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UNCLAS        NASSAU 00094

SIPDIS
CXNASSAU:
    ACTION: NAS
    INFO:   FBI MLO CGLO OPBAT AMB DCM DEA POL

DISSEMINATION: NAS
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA: DBHARDT
DRAFTED: NAS: DFORAN
CLEARED: CGLO: MFREDIE

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DE RUEHBH #0094/01 0321218
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FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5167
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2886
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3595
INFO RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5660
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8583
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4751
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0167
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RUCOWCZ/COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA//A/AOOI//
RUEABND/DEA DISTRICT OFFICE FT LAUDERDALE
RUEABND/DEA DIVISION OFFICE MIAMI FL
RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHINGTON DC//PASS TO USCG//
RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
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RUEAORD/USCS AIRBRANCH MIAMI FL
RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC 0096

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NASSAU 000094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
INL/LP FOR KEVIN BROWN 
WHA/CAR FOR JOSEPH TILGHMAN 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL TK UK BF
SUBJ: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS DRUG AND MIGRANT STRATEGIES IN TRI-LATERAL 
MEETINGS IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (U) On December 11-12, 2007, the Ambassador and the Bahamian 
Minister of State for Immigration traveled to the Turks and Caicos 
Islands (TCI) at the invitation of its Governor to discuss illegal 
migration and narcotics smuggling.  The trip coincided with the 
first port call by U.S. Coast Guard cutters in TCI.  During a series 
of bilateral and trilateral meetings, the U.S. The Bahamas, and the 
TCI discussed the need to engage with the government of Haiti, ways 
to improve the exchange of information and intelligence concerning 
drug and migrant trafficking, agreeing to form a task force to 
develop protocols for the real time exchange of information and 
intelligence.  They also agreed to cooperate in exchanging 
information concerning potential terrorist threats and in disaster 
preparation.  The Ambassador offered to host a subsequent round of 
trilateral discussions in March 2008. Embassy Nassau would welcome 
the participation of representatives from U.S. Embassies in 
Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo in this effort to improve 
information and intelligence sharing on drugs and migrants.  End 
Summary. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. (U) On December 11, 2007, the Ambassador accompanied by the DEA 
Country Attach, Narcotics Affairs Officer (NAO), Operations 
Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Operations Center Commander and Coast 
Guard Liaison Officer (CGLO) traveled to Grand Turk, Turks and 
Caicos Island (TCI) at the invitation of TCI Governor, Richard 
Tauwhare to discuss drug and migrant issues.  Governor Tauwhare also 
invited representatives of the Bahamian government.  Minister of 
State for Immigration, Elma Campbell, and the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs Drugs and Crime Officer, Godfrey Rolle, represented the 
government of The Bahamas.  The meeting was scheduled to coincide 
with the first port call by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Turks and 
Caicos.  U.S. Coast Guard District Seven Commander, Admiral David 
Kunkel, his Operations Officer and Adjunct traveled to TCI to mark 
this first port visit and participate in the discussions. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador, Admiral Kunkel and their staffs first held 
a series of bilateral meetings with representatives from TCI 
followed by a trilateral meeting with representatives from TCI and 
The Bahamas.  TCI Governor Richard Tauwhare, The U.K. Law 
Enforcement Advisor to the Caribbean, Larry Covington, the U.K. 
Consul General in Miami, Keith Allen, the U.K. Military Attach, TCI 
Premier, Michael Misick, Deputy Premier Floyd Hall, Minister of Home 
Affairs, Gelmo Williams, Attorney General, the Director of 
Immigration and the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police 
participated in these meetings. (Note: TCI is a British territory 
with a Governor appointed by the British government.  The Premier 
and his Cabinet are elected locally.  End Note). 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
TCI:  BRITISH OUTPOST ON PATH OF DRUGS AND MIGRANTS 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶4. (SBU) During the bilateral meeting with TCI Governor Tauwhare, 
the Governor provided an overview of TCI's relations with Great 
Britain.  He noted that when Great Britain granted independence to 
The Bahamas, TCI was given the choice of joining The Bahamas, 
becoming independent or remaining a territory, but chose to remain 
part of Great Britain.  Over the years, the British have given the 
local government as much autonomy as possible.  The British remain 
responsible for security, both internal and external, ensuring good 
government and maintaining international standards required by 
treaty and other obligations. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Governor said that the Premier would like TCI to become 
independent and that that the British government did not oppose 
independence, but would only grant it after a popular referendum. 
He mentioned the tensions that exist with the current governing 
arrangement.  The Governor relies on the Premier for funding.  Great 
Britain formerly provided financial assistance to TCI, but this 
ended in 2005, when TCI became a middle income country.  The 
European Union provides limited support for infrastructure 
improvements.  Tauwhare described the TCI economy, noting that it 
has enjoyed fifteen percent plus growth rates over the past ten 
years.  It seeks to attract high-end tourism and has recently 
undergone a building boom in luxury homes and condominiums.  He 
mentioned that a small financial services industry exists and noted 
that the opposition complained of corruption on the part of the 
local government.  The Governor stated that there was to date no 
substantiation of corruption and that if there was evidence of 
corruption, Britain would investigate. 
 
-------------------------- 
TCI Preoccupied with Haiti 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In the bilateral meeting with the local government, Premier 
Misick expressed concern about the stability of Haiti, noting that 
TCI has suffered an onslaught of illegal Haitian immigrants.  He 
said that Haiti needed investment, not aid, to provide opportunities 
for its people.  In the wake of an incident in March 2006, during 
which sixty Haitians lost their lives when their sloop overturned 
while being towed by TCI police, TCI had engaged a team of outside 
experts to review its Marine Branch.  Misick said the team will be 
making recommendations for improving the Marine Branch's operations. 
 He noted that TCI lacked equipment to patrol its waters and 
training for its police force.  Misick emphasized that his goal was 
to ensure the safety of TCI, and he pledged to fight drugs, crime 
and money laundering.  He hoped that TCI would be seen as the "Monte 
Carlo of the Caribbean." 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Premier said his government had committed to purchasing 
a radar system which will be able to detect vessels as soon as they 
leave Haitian waters.  He stated that the government would equip its 
forces within its means.  He plans to invest millions of dollars in 
a closed circuit television system in order to prevent crime and 
mentioned that the legislature is considering laws allowing 
wiretaps, something the DEA indicates would greatly expand drug 
related intelligence gathering capabilities.  He mentioned that the 
government had banned wooden-hulled sailing sloops from ports in 
TCI, as U.S. law enforcement authorities had recommended in recent 
Joint Task Force meetings, but lacked the assets to fully enforce 
this ban.  He expressed concern about the possibility of a mass 
migration from Haiti and noted that disaster preparation was an item 
high on his agenda.  He asked for U.S. assistance with revamping the 
Marine Branch, suggestions about suitable vessels for the upgrades, 
as well as appropriate equipment and training. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
WORKING TOGETHER TO COMBAT ILLEGAL DRUGS AND MIGRATION 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) At the trilateral meeting, the Governor reviewed the issues 
facing TCI, including the threat of crime, illegal migration and 
narcotics smuggling.  In discussing illegal migration, the Governor 
commented that there are an estimated 35,000 people living in TCI, 
only 10,000 of whom are "belongers," the local term for citizens. 
He added that TCI planned to expand its Police Force, upgrade its 
detention center, and was negotiating an MOU with the government of 
Haiti to address issues surrounding illegal Haitian migrants in TCI. 
 Tauwhare explained that TCI has only twenty-five police officers. 
He mentioned that the review of the Marine Branch would recommend 
that it merge with Fisheries, increasing manpower to eighty-two 
officers.  He stated that the Marine Branch currently has only two 
vessels.  Bahamian Minister Campbell observed that The Bahamas faces 
challenges similar to those confronting TCI, and said the GCOB 
remained committed to working with the U.S. and TCI to overcome 
these common challenges.  She pointed out that the GCOB was in the 
process of upgrading the capabilities of the Royal Bahamas Police 
Force (RBPF) and Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) through 
increased resources and additional assets. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Ambassador noted the importance of engaging Haiti more 
effectively to combat its increased role in migrant and narcotics 
trafficking.  He said the U.S. sought to enhance the integration and 
coordination of assets from OPBAT, the U.S.C.G., RBDF, RBPF and the 
TCI Police so as to fully cover the sea lanes and make it more 
difficult for smugglers to use these areas to move their illicit 
cargos.  He discussed the need for all of the law enforcement 
agencies that work in the area to have common communications systems 
so they can immediately pass along information and intelligence to 
their counterparts.  He suggested that future meetings might 
usefully include representatives from the governments of Haiti and 
the Dominican Republic so that all countries in the region can 
develop common strategies and enhance cooperation in combating the 
flows of illegal drugs and migrants from Hispaniola through the 
Bahamas and Turks territories. 
 
¶10. (SBU) All the parties recognized the need for better 
intelligence concerning migrant and drug trafficking through the 
region and shared ideas about how to do so.  Other areas of 
discussion included the threats of terrorism in the region, disaster 
preparation, and a possible mass migration from Haiti or Cuba.  The 
GTCI reiterated its intention to purchase an over-the-horizon radar 
system that will be able to detect vessels as they leave Haitian 
waters, and the parties discussed how information from this radar 
could be shared in real time and how placement of each country's 
assets in the area could be better coordinated. 
 
¶11. (SBU) In concluding the meeting, the three parties -- who meet 
together biannually as part of the Joint Task Force of Operation 
Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) -- committed themselves to 
continuing to work together in a close, co-operative spirit and to 
strengthen their individual and collective efforts to ensure the 
security of their borders.  In particular, they agreed to: regular, 
real time exchanges of information on migration and drug flows in 
the region; exchanges of information on potential terrorist threats; 
developing mutual co-operation in preparing for and responding to 
disasters; exploring possible engagement with the Governments of 
Haiti and the Dominican Republic in future discussions; encouraging 
legitimate trade with Haiti while also tightening measures to 
prevent illegal activities.  The parties to the OPBAT agreement 
agreed to work within the existing Joint Task Force process to 
develop protocols for the exchange of operational information; take 
forward areas of mutual assistance and co-operation including 
requests for training; integration of operations, and improvement of 
Bahamian and TCI law enforcement capabilities.  Finally, the parties 
agreed to meet again in three months to continue to exchange 
information in preparation for the June Joint Task Force meeting. 
The Ambassador offered to host the next meeting and expressed an 
interest in inviting representatives from U.S. Embassies in Santo 
Domingo and Port-au-Prince to participate in the discussions. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The meetings in TCI were the most substantive and in-depth 
discussions we have had to date with the GTCI within the framework 
of their participation in OPBAT.  Both the British representatives 
and local government officials expressed genuine concern that crime 
and illegal Haitian migration could threaten the luxury tourism that 
has become the backbone of the territory's recent economic growth. 
The Bahamas shares similar concerns.  A strong spirit of cooperation 
and a willingness to share information and intelligence pervaded the 
discussions, and we look to the March follow-on meeting to maintain 
the momentum and strengthen the involvement of TCI in the 
consultative process we maintain with them and the GCOB through our 
semi-annual Joint Task Force meetings.  All parties agreed that the 
participation of Embassies Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince in this 
dialogue would be useful and could serve as a prelude to engaging 
the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic more directly in 
a broader regional effort to combat the narcotics and migrant 
trafficking originating in Hispaniola.  Embassy Nassau would welcome 
the participation of Embassies Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince, 
including NAS officers, DEA Country Attach, and Coast Guard Liaison 
Officers, in the follow-up meeting tentatively scheduled for March 
in Nassau.  We will coordinate with your offices to assess interest 
and availability. 
 
HARDT