TelegramC O N F I D E N T I A L   NASSAU   00000400 
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DE RUEHBH #0400 1812058
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 302058Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6487
INFO RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 3636
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RHMFISS/HQ USNORTHCOM
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RHMFISS/DIR JIATF-SO KEY WEST FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000400 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019 
TAGS: PREL SNAR SMIG PGOV KCRM HA BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: POLICE COMMISSIONER FERGUSON RULES OUT 
EXCHANGE WITH HAITIAN POLICE 
 
REF: A. 09 NASSAU 64 
     ¶B. 09 NASSAU 360 
 
Classified By: CDA TIMOTHY ZUNIGA-BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (C) During a June 25 Embassy-hosted luncheon to discuss 
joint law enforcement efforts, Royal Bahamas Police Force 
(RBPF) Commissioner Reginald Ferguson down-played previously 
mentioned prospects for law enforcement cooperation between 
The Bahamas and Haiti. Ferguson rejected the idea of 
stationing Haitian National Police (HNP) officers in The 
Bahamas to support investigations targeting Haitian 
smugglers, saying that while Haitian officers might be 
useful, particularly in Nassau, The Bahamas and Haiti did 
"not have that kind of relationship." He stated there were no 
plans to ask the Government of Haiti (GOH) to send HNP 
officers to The Bahamas nor to send a RBPF liaison to Haiti. 
 
¶2. (C) COMMENT: The concept of exchanging RBPF and HNP 
officers to improve communication and joint investigations 
has been raised with the GCOB before, but this is the first 
time we have heard such a definitive response. While several 
HNP officers have attended RBPF training courses in Nassau 
over the last two years, it is clear the RBPF's leadership 
retains deep misgivings about information sharing and 
cooperation with the HNP. This mistrust extends to The 
Bahamas' own Haitian community and is a primary reason for 
the dearth of Creole speakers in the RBPF's ranks. Such 
perceptions of Haitians and Haitian Bahamians, common in 
Bahamian society (REF B), continue to undermine the GCOB's 
efforts to address drug smuggling and illegal migration from 
Haiti. END COMMENT. 
 
¶3. (C) BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Reginald Ferguson, age 64, 
was named Commissioner of the RBPF in March 2009 after 
serving as the Acting Commissioner since November 2007 (REF 
A). He is a respected, no-nonsense official who puts a 
premium on integrity and often speaks out against corruption, 
accusations of which do not taint him but may stick to others 
under his command. He also has a good relationship and solid 
track record of professional cooperation with U.S. law 
enforcement agencies. Recently, Ferguson has come under fire 
from the opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for a 
series of police abuses and mistakes in two recent high 
profile murder cases. Although Ferguson himself has not been 
accused of misconduct, published allegations of witness 
intimidation and evidence tampering by the RBPF call into 
question his ability to discipline and modernize the police 
force. Ferguson's brother, Johnley Ferguson, is the Chairman 
of the ruling Free National Movement (FNM). 
ZUNIGA-BROWN