VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0160/01 0751704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161704Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6213

UNCLAS NASSAU 000160 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR CFED CJAN PREL PGOV SOCI BF
SUBJECT: FY2010 DEMARCHE/OBJECTIVES FOR THE MAJORS LIST 
REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE 
BAHAMAS (GCOB) 
 
¶1. (SBU) Narcotics Affairs Officer (NAO) delivered reftel demarche 
to Ministry of National Security Permanent Secretary Missouri 
Sherman-Peter on March 13. NAO shared reftel points regarding the 
Majors List process and, while Sherman-Peter said she understood the 
rationale behind including The Bahamas on the Majors List as a 
transit country, she expressed concern about negative portrayals in 
Bahamian and American news media. Noting the GCOB's successful 
participation in Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and bilateral 
counternarcotics efforts since the 1980s, NAO told Sherman-Peter the 
embassy had engaged with local media in the past to ensure accurate 
coverage of the Majors List announcement and would continue to do 
so. 
 
¶2. (U) Per reftel instructions, the text of the Majors List 
diplomatic note is included below. The diplomatic note was delivered 
on March 13. 
 
BEGIN TEXT 
 
No. 045/09 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments 
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The 
Bahamas and has the honor to request the Ministry transmit the 
following information regarding the United States Government's 
annual narcotics "Majors List" report to relevant officers in the 
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. 
 
The United States Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), 
requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report 
identifying each country determined by the President to be a major 
drug transit country or major illicit drug producing country. The 
President is also required in that report to identify any country on 
the majors list that has "failed demonstrably. . . to make 
substantial efforts" during the previous twelve months to adhere to 
international counternarcotics agreements and to take certain 
counternarcotics measures set forth in United States law. United 
States Government assistance under the current foreign operations 
appropriations act may not be provided to any country designated as 
having "failed demonstrably." 
 
While the President will make his Majors List determinations based 
on The Bahamas compliance with all aspects of the 1988 UN Drug 
Convention, our bilateral agreements, other multilateral agreements, 
and the elimination of corruption, there are specific areas of 
interest that we will highlight during the Majors List process. 
 
Though The Bahamas was identified as a major drug transit point last 
year, the United States Government appreciates the efforts of the 
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to disrupt drug 
smuggling operations in Bahamian territory. The Bahamas' commitment 
and cooperation in Operations Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and 
The Bahamas' collaboration with United States Government partner 
agencies including the Department of State, the Department of 
Defense, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, 
and other U.S. law enforcement agencies. These partnerships have 
helped build a solid foundation for our efforts to stop the flow of 
illegal narcotics. The United States Government appreciates and 
highly encourages continued combined operations and cooperative 
efforts to maintain close partnership and mutual understanding of 
regional threats and challenges.  Continued use of the Comprehensive 
Maritime Agreement for law enforcement operations is particularly 
effective. 
 
The United States Government appreciates the Government of the 
Commonwealth of The Bahamas efforts to maintain and operate its 
maritime assets in key locations to respond to smuggling threats in 
Bahamian waters and the decision to acquire new aviation and 
maritime assets for the Royal Bahamian Defense Force should enhance 
its effectiveness. This same spirit of cooperation and foresight 
should be applied to our efforts to insure the rapid reconstruction 
of OPBAT facilities in Matthewtown, Great Inagua - a critical 
location for OPBAT's continued strong and effective counternarcotics 
presence in the southern Bahamas. 
 
In addition to efforts to interdict illicit drugs transiting The 
Bahamas, the United States Government asks the Government of the 
Commonwealth of The Bahamas to continue to facilitate the 
extradition of individuals involved in narcotics trafficking. The 
extradition of Dwight and Keva Majors last year was an outstanding 
example of cooperation. Future cooperation that results in more 
rapid extradition is needed. 
 
The United States Government also encourages the Government of the 
Commonwealth of The Bahamas to assist the Government of Haiti in its 
efforts to fight narcotics trafficking and upgrade the capabilities 
of the Haitian National Police (HNP). Recent training programs 
conducted by the Royal Bahamian Police Force with the HNP were good 
step in the right direction. Further cooperation, such as the 
placement of a HNP officer at Great Inagua would facilitate 
interviews of Haitian vessel crewmembers transiting The Bahamas and 
help deter drug and migrant smuggling. 
 
 
Finally, the United States Government appreciates the many steps the 
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has taken to enhance 
security at Lynden Pindling International Airport, however it 
continues to be a concern since it remains vulnerable to illicit 
drugs and illegal migrants traveling to the United States. A robust 
program of oversight, vetting and training should be considered to 
counter that threat. 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this 
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 
Commonwealth of The Bahamas the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
 
Embassy of the United States of America, 
Nassau, March 13, 2009. 
 
 
ZUNIGA-BROWN