREAKS HAVOC IN THE BAHAMAS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Several months into her Bahamian residency, American B-list celebrity and regular entertainment television fixture Anna Nicole Smith has changed the face of Bahamian politics. Not since Category 4 Hurricane Betsy made landfall in 1965 has one woman done as much damage in Nassau. Lying [...] |
2006-11-15 15:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF PGOV PREL CASC SMIG |
| 06NASSAU1712 |
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CHALLEGES GOVERNMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: In two rulings November 7, a Bahamian Supreme Court Justice lashed out at the Government in a forceful assertion of judicial independence, initially generating fears of a temporary shutdown of the Supreme and Magistrate courts. One ruling challenged the Attorney General's implem [...] |
2006-11-15 16:11:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM KJUS |
| 06NASSAU1717 |
BELARUS RESOLUTIONS AT UNITED NATIONS [...] (C) DCM delivered reftel demarche and non-paper to MFA PermSec Rodgers, following up earlier conversations on the UNGA Third Committee resolutions. DCM emphasized that under UN rules for this vote, an abstention would have the same effect as a "yes" vote and that we wanted these three retalia [...] |
2006-11-16 19:08:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UNGA BF |
| 06NASSAU1799 |
BAHAMAS REVIEW OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Post recommends waiver of the provisions of Title III of the Libertad Act for The Bahamas. The Bahamas has a cordial relationship with Cuba, generally supports Cuba in international fora, and engages in both cultural and economic exchanges with Cuba, including promotion of Cuban [...] |
2006-12-06 17:27:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC ETRD PREL CU BF |
| 06NASSAU1800 |
BAHAMAS: GLOBAL PURSUIT OF TERRORIST INFORMATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Bahamas cooperates closely with the U.S. on counter-terrorism, but lacks the funding or infrastructure to effectively track and monitor terrorist suspects through its 700 islands and cays. The Bahamas maintains an immigration database at major air POES, but does not maintain [...] |
2006-12-06 17:31:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS BF |
| 06NASSAU1811 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNHRC SPECIAL SESSION ON SUDAN [...] On December 6, Charge approached Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Patricia Rodgers deliver demarche on the UNHRC Special Session on Sudan. After reviewing the U.S. points and looking into the issue, Rodgers informed Charge that The Bahamas would not be represented in Geneva and [...] |
2006-12-11 13:40:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIA PHUM PREL SU UN BF |
| 06NASSAU1814 |
BAHAMASAIR HEMORRHAGING CASH, NO LONGER FOR SALE [...] (U) Speaking at a signing ceremony for a contract with middle-management, Bahamasair Chairman Basil Sands admitted that the government-owned airline lost approximately $18 million during fiscal 2006, slightly less than the estimated $20 million it lost during fiscal 2005. Sands' comments come [...] |
2006-12-11 21:28:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BF EAIR ECON PGOV |
| 06NASSAU1815 |
COMMODORE ATTACKS CORRUPTION, PROMISES TO FIRE 25 [...] (U) SUMMARY: Newly appointed Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) Commodore Clifford Scavella asserted in a December 5 radio interview that 25 percent of the roughly 1000 RBDF officers are corrupt. He has pledged to move expeditiously to deal with corruption in the force and to improve its ef [...] |
2006-12-11 21:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MCAP KCOR BF |
| 06NASSAU1840 |
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY SUCCESS: NEW NGO FORMED WITH US [...] On December 10, several local activists announced the formation of The Bahamas first national human rights NGO - The Bahamas Human Rights Network. The Network was formed as a result of Post's encouragement and supported by the 2006 Ambassador's Fund for Refugees. The Network, including membe [...] |
2006-12-15 21:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PHUM KPAO HA BF |
| 06NASSAU238 |
BAHAMAS OPENS EMBASSY IN BEIJING, SIGNS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell visited China and India January 17-30, expanding political ties in China and business ties in India. In China, the GCOB opened its new embassy in Beijing, discussed UN reform, and received a gift of $3.75 million dollars from the PRC. The use of the [...] |
2006-02-10 17:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL BF CH IN KUNR |
| 06NASSAU243 |
U.S. JOURNALISTS' ALTERCATION AT DETENTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: A Miami-based reporter from Univision suffered injuries to the head after an altercation February 7 with guards at the Immigration Detention Center in Nassau. The incident sparked protests at the Bahamian Consulate in Miami and has prompted several Cuban exile groups to call for [...] |
2006-02-10 20:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV CU BF KPAO |
| 06NASSAU277 |
SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ) [...] (SBU) Demonstrations A. Are there any ethnic or religious communities in country that are capable of carrying out significant Anti-American demonstrations? - No B. Have there been Anti-American demonstrations in the country within the last 12 months? - No C. Have these demonstrations [...] |
2006-02-17 13:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | ASEC AMGT PTER |
| 06NASSAU302 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE: FOR CONSULAR MANAGEMENT [...] Post welcomes Consular Management Assistance Team (CMAT) and grants country clearance. 2. The team of Carolyn Huggins, Scott Boswell and Janie Friedlein will be met at the airport by the Consular Chief and taken to the Comfort Suites Hotel on Paradise Island where we have confirmed reserva [...] |
2006-02-21 22:26:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | CMGT CASC AMGT OTRA BF WHA |
| 06NASSAU303 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FEDERAL AVIATION [...] Post grants country clearance for the following Federal Administration employee to visit The Bahamas from March 7-9,2006. James R. Piccoli, Aviation Safety Inspector 2. We note the purpose of this trip is to perform surveillance on CSC Applied Technologies. We understand that no embassy [...] |
2006-02-13 18:02:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR OTRA ASEC BF |
| 06NASSAU325 |
GOVERNOR BUSH'S VISIT STRENGTHENS TIES BETWEEN [...] SUMMARY: During a productive February 20 visit to The Bahamas, Florida Governor Jeb Bush met with Prime Minister Christie and members of his Cabinet, launched a cooperative educational program between Florida and The Bahamas, visited a primary school and addressed the Chamber of Commerce and [...] |
2006-02-24 16:49:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EPET PHUM SMIG CU BF |
| 06NASSAU327 |
BAHAMAS: INPUT FOR SPECIAL 301 REVIEW [...] No CD's, VCDs, or DVDs are legally mass-produced in The Bahamas. Music CDs produced in The Bahamas by Bahamian artists are duplicated and packaged for sale by U.S. facilities. There is widespread sale of pirated goods, however. A chain of video rental/sales stores, Super Video, openly sell [...] |
2006-02-24 18:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD BF KIPR |
| 06NASSAU350 |
FAVORABLE WEATHER BRINGS SECOND HAITIAN MIGRATION [...] (U) The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Bahamian immigration officials intercepted 568 Haitian migrants in eight separate February interdictions. All but 39 were discovered in the Bahamas' Exuma Islands in the Central Bahamas, several days journey from Haiti and well north of the Wind [...] |
2006-03-01 16:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PREF PREL HA BF |
| 06NASSAU357 |
PARLIAMENT DEBATES CUBAN DETAINEES: PM SAYS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Opposition Leader Hubert Ingraham in a bruising March 1 parliamentary session questioned the government's handling of two Cuban dentists held at the Carmichael Road Detention Center for the past 10 months (reftel). The ensuing debate on the issue divided strictly on party lines [...] |
2006-03-01 23:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SMIG PREF PHUM CU BF |
| 06NASSAU358 |
BAHAMAS: SIXTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] (SBU) A,B: There have been no substantiated reports of specific instances indicating that The Bahamas is a country of origin, transit or destination for trafficking in persons. However, general reports regarding potential trafficking, especially in the vulnerable Haitian communities, are st [...] |
2006-03-02 14:29:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM SMIG PREF ELAB ASEC BF KCRM KWMN KFRD |
| 06NASSAU363 |
BIRD FLU FEARS LIKELY UNFOUNDED [...] Twenty-one wild birds, mostly flamingos, were found dead February 28 on the island of Great Inagua in the Southern Bahamas, and testing is underway to determine if the H5N1 virus, avian influenza, is to blame. Bahamian authorities are working closely with the Pan American Health Organization [...] |
2006-03-02 16:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL BF |
| 06NASSAU365 |
BAHAMAS RECEPTIVE TO GUATEMALA'S UNSC BID [...] (C) Ambassador delivered reftel talking points supporting Guatemala's candidacy for the UN Security Council and opposing that of Venezuela, to Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell on February 24. Mitchell indicated that The Bahamas has not yet focused on the issue. He was receptive to U.S. concern [...] |
2006-03-02 18:27:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL VE BF |
| 06NASSAU367 |
INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT FOR THE BAHAMAS 2006 [...] THE FOLLOWING IS PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO REFTEL. INVESTMENT CLIMATE A.1. Openness to Foreign Investment The Bahamian Government generally encourages and offers incentives for foreign investment in all sectors of the economy except those the Government reserves exclusively to Bahamian [...] |
2006-03-02 22:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV BF ECON |
| 06NASSAU368 |
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS SUGGEST NO BIRD FLU [...] The Bahamian Ministries of Agriculture and Health sent a surveillance team to the southern island of Great Inagua on March 2 to investigate whether a group of wild birds found dead several days ago could have been the Western Hemisphere's first cases of avian influenza or bird flu. The team [...] |
2006-03-03 15:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV ECON EAGR PREL BF |
| 06NASSAU442 |
SCENESETTER FOR NASSAU CARICOM MINISTERIAL: [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Secretary's March 21-22 meeting in Nassau with CARICOM foreign ministers offers an opportunity to frame a positive, forward-looking agenda for our relations with the Caribbean. With the Haitian elections behind us, the ministerial will allow us to reinvigorate our cooperation [...] |
2006-03-14 21:10:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF ECON ETRD OTRA PGOV PREL SNAR XL |
| 06NASSAU61 |
PM PREDICTS PLP ELECTION WIN, LAMENTS AIRPORT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minster Perry Christie in a January 5 meeting with the Ambassador confidently predicted that his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would win the elections he must call no later than May 2007 unless the Government makes some big mistakes between now and then. Christie also com [...] |
2006-01-12 15:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAIR BF |
| 06NASSAU612 |
BAHAMAS BACKGROUND FOR CARICOM-USTR MEETING [...] The Bahamas will be represented at CARICOM's April 12 meeting with USTR Portman by Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell and Leonard Archer, the Bahamian Ambassador to CARICOM. Background material on The Bahamas and Minister Mitchell follows. Economy is Small but Developed ----------------------- [...] |
2006-04-06 20:27:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PREL BF |
| 06NASSAU616 |
MINISTRY OF TOURISM SUPPRESSES BIRD FLU RESPONSE [...] Environmental officials informed the Embassy April 4 that the Bahamian Government has ceased its investigation of multiple suspicious bird deaths on Great Inagua Island. In late February, the discovery sparked fears of the first bird flu cases in the Western Hemisphere (reftels b and c). Lab [...] |
2006-04-06 21:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL BF |
| 06NASSAU657 |
HAITIAN ROUND-UP YIELDS MAINLY LEGAL RESIDENTS, [...] (C) SUMMARY: Bahamian immigration and police officials carried out a series of early-morning raids April 7, detaining 455 presumed illegal Haitians from three locations in the Family Islands. Once the detainees were processed for possible repatriation, however, 244 were found to have valid [...] |
2006-04-18 15:32:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SMIG BF |
| 06NASSAU673 |
IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH U.S. ERODE CARICOM SUPPORT [...] DCM discussed Venezuela's candidacy for the UN Security Council with Marilyn Zonicle, MFA Acting Permanent Secretary, on April 19, conveying reftel points on Venezuela's unsuitability for a UNSC seat. Zonicle reported that the Caribbean Community's foreign minister group, COFCOR, had not mad [...] |
2006-04-19 21:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNSC VE BF |
| 06NASSAU674 |
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: BAHAMAS CALLS FOR [...] DCM delivered the Secretary's letter outlining the U.S. pledge to support only countries with credible human rights records for the new UN Human Rights Council to Marilyn Zonicle, MFA Acting Permanent Secretary, on April 19, for delivery to Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell. 2. Zonicle empha [...] |
2006-04-19 22:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KUNR OPDC PREL PHUM UNGA BF |
| 06NASSAU678 |
BAHAMAS REVIEW OF TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Post recommends waiver of the provisions of Title III of the Libertad Act for The Bahamas. The Bahamas has a cordial relationship with Cuba, generally supports Cuba in international fora, and engages in both cultural and economic exchanges with Cuba, including promotion of Cuban [...] |
2006-04-21 15:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC ETRD PREL CU BF |
| 06NASSAU71 |
BAHAMAS - CRIME STATISTICS AND TRENDS [...] (SBU) Statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) just released show that during 2005 there has been a 10 per cent increase in serious crime recorded in Nassau, with increasing figures reported for murder, armed robbery, attempted robbery and unlawful sexual assaults. Serious crime ha [...] |
2006-01-13 16:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC |
| 06NASSAU727 |
BAHAMAS SPECIAL 301 NOTIFICATION DELIVERED [...] Political-Economic Chief informed Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Patricia Rodgers on April 28 that The Bahamas would appear on the 2006 Special 301 Watch List (reftel). Dr. Rodgers noted that the placement of The Bahamas on the Watch List was unchanged from 2005, as were the [...] |
2006-05-01 21:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR BF |
| 06NASSAU782 |
MIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PREVAL: VIEWS FROM THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas, Louis Joseph, met with Poloff May 11 to discuss Haitian migration and the urgent need to create jobs in Haiti. Joseph rebuffed recent media reports of impending violence by the Haitian immigrant community on Abaco Island, Bahamas, but registere [...] |
2006-05-16 16:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM SMIG EAID HA BF |
| 06NASSAU862 |
FM MITCHELL AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS, [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell asked to meet with the Ambassador May 24 to coordinate management of mounting public concerns about sonar testing at the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC). During the meeting Mitchell also sought to defend The Bahamas' vote for [...] |
2006-06-01 19:59:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM MARR KUNR CU BF |
| 06NASSAU863 |
2006 AMBASSADOR'S SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR HIV/AIDS [...] SUMMARY: The Bahamas is making continued progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS because of the cooperative efforts of government and non-governmental organizations. However, persons living with HIV/AIDS face stigma and discrimination as a result of their infection. To address this concern, [...] |
2006-06-01 20:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID TBIO KHIV BF |
| 06NASSAU867 |
BAHAMAS - 2006 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR REFUGEES [...] Post requests $20,000 under the 2006 Ambassador's Fund for Refugees to establish The Bahamas Human Rights Council. As stated in Post's 2006 Human Rights Report, "Anti-Haitian prejudice and resentment regarding continued Haitian migration were common." Beatings and other abuses against non-Ba [...] |
2006-06-01 21:10:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PHUM HA BF |
| 06NASSAU922 |
BAHAMAS FAVORABLE TO HAGUE CODE OF CONDUCT [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-13 21:26:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | MTCRE PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA BF |
| 06NASSAU940 |
MALARIA OUTBREAK IN THE BAHAMAS [...] SUMMARY: As of June 14, 2005, The Bahamas Ministry of Health and the Centers for Disease Control have confirmed 16 cases of malaria on Great Exuma Island, approximately 120 miles from Nassau. An American tourist who visited Exuma has now contracted Malaria. All confirmed cases appear to hav [...] |
2006-06-16 16:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO CASC PREL BF |
| 07NASSAU1051 |
BANNISTER PLEDGES STRONGER BAHAMIAN IPR ENFORCEMENT [...] (C) Charge' Hardt met with Minister ofState for LegalAffairs Desmond Bannister, who pedged stronger enforcement on intellectual propety rights and requested U.S. help for the trainig of court reporters. Noting the government's onoing concern over the high cost of some extradition cases, he re [...] |
2007-08-23 21:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV KJUS KIPR BF |
| 07NASSAU1053 |
FINANCE MINISTER AFFIRMS BAHAMAS' INTEREST IN [...] (C) Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Liang affirmed the new FNM government's interest in attracting more small-scale, boutique tourism investments as opposed to the large-scale investments popular during the Christie Administration. Liang emphasized that no investors would be turned awa [...] |
2007-08-24 11:37:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EINV ENRG ECON BF |
| 07NASSAU1133 |
CUBAN REFUGEE MEDEVAC CONTINGENCY: BAHAMAS STILL [...] (C) Post conveyed the Department's initial request for Medevac contingency (REF A) to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas August 17. Charge also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister at that time, and later noted to the Minister that the Hungarians had agreed to accept the [...] |
2007-09-11 21:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL CU BF |
| 07NASSAU1196 |
OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP SEEKS CONTINUED DIALOGUE [...] (C) Former Prime Minister Perry Christie hosted a working lunch for the Charge and Embassy senior staff September 24 to exchange views on current bilateral issues and domestic Bahamian politics. Christie, who remains as Leader of the Opposition, emphasized his party's commitment throughout t [...] |
2007-09-26 19:16:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR ETRD BF |
| 07NASSAU1238 |
BAHAMAS REACTS FAVORABLY TO DRAFT RESOLUTION [...] (U) On October 3, 2007, PolOff conveyed reftel talking points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Marilyn Zonicle. Post provided the text of the draft resolution in advance by fax. Ms. Zonicle said she had already consulted with the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Sheila Carey, and other g [...] |
2007-10-04 14:30:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | BF AORC UN PHUM KWMN |
| 07NASSAU1244 |
WORKING GROUP DISCUSSES REGULATING WOODEN-HULLED COMERCIAL [...] (SBU) On September 6 the U.S./Bahamas Joint Task Force (JTF) Working Group held a meeting to follow-up its June 14 meeting discussing how to eliminate the narcotics and migrant trafficking threats posed by wooden-hulled Haitian sailing sloops in The Bahamas. During the discussions, Bahamian of [...] |
2007-10-04 18:34:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL BF |
| 07NASSAU1259 |
BAHAMAS WILL SUPPORT DRAFT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING [...] (U) On October 8, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Marilyn Zonicle informed Post that The Bahamas will SIPDIS support the U.S. draft resolution condemning the use of rape as an instrument of state policy in the U.N. General Assembly, and instruct the Bahamian Permanent Mission to [...] |
2007-10-11 22:06:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | BF AORC UN PHUM KWMN |
| 07NASSAU1359 |
MAJOR BAHAMAS POPULATION CENTERS UNSCATHED BY TROPICAL [...] Summary: While the worst of Tropical Storm Noel missed the major population centers of Nassau and Freeport, USAID- and Coast Guard-sponsored flights revealed substantial flooding on Long Island, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Acklins Islands and Exuma thirty-six hours after the storm had passed. The [...] |
2007-11-06 18:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI AMER ECON BF |
| 07NASSAU137 |
WHTI IMPLEMENTED SMOOTHLY, BUT MINISTER TAKES [...] (U) Following predictions that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) would be a "category six hurricane" for The Bahamas (reftel), implementation of WHTI on January 23 came and went with little fanfare and no noticeable change in the normal flow of tourists to The Bahamas. In its fi [...] |
2007-01-30 21:47:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CPAS PREL ECON BF |
| 07NASSAU1385 |
BAHAMAS REQUESTS PARTICIPATION IN WIREC 2008 [...] Based on the Government of the Government of the Bahamas' strong interest in the area of renewable energy, Post requests it be added as an invitee to the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) to be held in March 2008. 2. Although the Bahamas is not a net export [...] |
2007-11-14 16:50:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EPET SENV SOCI BF |
| 07NASSAU1386 |
BAHAMAS WILL SUPPORT U.S-BACKED COUNTRY-SPECIFIC [...] (SBU) On October 19, then Charge delivered reftel demarche points urging a principled stand against all no-action motions in the U.N. General Assembly's Third Committee and seeking Bahamian support for U.S. priority, country-specific resolutions to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign [...] |
2007-11-14 21:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KTIA UN BF |
| 07NASSAU1399 |
AMBASSADOR SIEGEL PRESENTS CREDENTIALS [...] Summary: Ambassador Siegel presented his credentials to Governor General Arthur Dion Hanna on November 14 in a ceremony at Government House. Prior to the ceremony, the Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Brent Symonette, who affirmed the government's desire to maintain the best possible rel [...] |
2007-11-16 22:10:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | APER PREL PTER UNGA BF |
| 07NASSAU1428 |
BAHAMAS WILL NOT ATTEND COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES [...] (U) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points October 26 in a conversation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Sheila Carey. She gave no specific indications of SIPDIS the government's position with regard to attendance at the Ministerial meeting in Bamako, Mali. In a foll [...] |
2007-11-29 21:56:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KDEM PHUM PREL UNGA BF |
| 07NASSAU1437 |
BUSINESS OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON ABACO HIGHLIGHTS EMERGING [...] SUMMARY: At the 4th Annual Abaco Business Outlook Conference earlier this fall, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette told delegates that the Free National Movement government plans to monitor the environmental impact of major hotel investment projects. The theme of the conference, "Growth b [...] |
2007-12-03 16:03:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV SENV BF |
| 07NASSAU1455 |
BAHAMAS REACTS POSITIVELY, SEEKS MORE INFO ON [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Bahamian officials reacted positively to initial briefings on the IOM Deportee Reintegration Pilot Project, but seek further details regarding its timing, progress and scope. They would also welcome clarification of the distinction between governmental and non-governmental invo [...] |
2007-12-06 21:35:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID PHUM SMIG BF |
| 07NASSAU1458 |
BAHAMAS GRAPPLES WITH SHARP RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A series of high-profile murders of prominent professionals in Nassau and Freeport in mid-November, followed by a number of gangland-style killings in the capital November 24-28, have focused renewed public attention on a rising tide of violent crime in The Bahamas. Police stati [...] |
2007-12-07 18:54:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KCRM KJUS BF |
| 07NASSAU169 |
BRAZIL TO OPEN EMBASSY IN THE BAHAMAS [...] On February 1, Poloff had a chance meeting with the new Brazilian Ambassador to The Bahamas, Tomas Mauricio Guggenheim, on the street outside their homes. Guggenheim, former ambassador to Gabon, said Brazil was in the process of opening an Embassy in The Bahamas. He is currently searching f [...] |
2007-02-07 19:40:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SMIG BR BF |
| 07NASSAU195 |
BAHAMAS NOMINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF [...] Post nominates Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson for the Secretary's Award for International Women of Courage. Dr. SIPDIS Dean-Patterson is a pioneering advocate for women's rights in The Bahamas. She has been a public spokeswoman on women's rights and violence against women for decades, promotin [...] |
2007-02-14 21:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PHUM PREL KPAO BF |
| 07NASSAU231 |
DEFENSE FORCE SEEKS TO EXPAND REGIONAL INFLUENCE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On February 9, Ambassador met with Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) Commodore Clifford Scavella to discuss the bilateral military relationship. Scavella wants to expand the RBDF's international role, and improve its migrant interdiction capabilities. He expressed interest in [...] |
2007-02-27 12:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | MCAP SMIG PREL KPKO BF HA |
| 07NASSAU239 |
BAHAMAS: SEVENTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] (SBU) A: There have been substantiated reports indicating that The Bahamas is a country of destination for trafficking in persons, particularly labor trafficking, but the extent of the problem is unknown. There have been no substantiated reports of The Bahamas as a country of origin or transi [...] |
2007-02-27 22:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWNM ELAB SMIG KFRD PREF BF |
| 07NASSAU273 |
CABINET MINISTER RESIGNS OVER PHOTOS WITH ANNA [...] (U) SUMMARY. Bahamian Minister of Immigration Shane Gibson resigned February 18 following publication of photographs of Gibson embracing Smith in her bed. The photos, which also appeared to show an exchange of gifts, created additional press and opposition scrutiny of potential irregularities in Sm [...] |
2007-03-06 15:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KCOR BF |
| 07NASSAU297 |
AMBASSADOR AND FM MITCHELL REVIEW PSI, AUTEC, [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador Rood and Foreign Minister Mitchell met March 7 to review outstanding bilateral issues, including the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), the U.S. request to install new sonar arrays at the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), the Ambassador's [...] |
2007-03-09 12:21:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PROV PREL KNNP KTIA BF |
| 07NASSAU332 |
AMBASSADOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DISCUSS PSI, [...] (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 huma [...] |
2007-03-16 16:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | BF ECON KJUS KNNP MARR PREL |
| 07NASSAU413 |
DELAYS IN BUILDING OF NEW CHINESE EMBASSY AND [...] (C) During Ambassador Rood's farewell call with Chinese Ambassador Li March 27, Poloff met with Dong Sheng, Cultural and Protocol Officer for the Chinese Embassy to The Bahamas. Asked about plans for a new Chinese embassy building in Nassau, Sheng said that a site had been purchased on Village [...] |
2007-03-30 20:52:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR CH BF |
| 07NASSAU414 |
OPPOSITION LEADER INGRAHAM SUPPORTS US ON AVIATION [...] (C) Summary: In a final courtesy call, Ambassador Rood and Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Hubert Ingraham discussed aviation issues, judicial reform, educational initiatives, bilateral cooperation and upcoming elections. Ingraham promised to work closely with the FAA on aviation issues i [...] |
2007-04-02 11:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR EAIR BF |
| 07NASSAU435 |
PM CHRISTIE CALLS MAY 2 ELECTIONS; TIGHT RACE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On April 4, Prime Minister Perry Christie dissolved parliament and announced that elections will be held May 2. At present, the race is too close to call, and neither party is likely to enjoy the same parliamentary majority now held by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). The key [...] |
2007-04-04 21:10:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM |
| 07NASSAU455 |
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPENS WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR [...] (U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 4. 2. (SBU) During his farewell call on Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson on April 4, Ambassador Rood reiterated his interest in seeing the U.S. and The Bahamas conclude a Proliferation Security Initiative agreement (PSI) -- a poin [...] |
2007-04-11 22:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNMP BF |
| 07NASSAU510 |
BAHAMAS REQUEST FOR G/TIP FUNDING [...] This is in response to reftel invitation for proposals to combat trafficking in persons. In lieu of separate submission of proposal and summary cable, Post here submits The Government of the Bahamas' proposal for INCLE and/or ESF funds, formatted pursuant to reftel request: A. Bahamas De [...] |
2007-04-20 19:32:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG BF |
| 07NASSAU516 |
TIGHT, EMOTIONAL RACE LEADS TO PRE-ELECTION [...] (C) The Bahamas is generally known for peaceful and fair elections, but with political parties contending desperately for voters in a tight election scheduled for May 2, an increasing lack of civility between the parties has carried over into the public. A brawl between supporters, including [...] |
2007-04-23 20:23:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KCRM BF |
| 07NASSAU523 |
EMBATTLED FOREIGN MINISTER ACCUSED OF CHINESE VISA [...] (S) SUMMARY: Bahamian Consular Affairs Chief Dorothea Lafleur in a private lunch with Embassy's Consular Chief accused Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell of complicity in pressuring consular officers to issue visas to patently ineligible applicants. She further alleged that Mitchell was involve [...] |
2007-04-24 21:35:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PGOV PREL KCOR CH BF |
| 07NASSAU549 |
BAHAMAS NOT CAPABLE OF ASSISTING NEW WAY FORWARD [...] (C) The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas does not have the capacity to contribute military or civilian resources to support the New Way Forward on Iraq. The Bahamian military consists of only 1000 troops, two ships and no air force. The entire military budget for The Bahamas is [...] |
2007-04-30 20:30:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS MOPS PREL PTER IZ BF |
| 07NASSAU550 |
PRE-ELECTION ROUNDUP: MOMENTUM TO FNM AS PARTIES [...] (C) SUMMARY: In the final run up to May 2 elections, violence has faded, replaced with isolated vote-buying allegations, though these are not expected to compromise outcomes. In its recently released party platform, the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) has promised to restrict foreig [...] |
2007-04-30 21:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KCOR BF |
| 07NASSAU551 |
WATERING THE GRASS ROOTS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: Poloff observed last-minute campaigning by Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell in his hotly-contested Fox Hill constituency. With small constituencies of only about 4000 people, candidates know voters by name, and are expected to visit with each voter personally. The result is a de [...] |
2007-04-30 21:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCOR KDEM BF |
| 07NASSAU559 |
INGRAHAM AND FREE NATIONAL MOVEMENT WIN BAHAMIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to still unofficial counts, The Free National Movement (FNM) captured 24 of 41 parliamentary seats in Bahamian elections May 2. Hubert Ingraham, who served as Prime Minister from 1992-2002, returns to office and is expected to name his cabinet in the coming week. Desp [...] |
2007-05-03 20:43:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KCOR BF |
| 07NASSAU579 |
BRENT SYMONETTE NAMED BAHAMIAN FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham tapped Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Party Leader Brent Symonette as The Bahamas' new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs May 4. Symonette is a successful businessman and a former Attorney General and Minister of Tourism in [...] |
2007-05-07 22:31:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ETRD BF |
| 07NASSAU608 |
NEW BAHAMIAN CABINET BUILT FOR ACTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham made his initial cabinet appointments May 7, with others following in subsequent days. With few exceptions, the new Ministers are experienced and well-suited to their portfolios, having served in Ingraham's previous government. Ingraham r [...] |
2007-05-15 19:10:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR EAIR BF |
| 07NASSAU610 |
FOREIGN MINISTER SYMONETTE PLEDGES NEW [...] (C) SUMMARY: Charge paid his first official courtesy call on new Bahamian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Brent Symonette May 13, outlining U.S. priorities including the upcoming Conference on the Caribbean, elections to the UN Human Rights Council, a Proliferation Security Agreem [...] |
2007-05-15 22:08:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNHRC EAIR ETRD PTER BF |
| 07NASSAU611 |
BAHAMAS HAS "NO INTEREST" IN CARIBBEAN SINGLE [...] In a May 14 statement to local press, Prime Minister Ingraham said that The Bahamas has no economic interest "whatsoever" in the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME). CSME integration had been heavily promoted in the face of strong domestic opposition by former Foreign Minister Fred Mitchel [...] |
2007-05-15 22:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ETRD ECIN BF |
| 07NASSAU630 |
BAHAMAS REVIEW FOR TITLE III SUSPENSION OF [...] (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 Cub [...] |
2007-05-21 17:12:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU BF |
| 07NASSAU631 |
NEW GOVERNMENT: NO BAHAMIAN PARTICIPATION IN [...] (S/NF) In response to reftel A request, Post has reviewed potential Venezuelan foreign aid to The Bahamas. The Bahamas is listed on Embassy Caracas' "Venezuela Dollar Diplomacy" spreadsheet as a potential recipient of aid under the Petrocaribe program. However, the GCOB never agreed to impl [...] |
2007-05-21 17:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PINR ENRG VN BF |
| 07NASSAU663 |
BAHAMAS REQUEST FOR 2007 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR [...] Embassy Nassau requests $20,000 for the Bahamas Human Rights Network for the development of a documentary film regarding the plight of stateless Haitian Migrants in The Bahamas (reftel A). The documentary would film a planned public forum on restricted rights of migrants in the Mud and Pigeo [...] |
2007-05-29 21:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF SMIG BF |
| 07NASSAU664 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA [...] (C) Pol chief delivered reftel (a) demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting Permanent Secretary Marilyn Zonicle. Zonicle appreciated the USG's points regarding the growing security concerns resulting from the close cooperation between Venezuela and Iran. Zonicle indicated that The Baham [...] |
2007-05-30 11:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM BF IR VZ |
| 07NASSAU673 |
GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE: INGRAHAM ROLLS OUT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Ingraham rolled out his government's plans for The Bahamas at the ceremonial opening of parliament May 23. Picking up on his campaign theme of restoring trust, Ingraham pledged to focus on good governance, accountability, transparency and respect for human righ [...] |
2007-05-31 18:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM ECON EINV KCOR BF |
| 07NASSAU682 |
CONFIRMATION OF BAHAMIAN ATTENDANCE AT [...] The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the following delegates will attend the U.S.-CARICOM Ministerial summit: -- The Right Honorable Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas -- The Honorable Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs [...] |
2007-06-04 21:48:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | OVIP PREL BF |
| 07NASSAU753 |
PRIME MINISTER INGRAHAM SEEKS CLOSE TIES WITH U.S. [...] (C) On June 13, the Charge called on Prime Minister Ingraham to congratulate him on his recent election and to review U.S. and Bahamian priorities in advance of the June 18-21 Conference on the Caribbean. In a productive 45-minute meeting, Ingraham promised to consider a Proliferation Securi [...] |
2007-06-15 22:49:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAIR PTER MCAP PHUM CU VE BF |
| 07NASSAU93 |
BAHAMAS: NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN [...] The following is in response to reftel request for The Bahamas' top five most influential women in civil society or government: The Honorable Cynthia A. Pratt, M.P. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Churchill Building P.O. Box N-3217 Nassau, The Bahamas (242) 356-6 [...] |
2007-01-24 21:48:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PHUM PREL BF |
| 07NASSAU939 |
BAHAMAS ENERGY MINISTER CONFIRMS PETROCARIBE ON [...] (C) Summary: During a courtesy call with the Charge' and PolChief, Minister of State for Public Utilities Phenton Neymour confirmed that Petrocaribe was not and would not be a priority for the new Bahamian government. He also indicated that the government had not had time to assess the Liquef [...] |
2007-07-31 18:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ENRG SENV BF VZ |
| 07NASSAU94 |
BAHAMAS MASS MIGRATION CONTINGENCY ASSESSMENT [...] (C) The following information is provided in response to reftel request, tracked to reftel questions: a. (C) Would your host government be willing to establish a camp to house at least 1,000 migrants interdicted by the U.S. during a mass migration? Would they be willing if the U.S. paid t [...] |
2007-01-24 21:54:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | SMIG PREF PREL HA CU BF |
| 07NASSAU965 |
BAHAMAS INFORMED OF IMPORT SAFETY WORKING GROUP [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-07 22:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON PREL BF |
| 07NASSAU966 |
BAHAMAS REPRESENTATION AT 62ND UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-07 22:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNGA ITRA OVIP BF |
| 07NASSAU967 |
TERRORISM FINANCE: MARTYRS FOUNDATION AND AS-QARD [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-07 22:22:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN PREL PTER PGOV BF |
| 08NASSAU126 |
2008 BAHAMAS BUSINESS OUTLOOK [...] SUMMARY: Presenters at the 17th Annual Bahamas Business Outlook Conference discussed substantial challenges to the Bahamian economy, including the need to: upgrade the infrastructure on New Providence, conclude investment deals quickly, and develop new ways to appeal to tourists. They painted [...] |
2008-02-08 20:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAIR BEXP ETRD BF |
| 08NASSAU146 |
ELECTION COURT CONFIRMS GOVERNMENT WIN AFTER [...] (U) The first of three legal challenges to results of the May 2007 elections was decided January 21 with a recount confirming the victory of the governing FNM party's candidate. The decision leaves the Ingraham government with an unassailable majority and scuppers any hopes the opposition PL [...] |
2008-02-15 21:37:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV BF |
| 08NASSAU160 |
COAST GUARD STOPS HAITIAN MIGRANT SURGE, BUT LONG [...] (U) SUMMARY: A U.S. Coast Guard cutter overtook a sailboat packed with 73 Haitian migrants on February 7, in the latest of four significant interdictions in the Windward Passage over a span of three weeks. The recent surge in migrants saw 447 Haitians rescued at sea by the USCG cutter, with [...] |
2008-02-21 22:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM SMIG HA BF |
| 08NASSAU191 |
U.S.-BAHAMAS COUNTER-DRUG TASK FORCE REVIEWS TRAFFICKING [...] (SBU) The Ambassador and Deputy Prime Minister co-chaired the semi-annual Joint Counternarcotics/Illegal Migration Task Force Meeting (JTF) between the United States, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands on December 14, 2007. The parties discussed trafficking trends, reviewed year-to- [...] |
2008-03-03 22:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU193 |
THE BAHAMAS -- EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) [...] (U) As requested in reftel, please find Post's responses to questions for the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. --------------------------------- Para 27 -- OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES --------------------------------- 2. (SBU) A: Is the country a country of origin, transit, and/or desti [...] |
2008-03-04 14:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN PHUM PREF SMIG BF |
| 08NASSAU206 |
PM INGRAHAM OUTLINES ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PRIORITIES [...] (SBU) Prime Minister Ingraham recently delivered an upbeat assessment of his government's accomplishments in 2007 against the background of negative economic conditions in the wider world and worries over crime and economic uncertainty at home. Ingraham put a brave face on "a difficult year" [...] |
2008-03-10 17:54:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM ECON SMIG BF |
| 08NASSAU228 |
CARICOM LEADERS ADDRESS CRIME, TOURISM, ECONOMIC [...] (U) CARICOM heads of government gathered in Nassau March 7-8 for an inter-sessional Heads of Government meeting that focused on preventing crime, lowering the cost of living, and improving domestic economic links with their important tourism sectors. Reflecting mounting concerns throughout th [...] |
2008-03-19 15:51:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ETRD BF XL |
| 08NASSAU398 |
SECOND TRIPARTITE CONFERENCE DISCUSSES DRUG AND MIGRANT TRAFFICKING AND ASSISTANCE FOR HAITI [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-21 18:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL TK UK BF DR HA |
| 08NASSAU404 |
BAHAMAS DEMARCHE ON NPT PREPCOM DELIVERED [...] (U) PolOff conveyed reftel demarche points on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee Meeting to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Head of Legal Division, Donna Knowles-Lowe, and Under Secretary, International Relations Division, Marilyn Zon [...] |
2008-05-23 17:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PREL NPT IAEA BF |
| 08NASSAU405 |
BAHAMAS REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF LIBERTAD ACT [...] (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 Cub [...] |
2008-05-23 17:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU BF |
| 08NASSAU406 |
BAHAMAS ASKED TO SUBSCRIBE TO HCOC [...] (U) PolOff conveyed reftel demarche points encouraging The Bahamas to subscribe to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Head of Legal Division, Donna Knowles-Lowe, and Under Secretary, Internat [...] |
2008-05-23 17:16:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | MTCRE PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA BF |
| 08NASSAU407 |
BAHAMAS NON-COMMITTAL ON US-EU DECLARATION [...] (U) PolOff delivered reftel demarche points urging co-sponsorship of the draft US-EU declaration on prisoners of conscience to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Marilyn Zonicle April 23. Zonicle gave no indication of the ministry's position on the draft declaration. Post will rep [...] |
2008-05-23 17:19:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EUN PHUM PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU470 |
BAHAMAS SUPPORTS U.S. CANDIDATE FOR IOM DG IN [...] (SBU) Ambassador Siegel delivered reftel demarche points requesting GCOB support for Ambassador Bill Swing, U.S. candidate for Director-General of IOM, to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette during a conversation on May 30. The Minister indicated that hi [...] |
2008-06-23 20:37:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PREF PREL SMIG BF |
| 08NASSAU471 |
BAHAMAS APPROVES PSI SHIP-BOARDING AGREEMENT [...] (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Post via diplomatic note dated June 13 that the GCOB had approved the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) reciprocal ship-boarding agreement preliminarily concluded by the U.S. and Bahamian delegations on April 30-May 1, 2008 in Nassau (reftel [...] |
2008-06-23 20:49:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIA KNNA EWWT MARR PARM PGOV PHSA PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU56 |
MP'S SURPRISE RESIGNATION UPSETS POLITICAL [...] (SBU) The opposition PLP lost a seat in parliament January 9 as a Nassau MP resigned suddenly and declared himself an independent. The MP's defection undermines the PLP leadership's post-election strategy of contesting three races in election court in hopes of overturning the governing FNM's [...] |
2008-01-22 22:51:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU590 |
WHA DAS MADISON SIGNS PSI SHIPBOARDING AGREEMENT, [...] (C) SUMMARY: WHA DAS Madison signed a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) shipboarding agreement with Bahamas Acting Prime Minister Symonette on August 11 in Nassau. In separate discussions with top Bahamian officials, Madison focused on the GCOB,s stated security priority of improving [...] |
2008-08-14 20:37:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR PREL PHSA KTIA KNNA EWWT MARR PARM |
| 08NASSAU591 |
LABOR UNREST ROCKS BAHAMAS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Labor unrest broke the summer lull on three Bahamian islands in the past week and brought the capital,s central avenue to an unexpected standstill mid-morning August 11. A union-sanctioned strike at Morton Salt on Great Inagua August 8 caused management to cease operations inde [...] |
2008-08-14 22:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB BF |
| 08NASSAU62 |
BAHAMAS REMAINS COMMITTED TO DEPORTEE [...] (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 depo [...] |
2008-01-23 22:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM BF EAID |
| 08NASSAU623 |
CARIBBEAN ENERGY SEMINAR SPOTLIGHTS ISLAND INITIATIVES AND [...] (U) SUMMARY: Advancing U.S. energy diplomacy in the Caribbean, the USG partnered with the OAS and the GCOB to host a two day regional sustainable energy event July 23-24 in Nassau. The USG-funded, OAS-sponsored seminar brought Caribbean leaders together with energy experts from the OAS, CARICO [...] |
2008-08-29 14:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG ECON EINV ETRD BF |
| 08NASSAU628 |
GEORGIA-RUSSIA DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (C) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points rejecting Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to newly-appoined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Patricia Rodgers, September 2. PS Rodgers made no substantive comments in reply but indicated the GCOB was lik [...] |
2008-09-03 18:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RU BF |
| 08NASSAU629 |
BAHAMAS NOT INTERESTED IN KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT [...] (C/NF) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points regarding Serbia's proposal to refer the question of Kosovo's declaration of independence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion to newly-appoined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Patricia R [...] |
2008-09-03 18:54:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNGA KV BF |
| 08NASSAU630 |
BAHAMAS UNPREPARED TO DISCUSS SUMMIT OF THE [...] (U) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points and asked newly-appoined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Patricia Rodgers, for GCOB impressions of the draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain, September 2. PS Rodgers did not appear briefed on the summit or the [...] |
2008-09-03 18:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ENRG ETRC PGOV PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU644 |
UN VOTING RECORD DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (C) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points on country voting practices at the UN, and a copy of the 2007 report, to newly-appointed Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Patricia Rodgers, September 2. PolChief echoed DAS Madison's appreciative comments to then-Acting P [...] |
2008-09-12 20:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC UNSC UNGA BF |
| 08NASSAU645 |
BAHAMAS NON-COMMITTAL ON PRESSURING FARC [...] (C) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points encouraging further pressure on the FARC to newly-appoined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Patricia Rodgers, September 2. PS Rodgers made no substantive comments in reply but indicated the GCOB was unlikely to take any s [...] |
2008-09-12 20:47:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN PTER SNAR PGOV PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU646 |
CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (C) PolChief delivered reftel demarche points encouraging dialogue on respect for human rights in Cuba to newly-appoined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Patricia Rodgers, September 2, referencing DAS Madison's discussion on the matter with then-Acting Prime Minister/ [...] |
2008-09-12 20:48:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM EUN CU BF |
| 08NASSAU657 |
PM'S OFFICE FOCUSED ON TRAVEL, PORT SECURITY, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Prime Minister's Permanent Secretary focused on domestic issues that impact the tourism sector, the bedrock of the national economy, such as consular and travel issues, air and seaport security, and U.S. investment during a wide-ranging discussion with DCM September 15. They [...] |
2008-09-17 16:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC EAIR ECON EINV PGOV PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU676 |
DEMARCHE ON BOLIVIA-VENEZUELA AMBASSADORS DELIVERED [...] (C) PolChief delivered demarche points on the declarations of U.S. ambassadors in Bolivia and Venezuela persona non grata (reftel) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary and Head of International Relations Division, Marilyn Zonicle September 22. Ms. Zonicle took note that the USG's a [...] |
2008-09-23 21:58:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PROV PREL KDEM ASEC BF |
| 08NASSAU678 |
UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (C) PolChief delivered demarche points on UN General Assembly Third Committee human rights priorities (ref A)to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary and Head of International Relations Division, Marilyn Zonicle September 22, completing an introductory round of MFA meetings that urged c [...] |
2008-09-23 22:06:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UN BF |
| 08NASSAU69 |
RIOT OVERWHELMS POLICE ON BIMINI, GOVERNMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Arson and rioting rocked the island of Bimini December 22 as angry residents destroyed police property in the wake of the fatal shooting of a local man by police the previous night. The unrest overwhelmed local law enforcement, with order restored only after significant reinfo [...] |
2008-01-24 21:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL MARR BF |
| 08NASSAU691 |
GCOB TO NAME NEW AMBASSADOR TO CUBA [...] (C) The director of the Department of Immigration, Vernon Burrows, told PolChief September 23 that he was preparing to take up an assignment as ambassador in Havana soon, possibly by the end of next month. There has been no official announcement of any impeding change, though an opposition-a [...] |
2008-09-30 14:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR BF CU |
| 08NASSAU692 |
GCOB TO NAME NEW AMBASSADOR TO CUBA [...] (C) The director of the Department of Immigration, Vernon Burrows, told PolChief September 23 that he was preparing to take up an assignment as ambassador in Havana soon, possibly by the end of next month. There has been no official announcement of any impeding change, though an opposition-a [...] |
2008-09-30 14:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR BF CU |
| 08NASSAU709 |
PM CANDID, UNHELPFUL ON UNGA VOTING DEMARCHE AND [...] (C) Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham received reftel demarche from Charge late October 4. PM Ingraham took on-board USG points regarding the UN having great potential for progress if like-minded countries would agree to work together on balanced and reasonable UN resolutions and other [...] |
2008-10-07 18:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL UNGA CU BF |
| 08NASSAU71 |
DOWNTOWN NASSAU MURDER PRESSURES GOVERNMENT TO ACT [...] (U) Deadly violence struck the tourist and commercial heart of downtown Nassau January 7 as a drive-by shooter missed his intended mark, instead mortally wounding a high school student waiting in a crowd at a bus stop. The shooting prompted renewed concern about the impact of rising crime on [...] |
2008-01-25 15:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BF CASC KCRM PGOV PHUM |
| 08NASSAU710 |
BAHAMA,S PRIME MINISTER CONSIDERING VISIT TO CUBA [...] (C) Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham informed Charge October 4 that he was considering joining a "group of his peers" on a CARICOM-sponsored visit to Cuba in December (NFI). PM Ingraham said he had last traveled to Cuba "a couple of decades" ago and noted that his Free National Moveme [...] |
2008-10-07 18:41:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL BF CU |
| 08NASSAU711 |
HAITIAN AMBASSADOR OPPOSES SLOOP BAN, SEEKS TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Haitian Ambassador told Charge he seeks to better organize the Haitian-Bahamian community in order to more effectively lobby the GCOB on issues of concern. He also expressed opposition to a new GCOB ban on wooden-hulled commercial sailing sloops citing its negative economic [...] |
2008-10-07 21:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG SNAR BF HA |
| 08NASSAU715 |
UNGA NON-PROLIFERATION RESOLUTION DEMARCHE [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche points soliciting Bahamian support for a planned U.S. draft resolution on compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitations and disarmament agreements to be introduced at the UNGA First Committee during the 63rd UNGA session to Ministry of Foreign Affa [...] |
2008-10-10 19:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM CDG PREL UNGA BF |
| 08NASSAU764 |
AFTER SUMMER RESHUFFLE, NEW GCOB INITIATIVES AS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Ingraham consolidated his government after a cabinet reshuffle in July and launched several new initiatives in the first hundred days since. The new Ministry of Environment has energetically pushed renewable energy options, while the new Minister of Tourism has u [...] |
2008-10-30 14:17:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR ECON BF |
| 08NASSAU765 |
TOURISM LEVELS DROP IN BAHAMAS FOLLOWING ECONOMIC [...] Summary: Tourist numbers in The Bahamas have decreased following the recent economic downturn in the U.S. Newly released visitor arrival numbers show a 9.6% drop in overall numbers for the first half of 2008. The economy of The Bahamas is dependent on tourism, which accounts for nearly 70% [...] |
2008-10-30 15:47:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELAB BF |
| 08NASSAU776 |
BAHAMAS APPLAUDS HISTORIC US ELECTION RESULT [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Bahamian public, press and government greeted the U.S. presidential election outcome with joy and satisfaction at the historic success of an African-American candidate and admiration for the U.S. and the American democratic process. Optimism marked the view of the potential [...] |
2008-11-06 15:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PROG PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU780 |
NO TIMETABLE YET FOR BAHAMAS PSI ENTRY INTO FORCE [...] (U) On October 21, PolOff asked Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Natasha Turnquest about GCOB internal procedures for the entry into force of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) reciprocal shipboarding agreement, which was signed in Nassau in August, and inquired about [...] |
2008-11-07 21:31:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT KNNP KTIA MARR PARM PGOV PHSA PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU785 |
U.S. CANDIDACY FOR CIM DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (U) PolOff delivered reftel demarche points November 4 on the U.S. candidacy for the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary, International Relations Division, Marilyn Zonicle. Ms. Zonicle had previously informed Post [...] |
2008-11-10 20:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC OAS KWMN PGOV PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU786 |
UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche points November 10 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary, International Relations Division, Marilyn Zonicle. PolOff expressed gratitude for the GCOB's past support for human rights resolutions and principled opposition to no-action motions and [...] |
2008-11-10 20:40:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM BF |
| 08NASSAU796 |
ATLANTIS RESORT LAYS OFF 800 EMPLOYES [...] (U) The tlantis Resort on Paradise Island, The ahamas, largest private employer, laid off 800 employees on 12 November. In public statements, President and Managing Director of Kerzner International Bahamas George Markantonis said the company had no choice but to reduce staff by 10%, given th [...] |
2008-11-14 15:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ELAB BF |
| 08NASSAU803 |
Bahamas Avoids Increased Florida Sales Tax [...] Bahamian businesspersons were relieved after the proposal to repeal Florida's exemption to the six percent export sales tax failed to make it on the November 20 election ballot. The Bahamas imports 84% of its goods and products from the U.S., the majority of which come from Florida. Florida' [...] |
2008-11-18 16:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ETRD BF |
| 08NASSAU811 |
WHA CHIEFS OF MISSION CONFERENCE: ATTENDANCE OF [...] (SBU) Ambassador Ned L. Siegel respectfully requests permission to travel to Washington, D.C. from December 3-5, 2008 to attend the 2008 WHA Chiefs of Mission Conference to be held at the Brookings Institue, Department of State and the National Press Club. The Ambassador's travel schedule is [...] |
2008-11-20 19:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT CMGT ECON OTRA PGOV PREL BA |
| 08NASSAU832 |
HOTEL LAYOFFS CONTINUE AS TOURIST ARRIVALS REMAIN LOW [...] (U) Summary: Tourism levels in The Bahamas have dropped to near post-9/11 levels and led to a wave of layoffs in well-paying hotels jobs - some 800 positions at the premiere, U.S.-owned Atlantis Resorts in Nassau two weeks ago and another 150 terminated at other hotels since then. With the e [...] |
2008-11-28 16:28:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB BF |
| 08NASSAU855 |
PM INGRAHAM HEADED TO CUBA FOR CARICOM EVENT [...] (C) Local press reported December 3 that Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham will travel to Santiago, Cuba on December 8 to attend the Third CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting and Summit (December 7-8). The article noted that the CARICOM meeting apparently will include a tribute to Fidel [...] |
2008-12-04 20:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CU BF |
| 08NASSAU856 |
NOVEMBER TSA ASSESSMENT REPORTS MAJOR IMPROVEMENT [...] (C) Summary: A TSA assessment team visited Nassau November 17 ) 26 to conduct a follow-up inspection of airport security procedures at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). The team noted &tremendous amounts of improvement8 to security procedures since their last visit in September [...] |
2008-12-04 22:16:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON PREL PGOV BF |
| 08NASSAU861 |
PM INGRAHAM CALLS PETROCARIBE A "STUPID PROPOSAL" [...] (U) At a &meet the press8 event on November 30 Prime Minister Ingraham called signing onto the PetroCaribe accord with Venezuela a &stupid proposal.8 The PM stated the opposition PLP nearly signed onto Petrocaribe last year without fully understanding the ramifications the proposal would hav [...] |
2008-12-08 22:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU863 |
TOP IMMIGRATION STAFF OUT AFTER SHAKE-UP [...] (C) Six top administrators, including the deputy director, in the Department of Immigration were unexpectedly offered retirement packages in apparent response to long-standing allegations of inefficiency and corruption by the Minister of Immigration appointed after the cabinet reshuffle in Ju [...] |
2008-12-09 21:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR ELAB BF |
| 08NASSAU867 |
BAHAMAS REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE [...] (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 [...] |
2008-12-11 18:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU BF |
| 08NASSAU870 |
GCOB, OPPOSITION BARBS ON CUBA REVEAL FOREIGN [...] (C) Prime Minister Ingraham, in Santiago de Cuba for a CARICOM high-level meeting December 8, framed his government's basic continuation of the previous PLP government's Cuba policy as a matter of pragmatism, rather than conviction. In remarks to media widely reported in The Bahamas, the PM [...] |
2008-12-12 16:25:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL BF |
| 08NASSAU872 |
Bahamas and the EU Economic Partnership Agreement - impact [...] This is an action cable see paragraph 10. 2. Summary: The Bahamas recently joined the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) in signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). Opponents argued, with some reason, that not even the Bahamian government (GCOB) f [...] |
2008-12-15 14:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN BF |
| 08NASSAU896 |
BAHAMAS: UNESCO DIRECTOR GENERAL DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche points regarding the UNESCO Director-General election to Marilyn Zonicle, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs December 15. Ms. Zonicle took down the details but made no reply. Later, speaking on another matter, she told PolOff that, having [...] |
2008-12-18 20:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNESCO BF |
| 08NASSAU897 |
TRIP REPORT FOR FREEPORT, THE BAHAMAS DECEMBER 10-11, 2008 [...] (U) SUMMARY: Pol/Econ/PD Chief traveled to Freeport, The Bahamas December 10-11 to attend the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Stakeholders Consultation and meet with local Island Administrators, representatives of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, the CEO of Hutchinson Container Port, and [...] |
2008-12-18 21:57:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EFIN EAIR ECON BF |
| 08NASSAU898 |
TCI Prime Minister Fights Ouster Attempt [...] (U) According to news reports December 16, nine of thirteen elected members of the governing Progressive National Party (PNP) of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) parliament, including the Deputy Premier, have written to the current governor expressing no-confidence in Premier Michael Misick. [...] |
2008-12-19 15:13:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV BF TK UK |
| 08NASSAU899 |
DRUG CASE CHALLENGES CONSTITUTIONALITY OF BAHAMIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Accused drug trafficker and former fugitive Melvin Maycock Sr. has challenged the constitutionality of the Bahamian Listening Devices Act in an attempt to undermine the evidence against him and to thwart attempts to extradite him to the United States. Maycock's argument was rejecte [...] |
2008-12-19 18:15:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL UK BF |
| 08NASSAU94 |
AMBASSADOR REVIEWS DRUG AND MIGRANT STRATEGIES IN TRI-LATERAL MEETINGS IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-01 12:18:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL TK UK BF |
| 09NASSAU10 |
Bahamas Submits Archipelagic Maritime Borders to United [...] The Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (GCOB) formally submitted their official archipelagic maritime borders to the United Nations (UN) on 11 December 2008. The move brings The Bahamas in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which defines the righ [...] |
2009-01-07 02:09:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PBTS BF |
| 09NASSAU107 |
CHINESE VICE PREMIER'S VISIT BRINGS $150 MILLION [...] (U) Summary: Chinese Vice Premier Hui Langyu arrived in Nassau on February 17 for an official two-day visit to The Bahamas. The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (GCOB) and the Government of the People's Republic of China (GOC) signed four memorandums of understating on February [...] |
2009-02-19 15:44:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD BF |
| 09NASSAU113 |
BAHAMAS: CRIME CONCERNS SIMMER AS ECONOMY SOFTENS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Increasing crime remains a major concern as the tourism-based economy weakens, though year-on-year crime figures show violent crime dipping slightly as property crimes rise. The GCOB has implemented measures aimed at improving the criminal justice system, but the impact is not [...] |
2009-02-23 17:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM BF |
| 09NASSAU121 |
CUBAN AMBASSADOR REMARKS ON CUBANS LIVING IN THE [...] On February 26 local media published a statement made by Cuban Ambassador to The Bahamas, Jose Luis Ponce, on the first anniversary of the establishment of an association of Cubans living in The Bahamas called "Ismaelillos." Ponce attended the anniversary celebration on February 21 and noted [...] |
2009-02-26 20:00:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU124 |
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND [...] No summary [...] |
2009-03-02 13:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON BEXP ETRD BF |
| 09NASSAU125 |
SPECIAL 301 REVIEW FOR THE BAHAMAS [...] Summary: The Bahamas was removed from the Special 301 Watchlist in 2007, but concerns remain among premium television entertainment channels regarding The Bahamas use of compulsory licensing to broadcast certain channels. This has been a longstanding issue between the Television Association [...] |
2009-03-02 16:59:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR BF |
| 09NASSAU126 |
AGREEMENT WITH BAHAMAS ON STATUS OF FORCES FOR [...] This is an action cable. See paragraph 4. 2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (MFA) submitted the attached diplomatic note (full text at paragraph 2) on March 27 in response to U.S. proposed draft language as contained in Reftel. The MFA advised the Embas [...] |
2009-03-02 21:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KTIA MARR MOPS PM PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU129 |
PM INGRAHAM'S MID-YEAR BUDGET REPORT - HIGH HOPES FOR [...] SUMMARY: Prime Minister Ingraham presented his mid-year budget report to Parliament on February 25, forecasting a grim outlook for 2009 as The Bahamas deals with "the most challenging global economic environment" seen in many years. Ingraham outlined plans to borrow USD $200 million from bank [...] |
2009-03-03 22:08:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON BEXP ETRD BF |
| 09NASSAU13 |
NASSAU-WYNDHAM TO CLOSE FOR TWO MONTHS AND HOTEL [...] (U) On January 6 the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino announced they will close from August 17 - October 5 (the bottom of the slow season) in order to cut costs during the economic crisis. Tourist arrival numbers and hotel occupancy rates dropped during the last three months o [...] |
2009-01-08 15:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ELAB BF |
| 09NASSAU133 |
NASSAU MONTHLY - FEBRUARY 2009 [...] This is a monthly report on a variety of topics of interest which do not merit full reporting cables. -------------------------------- FOOTBALL AND PAGEANTRY = TOURISM -------------------------------- 2. On March 2 Prime Minister Ingraham announced that the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant wil [...] |
2009-03-04 18:24:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD PGOV PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU135 |
BAHAMAS UPDATE ON LNG PIPELINE PROJECT [...] (C) Charge Zuniga-Brown met with AES representatives Brian Chatlosh and Neil Watlington on March 4 to discuss the proposed LNG pipeline project from the island of Ocean Cay to southern Florida. The proposed project has been in negotiation between AES and the Government of the Commonwealth of [...] |
2009-03-05 19:44:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG BF |
| 09NASSAU139 |
SEIZURES UP, MIGRANT SMUGGLING DISCUSSED AT U.S.-BAHAMAS [...] (SBU) This is a cable with action issue items. Southern Command/Northern Command/Coast Guard please see paragraph 15 on piracy. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge d'Affaires (CDA) and Minister for National Security Tommy Turnquest co-chaired the semi-annual Joint Counter Narcotics/Illegal Migration [...] |
2009-03-06 17:01:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL TK BF |
| 09NASSAU140 |
FORMER AG CLAIMS U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT ILLEGALLY [...] (U) On March 4 local media reported remarks by former Attorney General Alfred Sears that U.S. federal agents and prosecutors have been illegally approaching financial institutions in The Bahamas for information. Sears cited no specific cases but said it is becoming common for U.S. officials [...] |
2009-03-06 18:25:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN BF |
| 09NASSAU141 |
OPPOSITION DECRIES MEDIA BIAS, SUPPORTS LEADER - [...] (C) SUMMARY: Fallout from the alleged Travolta extortion case has sparked a new round of media commentary and speculation about the prospects of the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and its longtime leader Perry Christie. PLP officials uniformly accuse the media of pro-government b [...] |
2009-03-06 18:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PHUM BF |
| 09NASSAU147 |
ISLAND SCHOOL FOCUSES GCOB ON ENERGY, FOOD, ENVIRONMENT [...] (U) SUMMARY: A U.S. privately sponsored secondary school specializing in environmental and marine studies celebrated ten year's of conservation and education in The Bahamas in February. The school is an open-air laboratory for practical renewable energy, sustainable food production, and marin [...] |
2009-03-10 21:11:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ENRG EFIS PGOV CASC KPAO BF |
| 09NASSAU149 |
BAHAMIANS WORRIED OVER IMPACT OF STOP TAX HAVEN [...] (U) Summary: News concerning the proposed Stop Tax Haven Abuse bill, which names The Bahamas as one of 34 secrecy jurisdictions, has generated considerable discussion in local media and amongst politicians. The financial services sector makes up 15 percent of the country's GDP and, tourism i [...] |
2009-03-11 20:37:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN BF |
| 09NASSAU152 |
GCOB REACTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS CRITICISM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Press reports, some of them citing the Embassy's Human Rights Report, decried abuses by immigration officers and poor conditions at the Nassau immigration detention center, prompting a call by Amnesty International for an investigation of the facility. Though GCOB officials ini [...] |
2009-03-12 19:36:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KPAO BF |
| 09NASSAU159 |
CLICO BAHAMAS LIQUIDATED FOLLOWING COLLAPSE OF TRINIDAD'S [...] (U) SUMMARY: Nearly one hundred agents were laid off from one of The Bahamas largest insurance companies, CLICO Bahamas Ltd., the week of March 2 as the company goes into liquidation. Concerns were raised when Trinidad based parent company, CL Financial, collapsed due to massive losses and [...] |
2009-03-16 16:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON ETRD BF |
| 09NASSAU160 |
FY2010 DEMARCHE/OBJECTIVES FOR THE MAJORS LIST [...] (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 Bah [...] |
2009-03-16 17:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR CFED CJAN PREL PGOV SOCI BF |
| 09NASSAU169 |
ALL QUIET ON THE TURKS AND CAICOS FRONT [...] (U) The GCOB is "unconcerned" about the UK's planned partial suspension of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) constitution announced March 16 by the British overseas dependency's governor. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Brent Symonette told the press that the changes would have n [...] |
2009-03-17 21:06:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV BF TK UK |
| 09NASSAU170 |
DEMARCHE - BAHAMAS PRESENTS CANDIDATE FOR 35TH CONFERENCE [...] This is an action request. 2. US Embassy Nassau received diplomatic note No. MFA/089 dated 13 March 2009, from the CGOB informing of their decision to present the candidature of Dr. Davidson L. Hepburn for election to the post of President of the 35th Conference of UNESCO in Paris in Octob [...] |
2009-03-17 21:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV UN BF |
| 09NASSAU172 |
BAHAMAS: 2009 SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS (C-AL9-00153) [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: GCOB officials will voice their opposition to the proposed Anti-Tax Haven Act at the 2009 Summit of the Americas (SOA). During a meeting on March 13, MFA Permanent Secretary Patricia Rogers told the Charge that the GCOB plans to raise the issue, noting that The Bahamas has ma [...] |
2009-03-18 21:03:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PINR PGOV PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU173 |
ADDITIONAL INFO COPY DEMARCHES FROM GCOB [...] During a lunch meeting on March 13, Permanent Secretary Dr. Patricia Rodgers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the CCOB, provided information copies to Charge of the following demarches the Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the Organization of American States delivered to t [...] |
2009-03-18 21:33:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV UN BF |
| 09NASSAU177 |
OPULENT HAVANA DIGS: BAHAMAS LOOKS INTO MISSING [...] (U) Media highlighted lack of transparency and accountability in expenditures for the Bahamian Embassy in Cuba in coverage March 2 of an official auditor,s report from 2006-2007. The auditor general was unable to account for nearly a million dollars destined for the new Havana mission. The [...] |
2009-03-19 19:30:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | PGOV PHUM BF CU |
| 09NASSAU180 |
CHINA AGREES TO FINANCE RESORT PROJECT IN THE [...] (C) Summary: Baha Mar Resort officials announced on March 10 that the ExIm Bank of China and the China State Construction Engineering Corporation have formally agreed to finance a major construction project in Nassau. Bahamian officials are hopeful that this project, which has been stalled [...] |
2009-03-19 19:34:00 | Embassy Nassau | SECRET | ECON EFIN ETRD BF |
| 09NASSAU181 |
BAHAMAS INKS PRELIMINARY AID DEAL WITH CUBA [...] (U) The GCOB signed a Basic Framework Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation with Cuba March 16 anticipating further projectsin health, education, and other areas, accordingto media. The GCOB is reviewing a draft agreemen to re-implement a Cuban eye-care program and is i talks with C [...] |
2009-03-19 21:40:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL BF CU |
| 09NASSAU191 |
GOING, GOING, NOT YET GONE -- TURKS AND CAICOS [...] (C) The embattled premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Michael Misick, resigned March 23 in favor of his successor as party leader, Galmo Williams. The move came after he and a small delegation, including Williams, visited Nassau March 20 and met with government and opposition lead [...] |
2009-03-24 22:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV BF TK UK |
| 09NASSAU193 |
CLEARANCE FOR BAHAMIANS TO VISIT AUTEC, APRIL 19 - [...] (SBU) GCOB presented Diplomatic Note No. MFA/LAD/134 to post on March 20. Full text of Note is included in paragraph 2. U.S. Navy Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) Point of Contact, Thomas Leo, confirms that AUTEC is aware and supports the requests to provide clearance [...] |
2009-03-25 15:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | BF PGOV SENV |
| 09NASSAU198 |
CLEARANCE FOR BAHAMIANS TO VISIT AUTEC, APRIL 19 - [...] (SBU) GCOB presented Diplomatic Note No. MFA/LAD/134 to post on March 20. Full text of Note is included in paragraph 2. U.S. Navy Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) Point of Contact, Thomas Leo, confirms that AUTEC is aware and supports the requests to provide clearance [...] |
2009-03-25 17:59:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV SENV BF |
| 09NASSAU20 |
BAHAMAS: DEMARCHE ON DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL [...] (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche points regarding the designation of additional Iranian entities to Donna Lowe, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Legal Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 8. Ms. Lowe acknowledged the points of the demarche and provided no additional [...] |
2009-01-09 20:56:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP EFIN PARM IR BF |
| 09NASSAU202 |
PM VOWS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY IN FINANCIAL [...] (U) Summary: In an address to Parliament on March 25, Prime Minister Ingraham announced his government's plans to 'reaffirm' their commitment to transparency and exchange of information on offshore tax standards. Ingraham said a press release detailing The Bahamas' plans to enforce evolvin [...] |
2009-03-30 17:11:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN BF |
| 09NASSAU207 |
NASSAU MONTHLY -- MARCH 2009 [...] (U) This is a monthly report on a variety of topics of interest which do not merit full reporting cables. -- SOUTHCOM Still Loves Nassau -- Nassau World's Busiest Cruise Port, Visitor Numbers Still Down -- PM: Government Revenue "Disastrous" -- Unemployment Hits 15 Year High -- Old Police [...] |
2009-03-31 20:58:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KPAO ECON EFIN PGOV PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU215 |
MFA ACKNOWLEDGE MAY 2009 PSI OPERATIONAL EXPERTS GROUP AND [...] No summary [...] |
2009-04-03 17:04:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP MNUC PARM PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU226 |
BAHAMAS DELEGATION FOR THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS [...] No summary [...] |
2009-04-14 19:34:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT AORC APER BEXP ECON EFIN ENRG ETRD KSUM PGOV |
| 09NASSAU231 |
BAHAMAS STILL NOT INTERESTED IN KOSOVO ICJ CASE [...] (C/NF) Mission delivered reftel demarche points on filing an advisory opinion to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) supporting Kosovo's independence to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary, International Division, Marilyn Zonicle, April 1. Ms. Zonicle took note but made no subst [...] |
2009-04-15 21:44:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC PREL KVIR BF ICJ |
| 09NASSAU232 |
TOO LATE TO THE DANCE: BAHAMAS ALREADY COMMITTED [...] (U) Mission delivered reftel demarche points on the U.S. candidacy for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary, International Division, Marilyn Zonicle, April 1. The MFA replied that the GCOB had already concluded reciprocal agreements with [...] |
2009-04-15 21:45:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL OAS XM CA IAHRC BF |
| 09NASSAU235 |
BAHAMAS REACTION TO AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGIC [...] (C) Embassy delivered the "White Paper of the Interagency Policy Group's Report on U.S. Policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan" accompanied by reftel points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary, International Division, Marilyn Zonicle, April 1. Ms. Zonicle asked whether this represe [...] |
2009-04-16 13:55:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AF NATO PK MARR MOPS BF |
| 09NASSAU238 |
BAHAMAS REQUEST RECIPROCITY ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (U) Mission delivered reftel talking points and the Department's press statement on the USG candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary, International Division, Marilyn Zonicle, April 1. Ms. Zonicle took note but made no commitment, saying the GCOB [...] |
2009-04-16 19:58:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU242 |
BAHAMAS: NO INFORMATION ON FORCED OR CHILD LABOR [...] (U) The Bahamas is an overwhelmingly service-based economy with tourism and financial services accounting for some 80% of economic activity. Migrant laborers, most susceptible to potential labor and other abuses, are also generally engaged in services, domestic or household, construction, or [...] |
2009-04-17 14:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI BF |
| 09NASSAU247 |
CODEL IMPRESSED BY OPBAT, STRONG BILATERAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: CODEL Conyers visited The Bahamas April 7-9 to review OPBAT operations and assess current drug and migrant challenges. GCOB officials led by Prime Minister Ingraham described the negative impact of the situation in Haiti on both OPBAT and The Bahamas. PM Ingraham stressed th [...] |
2009-04-20 20:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PREL PGOV HA BF |
| 09NASSAU251 |
SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: PM ASSERTS BAHAMAS WILL [...] (U) A banner headline April 20 captured the Bahamian media's coverage of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's attendance at the Summit of the Americas (SOA): "PM Lobbies U.S. on Tax Bill". All media prominently reported the PM's statement that The Bahamas did not deserve to be named as a secrec [...] |
2009-04-21 20:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KPAO PGOV PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU258 |
NASSAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FAILS TRANSPORTATION [...] (C) Summary: Nassau's International Airport failed a U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) evaluation April 6 - 9, forcing the Airport Authority to postpone plans to reduce the number of passenger security screening checkpoints from two to one. The TSA evaluation team noted twel [...] |
2009-04-23 15:42:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON PREL PGOV BF |
| 09NASSAU270 |
DEPARTURE OF AMBASSADOR FROM POST / CHARGE PAY [...] (SBU) Ambasador Ned Siegel departed Nassau, The Bahamas on January 20, 2009 and the Deputy Chief of Mission Timothy Zuniga-Brown assumed charge. 2. (SBU) Charge pay has been remitted through February 11, 2009. 3. (SBU) Please resume payment of Charge pay as of February 24, 2009. ZUN [...] |
2009-04-27 20:14:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER OTRA BF |
| 09NASSAU274 |
GCOB ACTIVATING "STATE OF PREPAREDNESS" AGAINST SWINE FLU; [...] (U) SUMMARY: The GCOB discussed measures to contain and prevent the spread of Swine Flu (H1N1) at air and sea ports of entry (POEs). GCOB officials reported no confirmed cases of Swine Flu; however, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is currently at 24/7 operational capacity and is in a "state of p [...] |
2009-04-28 21:21:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR |
| 09NASSAU275 |
CORRECTED: GCOB ACTIVATING "STATE OF PREPAREDNESS" AGAINST [...] (U) SUMMARY: The GCOB discussed measures to contain and prevent the spread of Swine Flu (H1N1) at air and sea ports of entry (POEs). GCOB officials reported no confirmed cases of Swine Flu; however, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is currently at 24/7 operational capacity and is in a "state of p [...] |
2009-04-29 14:07:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR |
| 09NASSAU277 |
CORRECTED: GCOB ACTIVATING "STATE OF PREPAREDNESS" AGAINST [...] (U) SUMMARY: The GCOB discussed measures to contain and prevent the spread of Swine Flu (H1N1) at air and sea ports of entry (POEs). GCOB officials reported no confirmed cases of Swine Flu; however, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is currently at 24/7 operational capacity and is in a "state of p [...] |
2009-04-29 15:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR |
| 09NASSAU282 |
TURKS AND CAICOS: BLOGGER ACCUSES COAST GUARD OF [...] (U) A blogger in the Turks and Caicos (TCI) posted an on-line report April 27 alleging that the TCI authorities, assisted by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter, were engaged in "burning and smoking immigrants out of the 'bush'" during an immigration raid. The blogger witnessed the events a [...] |
2009-05-01 12:40:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KPAO BF |
| 09NASSAU288 |
Nassau H1N1 SITREP Update 1: Potential Cases Emerge [...] (U) According to press reports, medical authorities "reported swine flu-like symptoms" in a New Providence resident recently returned from Mexico. Minister of Health (MoH) Hubert Minnis announced that the unidentified individual is under surveillance and has elected to go into voluntary quara [...] |
2009-05-01 15:46:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR |
| 09NASSAU291 |
BAHAMAS VOTES FOR KOSOVO AT IMF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Ingraham, also Finance Minister, has decided to support Kosovo's membership in the IMF. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the GCOB's decision does not constitute a change in policy on recognition, however. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Charge d'Affaires re [...] |
2009-05-04 18:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL KV BF |
| 09NASSAU292 |
REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO TCI (CHARGE) [...] Charge Timothy Zuniga-Brown requests permission to travel to Turks ans Caicos Islands for meetings with U.S. Coast Guard (OPBAT) and senior TCI government officials, and to look at a proposed site for a consular office. He plans to depart Nassau on May 12 and return to Nassau on May 17. 2. [...] |
2009-05-04 19:54:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | APER AMGT OTRA BF |
| 09NASSAU293 |
NASSAU MONTHLY - APRIL 2009 [...] This is a monthly report on a variety of topics of interest which do not merit full reporting cables. -- Rum Drinkers Mourn as Bacardi Closes for Good -- Reality TV Comes to The Bahamas -- Arrested Gambling Kingpin "Would Not Support National Lottery" -- Embassy Re-Plants JFK Tree for Earth [...] |
2009-05-06 17:38:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL BF |
| 09NASSAU294 |
CUBAN EMBASSY LAUNCHES ANOTHER PRO-CUBA GROUP IN [...] (U) The Cuban Ambassador in Nassau launched the "Bahamas-Cuba Friendship Association" May 2 at a May Day event at his residence, according to local media and the Cuban Embassy's web site. Attendees included Cuban diplomats, Cuban teachers working in The Bahamas, Bahamian graduates of Cuban u [...] |
2009-05-06 20:32:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PGOV PREL CU BF |
| 09NASSAU305 |
CHARGE'S DEPARTURE FROM POST, MAY 12 TO 17, 2009 [...] (SBU) The Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Timothy Zuniga-Brown, departed Nassau on May 12, 2009 at 9:30 am. He will return to Nassau on May 17, 2009. 2. (SBU) Acting DCM David S. Elmo will assume charge untile the return of the Charge. ZUNIGA-BROWN [...] |
2009-05-12 17:42:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER OTRA BF |
| 09NASSAU308 |
CLASSIFIED NETWORK DOWN FOR GITM UPGRADE [...] Embassy Nassau's classfied network will down on Thursday, May 14 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and on Friday, May 15 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. 2. Since Classnet will unavailable at these times, please contact Embassy Nassau directly at 242-322-1181. ZUNIGA-BROWN [...] |
2009-05-14 14:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER |