VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0239/01 0582213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 272213Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3894
INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN 0042
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5548
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3621
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8485
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3495
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4655
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2777
RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0394
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS NASSAU 000239 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, G/TIP, G, INL, DRL,PRM, WHA/PPC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWNM ELAB SMIG KFRD PREF BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: SEVENTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
REPORT 
 
REF: 06 STATE 202745 
 
--------------------- 
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES 
---------------------- 
 
¶1.  (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 transit, or 
of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, child 
labor or other forms of serious trafficking.  At particular 
risk are the vulnerable Haitian communities, but known cases 
also include persons from other migrant groups.  More 
research is needed to determine the extent of the problem, as 
there are no government or other statistics available to 
quantify trafficking.  A governmental task force has been 
established to examine the issue, but it has made only 
limited progress in assessing the scope of the problem. 
 
-- Post has received reliable, consistent and ongoing reports 
from a local human rights NGO, a Haitian community group, 
employers and individual migrant workers indicating a labor 
trafficking problem.  Some government officials privately 
agree that the problem exists.  These sources indicate that 
labor trafficking is commonplace, and informal estimates of 
the number of persons trafficked range from over one hundred 
to over one thousand.  These rough estimates have not been 
confirmed and are not supported by formal study. 
 
-- Post has received several direct complaints regarding 
trafficking in the domestic service industry.  In three 
cases, sources have reported that employers have withheld 
travel documents from migrant domestic workers and physically 
restrained them inside the house where they are employed 
outside of work hours.  In one case, the migrant domestic 
worker alleged sexual abuse.  More widespread existence of 
labor trafficking in the domestic service industry was 
suggested in Post's meetings with leaders in the local 
Haitian community, a local human rights NGO, and by contacts 
in the general community.  All contacts believed that labor 
trafficking in domestic service was widespread. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) B:  According to a September 2006 IOM study on 
Haitian migration, there are an estimated 30,000 - 60,000 
Haitians in The Bahamas who "are not well integrated into 
Bahamian society." The study found distrust of Bahamian 
authorities by the Haitian community and claims of abuse of 
Haitians by Bahamian authorities.  The IOM study also found 
that members of the Haitian community serve as a source of 
cheap labor and that employers use migrant labor without 
regard to legality of the employment.  It found that Haitian 
workers may be surcharged by employers to obtain 
documentation and found that Haitian workers claim to be paid 
wages unacceptable to Bahamian workers.  The 2006 study 
follows the IOM's 2005 Exploratory Assessment of Trafficking 
in Persons in The Bahamas, where the IOM concluded that The 
Bahamas provides an environment "fertile for facilitating the 
criminal activity of trafficking in persons."  Many persons 
interviewed by IOM in the 2005 assessment believed that 
trafficking existed, and several felt the problem was 
widespread. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) B, CONTINUED:  The Bahamas is experiencing strong 
job and economic growth, creating a demand for foreign 
workers.  Local immigration law requires employers to request 
migrant work permits from the Department of Immigration 
before the worker arrives in The Bahamas, with delivery of 
the permits made to the employer and limited to work for the 
particular employer.  The employer has the ability to cancel 
the permit directly with the Department of Immigration and 
require the migrant to return home.  Compliance with the work 
permit requirement is uneven, and immigration enforcement 
against illegal migrants is vigorous.  Some employers do not 
request work permits, some receive permits after lengthy 
delays during which the worker is in The Bahamas without 
 
documentation, and some employers withhold visas from workers 
once obtained.  Some employers are exploiting workers who 
have migrated willingly and accepted offers of labor by 
express and implied threat of deportation if employment 
demands are not met.  Some employers use the threat of 
withdrawal of the employer-specific and employer-held 
permits, and/or the threat of turning the employee over to 
immigration, as a point of leverage to require migrant 
workers to work longer hours, at lower pay, and in conditions 
not permitted under local labor law.  There are known cases 
of the use of physical restraint of workers during off-duty 
hours.  Vigorous immigration enforcement, lack of migrant 
trust of authorities, lack of legal protections for the 
workers and poor conditions in the country of origin combine 
to create disincentives for migrants to complain.  Government 
directions that complaints be made to the Department of 
Immigration contribute to the lack of reporting by vulnerable 
migrants. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) C: In practice, the Government's ability to respond 
to trafficking is limited by its procedures for reporting and 
monitoring trafficking, and by its methods for providing work 
permits directly to an employer limited to work for that 
employer.  The official position of the Government is, 
because it received no official reports of trafficking, it is 
not a problem.  However, some government officials have 
privately expressed concern.  The Government publicly said 
that trafficking reports should be made to the Department of 
Immigration.  However, because no protections exist for 
trafficking victims under law, trafficking is not clearly 
unlawful in The Bahamas, employers have the ability to 
withdraw work permits, and because of strong anti-immigrant 
efforts by the Department of Immigration, victims are very 
unlikely to report their employers to the Department of 
Immigration.  According to reliable contacts within the 
vulnerable Haitian community, potential trafficking victims 
are unwilling to approach Bahamian immigration or law 
enforcement officials due to fear of deportation.  The 
Government currently lacks the resources to fully study and 
evaluate the trafficking issue without outside assistance. 
Without more direct reports of trafficking to the Government, 
the issue is not a high priority for funding or attention. 
If these problems were overcome by passage of legislation to 
protect trafficking victims, make trafficking illegal, and 
establish a reporting authority outside of the Department of 
Immigration, corruption and capability would not be limiting 
factors. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) D: The Government does not systematically monitor 
anti-trafficking efforts or have assessments of those efforts. 
 
---------- 
PREVENTION 
---------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) A: The Government does not officially recognize 
trafficking as a significant issue because there have not 
been complaints to the Department of Immigration or police 
regarding trafficking.  However, some government officials 
privately acknowledge potential problems.  Immigration or 
police officials receiving reports, particularly of the 
subtle types of labor trafficking alleged, may lack 
sufficient training to recognize the issue as a trafficking, 
as opposed to an immigration or work permit problem. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) B: The Department of Immigration takes the lead in 
anti-trafficking issues, and has publicly stated that it is 
the point of contact for trafficking concerns.  There is also 
an informal Trafficking in Persons Task Force, including 
representatives from the Department of Immigration, the 
Ministry of Social Services, the Legal Aid Clinic and the 
Attorney General's Office.  Two members of the Task Force are 
also involved with a local human rights NGO formed in late 
2006 to address migrant rights issues.  The Task Force did 
not meet regularly in 2006, but its members appear eager to 
address trafficking concerns. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) C: The Government participated in a regional 
anti-trafficking training program with the IOM in June.  The 
program, which trained law enforcement persons to identify 
and respond to trafficking was well attended and helped 
increase awareness of trafficking in local law enforcement. 
However, lack of local trafficking laws continue to limit the 
effectiveness of such training. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) D:  The government actively promotes women's rights 
and equal opportunity for employment in the public and 
private sectors.  Women are active in politics, and are 
represented at the highest levels of government, including 
the Attorney General and the Deputy Prime Minister.  Children 
are required to attend school through age 16, and generally 
do so.  These factors, and the relative wealth of the nation, 
serve to limit trafficking in Bahamians. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) E:  Government is responsive to civil society. 
The makeup of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force, 
including persons affiliated with a human rights NGO, is 
generally reflective of a good relationship between 
government and civil society.  According to the IOM, the 
Government is a highly cooperative and strong ally on 
anti-trafficking efforts.  Post believes that the Government 
would be receptive to approach by civil society or the U.S. 
to improve anti-trafficking efforts. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) F:  The Government does not monitor immigration 
and emigration patters for evidence of trafficking, or screen 
for potential trafficking victims along borders. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) G:  The Trafficking in Persons Task Force is the 
mechanism for coordination and communication between various 
agencies and serves as the point of contact for trafficking 
issues.  However, the Task Force does not regularly meet and 
did not have significant output during the reporting period. 
There is no public corruption task force. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) H:  The Government does not have a national plan 
to address trafficking in persons. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶14.  (SBU) A-J:  The Bahamas does not have a law specifically 
prohibiting trafficking in persons, but it would likely be 
receptive to one.  A member of the Department of Social 
Services and the Anti-Trafficking Task Force has requested 
copies of anti-trafficking legislation from Jamaica, which 
Post has provided.  Under existing law, some traffickers 
could be prosecuted under Title X of the Statute Law which 
addresses sexual offenses, abduction, prostitution and 
domestic violence.  Under Chapter 99 of Title X, persons who 
attempt to procure an individual for the purposes of 
prostitution by force, threats, intimidation or drugging is 
guilty of a crime subject to eight years imprisonment.  The 
law also contains provisions against the forcible detainment 
of women and children.  Sexual assault and rape are criminal, 
with penalties of 7 years to life.  The Government has 
prosecuted no traffickers, had no occasion to cooperate on 
trafficking cases, and does not actively investigate cases of 
alleged trafficking.  It claims it does not do so because of 
lack of complaints. 
 
¶15.  (SBU) C:   There are no known statutes that specifically 
punish labor trafficking or provide punishment for labor 
recruiters.  There are no specific laws addressing employer 
confiscation of documentation, switching of contracts as part 
of labor trafficking or withholding of salary as part of 
trafficking.  However, there is a well-developed labor law 
that provides for minimum wages, maximum working hours, clear 
statement of terms of employment and significant additional 
worker protections.  Relevant law protecting workers includes 
the Health and Safety at Work Act of 2002, the Employment Act 
of 2001, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1988 and the 
Industrial Relations Act of 1970.  However, migrant workers 
 
often do not have access to these legal protections. 
 
¶16.  (SBU) G:  Reports have not alleged that organized crime 
syndicates are responsible for trafficking.  It is alleged 
that individual employers are exploiting migrant workers, 
legal and illegal, who have migrated willingly and accepted 
offers of labor.  The exploitation happens by threat of 
deportation, express and implied, if employment demands are 
not met.  Further research is needed to determine whether 
organized smugglers work with employers to fill needs for 
workers. 
 
¶17.  (SBU) I: The government participates in regional 
training regarding trafficking in persons, including IOM 
training in June and participation in U.N.-sponsored 
activities.  However, it does not independently provide 
trafficking training for government employees. 
 
¶18.  (SBU) K: The government has not been asked to extradite 
any person charged with trafficking in another country, but 
is generally cooperative with extradition requests.  U.S. law 
enforcement enjoys strong cooperation from the Government on 
law enforcement matters, including on extradition of Bahamian 
nationals. 
 
¶19.  (SBU) L, M:  There is no evidence of general government 
involvement in or tolerance of trafficking.  However, in 
November 2006, Poloff received a report of a government 
official who withheld documentation of his Philippine 
domestic worker, threatened to and in fact did deport the 
worker for attempting to change employers, and kept the 
worker locked in her bedroom outside of working hours.  The 
worker refused to file a complaint and there has been no 
action against the official. 
 
¶20.  (SBU) N, O:  There is no known child sex tourism 
problem.  The Government ratified ILO Convention 182 
concerning the Prohibition of the Worst Forms of Child Labor 
on June 14, 2002.  It ratified ILO conventions 29 and 105 of 
Forced or Compulsory Labor on May 25, 1976.  It has not 
signed or ratified the Optional Protocol on the Convention on 
the Rights of the Child.  It signed the Protocol to Prevent, 
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons on April 9, 2001, 
but has not ratified it. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶21.  (SBU) A-I:  There are no laws, programs, training or 
funding in place to protect or assist trafficking victims. 
However, a member of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force 
has suggested that the Bahamas Crisis Center, currently 
providing support to victims of sexual and domestic abuse, 
could provide assistance in counseling, referrals to law 
enforcement, a 24-hour hotline and related assistance to 
trafficking victims.  There has been no formal action to 
expand the role of the Crisis Center to include work with 
trafficking victims.  There are no formal screening or 
referral processes to protect potential victims.  There are 
no local NGOs working locally to protect trafficking victims, 
but the Bahamas Human Rights Network is becoming increasingly 
interested in the issue as part of its outreach to local 
migrants.  Additionally, IOM works regionally on trafficking 
issues and enjoys a strong relationship with the Government. 
The Red Cross, the Salvation Army and local church groups 
provide assistance to illegal migrants and would be willing 
to assist trafficking victims. 
 
---------- 
CONCLUSION 
---------- 
 
¶22.  (SBU) Evidence of human trafficking in The Bahamas 
exists, arising primarily from the labor market for migrants. 
 However, determining the number of persons trafficked 
remains difficult.  Regardless, legislation to criminalize 
 
trafficking and protect victims is needed.  Also needed is 
review of a system that provides employers with too much 
control over documentation and does not give migrant workers 
access to the well-developed local laws protecting workers. 
 
¶23.  (SBU)  Since listing The Bahamas as "special mention" in 
the 2006 TIP report, a positive change in official attitudes 
regarding trafficking appears to be under way.  Of particular 
note is the development of the Bahamas Human Rights Network 
in late 2006, a new NGO focused on migrant rights developed 
with PRM funding and significant Post support.  Two members 
of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force participate in the 
Network.  Post's recent meetings with Task Force and Human 
Rights Network members on trafficking concerns have been 
positive.  The request for sample legislation by the Task 
Force was particularly encouraging, as was discussion of the 
use of existing Crisis Center resources as a 
trafficking-victims protection center.  Based on these 
positive developments, and continued lack of data to quantify 
the trafficking problem, Post requests that The Bahamas 
maintain its "special mention" status in the Seventh Annual 
Trafficking in Persons Report. 
 
¶24.  (U)  The Post point of contact for trafficking is 
Gregory Floyd, Pol/Econ Officer, (242) 322-1181, fax (242) 
356-0222.  This report was drafted in six hours by Pol/Econ 
Officer, FS-04.  Related investigation and meetings involved 
approximately 45 hours. 
HARDT