VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0137 0302147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302147Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3793
INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN 0031
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5535
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3613
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8473
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3487
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4644
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2760
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0376

UNCLAS NASSAU 000137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, CA/P DSTAEBEN, CA/PPT FMOSS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CPAS PREL ECON BF
SUBJECT: WHTI IMPLEMENTED SMOOTHLY, BUT MINISTER TAKES 
CREDIT FOR DEADLINE "EXTENSION" 
 
REF: 06 NASSAU 1611 
 
¶1.  (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 first 
week in force, 17,261 Americans passed through CPB's 
Pre-clearance facility and only 32 of these American 
travelers did not have the required travel document.  CBP 
also notes easier processing and improved service to 
travelers because of the increased passport usage, with no 
significant change in the numbers of passengers processed. 
Local hotels have maintained high occupancy rates that appear 
to be unchanged by implementation.  WHTI has, to date, had 
negligible impact on travelers to The Bahamas. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The only confusion arising from WHTI implementation 
in The Bahamas was generated by the Bahamian Minister of 
Tourism, who traveled to Washington January 24 and met with 
U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson, Chairman of the Homeland 
Security Committee.  Following his Hill meeting, Wilchcombe 
triumphantly proclaimed to the Bahamian media that his 
discussions with the Congressman had resulted in a "waiver" 
of the initiative and an "extension" of the January 23 
deadline.  Wilchcombe asserted that his lobbying in 
Washington and relationships in Congress were responsible for 
his success (which neither his Prime Minister nor Foreign 
Minister had been able to achieve).  This erroneous 
information was widely carried in local and regional media, 
with Wilchcombe hailed as a regional hero in some reports. 
Wilchcombe also promised additional meetings with DHS 
officials during the "extension" period in ongoing attempts 
to have implementation further delayed. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Post moved quickly to correct Wilchcombe's 
statements, while seeking to avoid embarrassment to this 
senior minister by providing local media with facts regarding 
the smooth implementation of WHTI and the "common sense, 
flexible approach" to implementation adopted by CBP during 
the initial phase-in period.  Post emphasized the need for 
Americans to travel with passports, noted that WHTI was in 
full force, and made clear that its requirements had not been 
waived or delayed in any way.  Charge spoke directly with the 
Tourism Minister on two occasions emphasizing the 
counterproductive nature of his public statements, which 
could sow confusion among American travelers and Bahamian 
hoteliers.  Despite Post's efforts, Wilchcombe's alleged 
victory in Congress continued to reverberate within the local 
media.  In one case, a story discussing Post's press release 
that "no waiver had been granted" included a report that the 
Minister was hard at work pursuing "an extension to the 
waiver." 
 
¶4.  (SBU) COMMENT:  WHTI is likely to have a modest impact on 
so-called impulse travel to The Bahamas -- people who see an 
ad on television on a cold day and say 'I have to get away to 
The Bahamas.'  Hoteliers claim they have had cancellations of 
larger groups for business meetings or weddings where all 
participants may not have passports.  Nevertheless, bookings 
remain strong for most hotels, suggesting that earlier 
predictions of empty hotels and mass unemployment amounting 
to a "Category 6 Hurricane" were overblown.  Given this 
successful rollout, it is hard to understand what the 
Minister of Tourism is hoping to achieve by rearguard 
lobbying.  His real motives appear to have more to do with 
domestic politics and looming elections.  Wilchcombe's 
exaggerated claims may have boosted his political fortunes 
for the elections and within his party, where he is seen as a 
potential successor to PM Christie.  But he has also annoyed 
some of his party colleagues who see his grandstanding as 
coming at their expense. 
 
¶5.  COMMENT (continued): Post is continuing to reach out to 
local media outlets to ensure they understand that WHTI is in 
force and that there are no prospects for its being rolled 
back, no matter what the Minister of Tourism might be 
suggesting.  END COMMENT. 
HARDT