Paul I Jukic  03/14/2008 10:01:29 AM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

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UNCLAS        NASSAU 01455

SIPDIS
CXNASSAU:
    ACTION: AMB
    INFO:   CONS RSO POL DCM

DISSEMINATION: AMB /1
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA:HARDTDB
DRAFTED: POL:PIJUKIC
CLEARED: POL:DBOCONNER

VZCZCBHI522
RR RUEHC RUCNCOM
DE RUEHBH #1455/01 3402135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 062135Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5008
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 001455 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR WHAT/CAR A. NORMAN, M. FORTIN; PRM J. YUTACOM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM SMIG BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS REACTS POSITIVELY, SEEKS MORE INFO ON 
DEPORTEE REINTEGRATION PILOT PROJECT 
 
REF: A. STATE 144201 
     ¶B. STATE 153189 
 
¶1. (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 
involvement.  Officials initially made no reference to 
participation of other CARICOM states nor raised objections 
to the pursuit of bilateral solutions.  Prospects of success 
are good given past cooperation with IOM, relatively high 
economic development, low number of deportees, and expressed 
desire by law enforcement officials for better tracking of 
criminal deportees upon arrival. Coordination among 
government agencies may be the biggest challenge.  Post will 
work closely with IOM and GCOB interlocutors to ensure 
start-up goes smoothly, and seek to leverage association with 
the project to improve cooperation in other areas of 
migration management, which is a major policy issue facing 
the government.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Following initial working-level contacts at the 
Ministry of National Security and Immigration (MNS) and the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on November 6 then Charge 
briefed the office of the Permanent Secretary in the MNS on 
the Department's signing of the grant agreement with the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) to develop and 
implement a pilot program to assist Jamaica, Guyana and The 
Bahamas with the reintegration of deportees from the U.S. The 
Ministry specifically inquired about who from IOM would 
coordinate the program, when the government might hear from 
them, and what the division of responsibility between the 
government and IOM, to say nothing of local NGO actors, might 
be. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Working-level briefings by PolOff at the MNS and 
MFA were greeted with similar expressions of support and 
requests for further information. PolOff made clear that IOM, 
as the Department's implementing partner, would be following 
up with the government directly on specifics.  GCOB officials 
initially made no reference to participation of other CARICOM 
states nor did they voice objections to the pursuit of 
bilateral solutions, consistent with the GCOB's low interest 
in regional action through CARICOM.  In follow-up contacts, 
it emerged that there might be reservations about the current 
project model in some quarters within the MFA in favor of a 
regional approach.  However, subsequent contacts with the 
Minister provided assurance that the Bahamas was eager to 
move forward with the project. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  The IOM Regional Representative for North America 
and the Caribbean, Dick Scott, informed Post on November 9 
that IOM had sent a letter on November 2 to Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Sheila Carey introducing 
the pilot project and asking for GCOB support in arranging 
the initial IOM visit.  IOM is expected to send a 
representative to Nassau imminently to consult with the GCOB. 
 Post will work closely with IOM and government interlocutors 
to ensure that the start-up phase goes as smoothly as 
possible.  During a September 12-13 visit to Nassau, the IOM 
chief previewed the Deportee Reintegration Pilot Project with 
Bahamian interlocutors and was advised to coordinate future 
activities with the Bahamian MFA.  PolOff also met with and 
was briefed by the IOM team on migration issues more broadly 
and the GCOB's (still undetermined) priorities at that time. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  Prospects for the Deportee Reintegration Pilot 
Project's success in The Bahamas are good. Aside from the 
positive official reception, the Bahamas has a track record 
of good cooperation with IOM, according to both IOM officials 
and GCOB immigration officials with whom PolOff is in regular 
contact.  The Bahamas' relatively high level of economic 
development and low levels of unemployment bode particularly 
well for planned business skills training and job placement 
activities for returnees, and possibly for small enterprise 
development.  Law enforcement officials have publicly voiced 
concern about the continued criminal activities of criminal 
deportees "from North America" and elsewhere upon their 
return to The Bahamas and the familiar criminal milieu. 
Consequently, police officials informed Legat that they are 
seeing a better method of tracking or managing criminal 
deportees upon return. 
 
¶6. (SBU) In addition, the GCOB is actively searching for 
policies to fight increasing crime domestically, among other 
ways by focusing government and societal efforts on 
rehabilitation of previous offenders.  This initiative 
corresponds well with that oft-expressed goal.  With low 
numbers of deportees (approximately 75 in 2006, according to 
IOM), an active NGO sector, and welcoming official climate, 
The Bahamas ought to be able to successfully re-integrate 
deportees with IOM's assistance despite any shortcomings in 
existing government capacity. 
 
¶7. (SBU)  COMMENT:  As the MFA is unlikely to play an 
operational role in setting up the project, coordination 
among government agencies may be the biggest challenge for 
the project's successful implementation, certainly in the 
early going.  Post will assist and seek to leverage 
association with the reintegration project to improve 
cooperation in other areas of migration management in which 
IOM has expertise and Post has a stake, including improved 
anti-fraud procedures and methodologies, anti-trafficking 
efforts, and respect for human rights of migrants and 
asylum-seekers. 
HARDT