VZCZCXRO0578
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHJL #0382/01 1661751
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151751Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6747
INFO RULSDMK/DOT WASHDC
RUEANHA/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCOWCA/COGARD MIO EUROPE ROTTERDAM NL
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 1234
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0253

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANJUL 000382 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/EPS, EB/TRA/OTP 
FAA FOR AIA 
TRANSPORTATION FOR OST 
USCG ROTTERDAM FOR LCDR PATRICIA SPRINGER 
ROME PASS TO TSA 
FRANKFURT PASS TO TSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECONEAIR FAA PTER ASEC OTRA EWWT ETRD GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: TSA AND USCG SECURITY ASSESSEMENT VISIT 
 
REF: STATE 50595 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY. The port and airport of Banjul were reviewed by 
visitors from USCG and TSA in early June.  Gambian officials 
welcomed the visits and were open to all recommendations for 
improvements to enhance security.  Both the port and airport 
received overall favorable reviews and are judged to meet minimum 
international security standards.  The TSA visit coincided with 
the resumption of direct flight service between Baltimore and 
Banjul on June 4 by North American Airlines.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) LCDR Patricia Springer, an International Port Security 
Liaison Officer based in Rotterdam, visited The Gambia from 29 
May to June 1.  While here she was able to meet with senior 
officials at the Gambia Port Authority (GPA) and the Works, 
Construction & Infrastructural Development Ministry, which 
oversees the port and airport.  The intention of her visit was to 
follow up on recommendations made in a March demarche (ref a) to 
bring Banjul's port into compliance with International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security 
(ISPS) Code.  Her overall assessment of the port was favorable 
and she recommended that The Gambia need not/not be placed on the 
ISPS boarding matrix (detailed ref a) at this time. 
 
¶3. (SBU) LCDR Springer commented that security measures had 
improved since her October 2005 visit, particularly in the area 
of access control and identification procedures, where she noted 
vast improvement.  The use of metal detectors and plain clothes 
roving security were also noted as new 'best practices' at the 
port.  In her meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Works 
(attended by TSA Rep and Poloff), LCDR Springer recommended that 
GPA receive funding to acquire for hand-held radios for all 
security personnel and that the area of waterside patrol and 
security still needs to be addressed.  She suggested the 
possibility of enlisting the help of local fishermen and boaters 
in a type of "community watch" used in other countries in this 
sub-region.  COMMENT:  Both the GPA and the Works Ministry 
received all recommendations with a positive attitude.  The Coast 
Guard visit was seen as an opportunity to improve and explore 
areas for possible cooperation rather than an inspection.  Any 
further outreach, training, or support that the Coast Guard could 
provide would be welcomed by the GPA.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Coast Guard visit took place simultaneously with a 
security visit by Rome-based TSA Attach John Halinski and two 
aviation security inspectors. Their visit focused on procedures 
in place for the resumption of direct flights between Banjul and 
Baltimore as well as working with the Gambian Civil Aviation 
Authority (GCAA) to bring the country into compliance with 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) minimum 
standards.  RSO and Poloff met with the inspectors, who reported 
their assessment that the airport meets ICAO minimum standards. 
Both Halinski and the inspectors expressed confidence in the 
management and security teams at GCAA.  When deficiencies were 
noted, for example with the perimeter fence, officials moved 
quickly to remedy them.  The security team did note that The 
Gambia is overdue for conducting an ICAO full-scale security 
exercise, which should be held as soon as possible.  GCAA cited 
high management turnover (four Director Generals in three years) 
as their main limiting factor in undertaking initiatives such as 
a full-scale exercise.  COMMENT: As with GPA, GCAA welcomes 
visits and support from US security experts, and the management 
demonstrates an awareness that cooperation with USG on airport 
security is vital if Banjul is to move towards its goal of 
becoming a regional air hub.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶5. (U) The inaugural North American Airlines flight to Baltimore 
took off as scheduled on June 4, and returned on June 5, bringing 
many airline executives and private Americans exploring possible 
projects in The Gambia.  The bi-annual Roots Festival was being 
held the same week, resulting in relatively high number of 
American visitors from different private organizations (the 
Rotary Club of Parole, Maryland, the Eddie Robinson Foundation, 
and the African King of Comedy, to name a few.)  The Ambassador 
held a welcoming reception for North American Airlines, which 
provided an opportunity to bring together many of these American 
visitors with contacts in the Gambian government and private 
sector. 
 
BANJUL 00000382  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) COMMENT: Embassy Banjul wishes to extend thanks to our 
visitors from TSA and USCG.  GPA and GCAA are two of The Gambia's 
better-run government agencies, and we support any capacity- 
building programs that can help them meet and exceed 
international security standards, and, in the case of the 
airport, achieve Category One status that would enable Gambian 
registered aircraft to fly directly to the United States.   END 
COMMENT. 
 
STAFFORD