VZCZCXRO4511
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHBH #0247/01 1102014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 202014Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6308
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000247 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL PGOV HA BF
SUBJECT: CODEL IMPRESSED BY OPBAT, STRONG BILATERAL 
RELATIONS 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  CODEL Conyers visited The Bahamas April 
7-9 to review OPBAT operations and assess current drug and 
migrant challenges.  GCOB officials led by Prime Minister 
Ingraham described the negative impact of the situation in 
Haiti on both OPBAT and The Bahamas.  PM Ingraham stressed 
the GCOB,s cooperation with the U.S. in tax matters in light 
of new off-shore banking legislation being considered in the 
U.S. Congress.  CODEL Conyers expressed their appreciation 
for OPBAT and the excellent bilateral relationship with the 
GCOB, although it was concerned by the situation in Haiti and 
the need for a new strategy on the war on drugs.  Post 
transmitted this cable April 15 to CODEL Conyers.  CODEL 
Conyers has not cleared on this cable to date.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------- 
Drug and Migrant Challenges 
Highlighted 
---------------------------- 
¶2.  (SBU) A Congressional Delegation lead by John Conyers, 
Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, visited The 
Bahamas Nassau April 7-9 after previously touring Haiti 
(delegation list in para 7).  CODEL Conyers reviewed Royal 
Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) fast-boats, granted by the USG 
under SOUTHCOM,s Enduring Friendship program, at the port in 
Nassau.  The delegation also traveled to the Drug Enforcement 
Administration (DEA) base in George Town, Exuma April 8. 
GCOB and U.S. law enforcement officials from the DEA and U.S. 
Coast Guard briefed the delegation on current drug and 
migrant challenges. 
 
--------------------------- 
GCOB:  Capacity-Building in 
Haiti Required 
--------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU) The CODEL met separately with Prime Minister 
Ingraham, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister 
Symonette, and Minister of National Security Turnquest and 
Attorney General Barnett April 9.  Prime Minister Ingraham 
lauded the &excellent relationship8 with the U.S. and noted 
the importance of the U.S. for The Bahamas, prosperity.  PM 
Ingraham and others described the impact of the situation in 
Haiti on joint counter-drug efforts in OPBAT and the strains 
on The Bahamas, security, social and health infrastructure 
from Haitian migration.  GCOB officials pointed to the need 
to improve the overall situation in Haiti to discourage drug 
trafficking and illegal migration.  A Foreign Ministry 
official with on-the-ground experience described Haiti as &a 
black hole8 in terms of government capacity.  Minister of 
National Security Turnquest noted Bahamian training 
assistance to the Haitian police force and support for Haiti 
through CARICOM. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PM:  Bahamas Financially Transparent, 
Facing Domestic Challenges 
------------------------------------ 
¶4.  (SBU) PM Ingraham pointed out the GCOB,s cooperation 
with the U.S. in tax matters, as new off-shore banking 
legislation moves forward in Congress, and said he was 
concerned about &guilt by association8.  He requested 
recognition of The Bahamas, high level of transparency 
compared to other jurisdictions.  GCOB officials also 
stressed the unique challenges of providing education, health 
and other government services throughout the widely-scattered 
archipelago.  The PM and other officials challenged what they 
regard as the prevailing misperception within the USG of The 
Bahamas as a fully developed country which does not require 
economic assistance.  They referenced the unique challenges 
of a small island developing state with varying levels of 
income and development among the many islands. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Other Items:  China, Port Security, 
Health, Environment 
----------------------------------- 
¶5.  (SBU) Other topics discussed with CODEL Conyers included: 
 
-- Chinese Labor:  Referencing recent discussions with a 
visiting Chinese delegation, Deputy Prime Minister Symonette 
stated that The Bahamas will not allow a significant influx 
of temporary or permanent Chinese labor for the planned 
stadium or other future projects, with the usual exception of 
highly-skilled personnel not available in The Bahamas. 
 
-- Air and Seaport Security:  Deputy Prime Minister Symonette 
noted the importance of pre-clearance facilities for The 
Bahamas,s tourism-based economy.  He pointed out that cargo 
passing through the trans-shipment facility in Freeport, 
owned by a Chinese company, is inspected in close cooperation 
with USG personnel. 
 
 
NASSAU 00000247  002 OF 002 
 
 
-- Health:  GCOB officials informed CODEL Conyers about plans 
to expand health care benefits.  They described specific 
difficulties with availability of diagnostics on outlying 
islands, noted their cooperation with CDC on infectious 
diseases, and cited as a success decreased mortality among 
infants with HIV-AIDS. 
 
-- Environment:  PM Ingraham said the GCOB was very active on 
the issue of climate change to avoid &impending disaster8, 
but called for U.S. recognition of and leadership on the 
issue. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Delegation list: 
 
--  Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) 
--  Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) 
--  Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-V.I.) 
--  Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) 
--  Bob Creamer (spouse) 
--  Sean McLaughlin, Minority Chief of Staff and General 
Counsel, Judiciary Committee 
--  Keenan Keller, Senior Counsel, Judiciary Committee 
--  Alli Halataei, Minority Deputy Chief of Staff, Judiciary 
Committee 
--  Cynthia Martin, Professional Staff, Judiciary Committee 
--  CDR Kenneth Pugh, Attending Physician 
--  Lt. Bill Wellman, Liaison Officer, Navy OLA 
 
-------------- 
Media Coverage 
-------------- 
¶7.  (SBU) Media coverage of the visit was light due to the 
long Easter holiday and a four-day interruption in the 
newspaper publishing cycle.  One April 14 newspaper article 
highlighted Chairman Conyers, statement to the press April 9 
that the U.S. was ¬ winning8 the war on drugs despite 
the massive investment of resources.  It also quoted his 
remarks on the &the enormity of the challenge8 confronting 
the international community in Haiti. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Post transmitted this cable April 15 to CODEL 
Conyers.  CODEL Conyers has not cleared on this cable to date. 
 
ZUNIGA-BROWN