VZCZCXRO4651
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHBH #0461/01 2162047
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 042047Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6559
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000461 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON POL PGOV BF
SUBJECT:  NASSAU MONTHLY - JULY 2009 
 
¶1.  This is a monthly report on a variety of topics of interest 
which do not merit full reporting cables. 
 
-- Containing Swine Flu 
-- 700 Haitian Migrants Apprehended in Two Weeks 
-- Land Profiteering:  Who's to Blame? 
-- Controversy over Relocation of the Shipping Container Port 
-- Bahamas Breeds Super Sheep 
-- World's Largest Cruise Ship to Visit Nassau 
 
-------------------- 
CONTAINING SWINE FLU 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.  Local media reported a large increase in confirmed H1N1 
infections in The Bahamas, jumping from six cases July 8 to 28 cases 
as of July 27.  Minister of Health Hubert Minnis told reporters that 
the infections are scattered throughout Nassau and the Family 
Islands and attributed the surge to the summer travel season. 
Minnis confirmed that there have been no H1N1-related deaths in The 
Bahamas and expressed confidence that a mass distribution of 
anti-viral medicine was not needed. 
------------------------ 
700 HAITIAN MIGRANTS 
APPREHENDED IN TWO WEEKS 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  Over 700 Haitians were apprehended in Bahamian waters from July 
15 to July 29, marking one of the busiest migration periods in 2009. 
 The apprehended migrants are being held in detention centers, 
awaiting repatriation to Haiti.  Prime Minister Ingraham visited 
Haiti on July 16 and appealed to Haitian President Rene Preval to 
address the increasing flow of Haitian migrants entering The 
Bahamas.  Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas Louis Joseph told local 
media that although Haiti is doing all it can to discourage people 
from attempting the dangerous journey, "no people will stay at home 
dying of poverty and hunger."  In an effort to lend support to the 
struggling Haitian economy, PM Ingraham announced that The Bahamas 
will begin importing agricultural products directly from Haiti. 
 
---------------------------------- 
LAND PROFITEERING: WHO's TO BLAME? 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  A committee headed by opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) 
MP Fred Mitchell will investigate allegations of corruption over 
large areas of government owned land, known as crown land. At 
Mitchell's urging, Parliament unanimously voted to create the 
committee on July 15. The MP blamed the Department of Lands and 
Surveys for the alleged inappropriate land transfers. The Department 
of Lands and Surveys was led by Tex Turnquest who resigned earlier 
this year after allegations of corruption.  Debate ensued in the 
local media as the government and opposition leaders pointed fingers 
at each other. PLP members have vocally accused the FNM 
administration of corruption and profiteering.  Prime Minister 
Ingraham told local media that the PLP administration governed more 
than 20 of the 26 years in question, and encouraged the committee to 
complete investigations.  The National Development Party (NDP) said 
that neither party can objectively investigate the matter, and 
encouraged the creation of a Freedom of Information Act to address 
such matters.  In the meantime, the committee will continue to 
investigate whether corruption was involved in grants of crown 
land. 
 
--------------------------- 
CONTROVERSY OVER RELOCATION 
OF THE SHIPPING CONTAINER 
PORT CONTINUES 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  PLP Senator Jerome Fitzgerald launched a campaign on July 10 to 
educate Bahamians about what he believes are the negative 
environmental effects of the relocation of Nassau's main shipping 
container port from its current location in downtown Nassau to 
Arawak Cay.  In addition to criticizing the FNM administration for 
the "secrecy" surrounding the port relocation, Fitzgerald said 
construction in Arawak Cay will result in environmental disasters 
for marine life.  Minister of Environment Earl Deveaux told local 
media that the environmental impact of the port move will be minimal 
and noted that Fitzgerald was president of a firm that wanted to use 
the Arawak Cay location to construct a water desalinization plant in 
¶2006.  Fitzgerald indicated that he is looking for a legal option to 
halt the project until more information on the reasons for building 
on Arawak Cay is divulged. 
 
-------------------------- 
BAHAMAS BREEDS SUPER SHEEP 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Representatives at the Ministry of Agriculture told local media 
that the purchase of $125,000 worth of "champion" goat and sheep 
embryos in 2008 was a highly successful move for the country.  The 
Ministry reported that 108 surrogate Bahamian sheep and goats were 
 
NASSAU 00000461  002 OF 002 
 
 
implanted with the embryos in January and today 95 top quality kids 
and lambs are now thriving.  The Ministry said these "sons and 
daughters of champions" amount to almost a million dollars in 
quality livestock.  The next step will see some of these "super 
animals" made available to Bahamian farmers who can breed them with 
their herds in the hopes of enhancing the quality and quantity of 
sheep and goat meat available in the country.  Ministry 
representatives said this initiative will address the shortage of 
locally produced quality meat.  The Minister of Agriculture told 
local media that the Bahamas "is now on its way to becoming 
self-sufficient in the production of goat and sheep meat within 10 
years." 
 
----------------------- 
WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE 
SHIP TO VISIT NASSAU 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  The largest cruise ship in operation - Royal Caribbean's Freedom 
of the Seas - will make its inaugural voyage to The Bahamas on 
August 15.  This mega liner, which accommodates 4,000 passengers and 
crew, is scheduled to arrive only weeks after completion of the 
dredging of Nassau's cruise ship harbor.  The dredging project, 
which began earlier this year, is being done to allow mega cruise 
liners to dock in Nassau.  Royal Caribbean's Genesis class ship, 
which holds up to 5,400 passengers and crew, is scheduled to make 
its inaugural voyage to The Bahamas in December.  The Government of 
The Bahamas (GCOB) has been working around the clock to accommodate 
the new mega class of cruise ships in the hopes that extra 
passengers on shore will provide a needed boost to the Bahamian 
economy. 
 
ELMO