U.S. donates anti-terrorism equipment to the Royal Bahamas Police Force

On Tuesday, April 8, United States Ambassador to The Bahamas Ned L. Siegel made a presentation of Anti-Terrorism equipment totaling approximately $200,000 to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.  The donation included portable x-ray machines, bullet-proof shields and bomb threat detection equipment.  The donation was made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program.  The brief ceremony was held at the Police Training College on Thompson Boulevard.

In his remarks, Ambassador Siegel noted, “Just as we work together to protect our citizens from criminal threats, drugs and migrant smuggling, we also must work and be prepared for the possibility of a terrorist attack.  From the United States perspective, we view the Bahamas as a leader in the Caribbean region and we hope that this kind of cooperation can serve as a model for other countries.  I pledge to you that I am committed to deepening, strengthening and expanding our common efforts to protect the people of our two great countries from terrorist and criminal threats.”

The Minister of National Security and Immigration, The Honorable Tommy Turnquest and the Commissioner of Police, Reginald Ferguson accepted the equipment on behalf of the government and people of The Bahamas.

Link to complete text by Ambassador Ned L. Siegel

Embassy Nassau observes Earth Day

On Earth Day, April 22, Ambassador Ned L. Siegel opened officially a Poster Show Exhibition commemorating the environmental movement.  In his remarks, Ambassador Siegel noted that there can be no more important task for Bahamian residents, citizens and visitors than protecting the coastal environment in an archipelagic country such as The Bahamas.  He also urged the Bahamas to put measures in place to halt the inhumane treatment of endangered sea turtles.  Michael Turner, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development and Godfery Clarke, Postmaster General also delivered remarks.  The exhibition, which depicts the last 25 years of the official Earth Day posters, will run for two weeks in the foyer of the General Post Office, a main thoroughfare for hundreds of people utilizing the postal services on a daily basis.

The photograph shows guests viewing the exhibition:  From left, Mr. Michael Turner, Under Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Development; Ambassador Ned L. Siegel; and Mr. Pericles Maillis, Director, Bahamas National Trust.

Bahamian law enforcement officials complete seminar aimed at combating human smuggling and trafficking

Over 25 Bahamian government and law enforcement officials from six agencies and departments participated in a two-day training program on combating human smuggling and trafficking from April 21-22.  The seminar, held at the state-of-the-art Police Conference Centre, aimed to improve The Bahamas’ ability to recognize and fight human trafficking.  The seminar was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS/ICE) Attaché for the Caribbean, based in Miami, and the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center (HSTC), based in Washington, DC.  The Bahamian and U.S. officials engaged in spirited discussions of crucial aspects of the struggle against “modern-day slavery” encompassing the development of legislation, how to assist victims, and the prosecution of traffickers.  In welcoming remarks, U.S. Ambassador Ned L. Siegel thanked the participants and organizers, in particular the Ministry and RBPF, calling the event “yet another sign of our close cooperation in the common fight against trans-national crime in any form – whether guns, drugs, or people trafficking.”  (more) 

Ambassador Siegel hosts reception to promote U.S./Bahamas Relations

On April 5 and 6, U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Ned L. Siegel and his wife Stephanie hosted an event to bring U.S. federal government and Florida state, city and county officials, along with U.S. business persons together with senior Bahamian government and business persons.  Among the invited guests were the Governor General of The Bahamas Arthur D. Hanna and Mrs. Hanna, Attorney General Claire Hepburn, Minister of State for Tourism, the Minister of State for Tourism and Aviation Branville McCartney, Minister of State for Energy Phenton Neymor, Minister of State for Culture Charles Maynard, Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson, and M.P. and former Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell.   Senior officials from the Boca Raton/Palm beach communities included the Commissioner of Palm Beach Bert Aranson, the Chair of the Palm Beach Film Festival Yvonne Boice, Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty, former Mayor of Delray Beach Tom Lynch, and several Boca Raton City Council representatives. (more)

U. S. Embassy staff donate eighteen pints of blood

On April 9, the U.S. Embassy continued its ongoing commitment to donate blood to those in need through an on-site blood drive for employees.  Twenty-six American and Bahamian staff volunteers participated in the life-saving effort.  The event took place in the Spiers Room at the Embassy which was transformed into a mini blood bank with the assistance of Doctor’s Hospital Medical Technicians Dawnette Been and Staria Ferguson. (more)

U.S. Ambassador promotes HIV/AIDS awareness with Bahamian Youth Ambassadors For Positive Living

On Friday, March 28, U.S. Ambassador Ned L. Siegel participated with the Youth Ambassadors For Positive Living (YAPL) in an effort to promote HIV/AIDS awareness to the wider public.  The event took place in downtown Rawson Square, Nassau, The Bahamas, on a busy afternoon.  Chairman of the Youth Ambassadors For Positive Living, Keith Kemp noted that the first message of prevention is abstinence.  He encouraged sexually active persons to be faithful to their partners. “If you can’t be faithful”, he said, “use prevention.”  Ambassador Siegel said that just recently he had the opportunity to be with Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and U.S. President George Bush and one of the major topics discussed was the president’s emergency relief for AIDS program.  Mr. Siegel said that youth all over the world are changing how people think and that it was a privilege and an honor for him to be apart of the event.  Bahamas Family Planning Association partnered with YAPL and distributed information about contraceptives. 

The photo shows from left:  Ambassador Ned L. Siegel; Keith Kemp, Chairman, Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living, and Judy Cooper, Executive Director, Family Planning Association.