Speeches

U.S./Bahamas Counter Narcotics Joint Task Force Meeting

Opening Remarks by U.S. Ambassador John D. Rood

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nassau, The Bahamas
December 14, 2006

 

Thank you, Minister Mitchell.

   I am honored to address this, my third Joint Task Force Meeting.  I take special note of the presence of Superintendent Adams from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force.  Welcome, we look forward to your input.  I am pleased to be joined by the U.S. delegation that includes the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Brent Hardt, Mark Trouville, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office, Captain Edwin Daniels from the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, our NAS Chief Dave Foran, and members of the Embassy’s Law Enforcement Team led by our DEA Agent-in-Charge Kevin Stanfill. 
  

  As you know, this will be my final Joint Task Force Meeting.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Minister, and the Government of The Bahamas for your steadfast efforts in our joint fight against narcotics trafficking and illegal migration.   I look back upon the past two and a-half years with a clear sense of accomplishment.  Our joint commitment to fight narcotics trafficking and illegal migration has resulted in a continually decreasing flow of cocaine through the Bahamas and increased interdiction of illegal migrants. 
      

   The spirit of cooperation established through our law enforcement cooperation in OPBAT has opened other doors as well.  In the past year alone we have finalized the Container Security Initiative and Megaports Program at the Freeport Container Port.  The continued success of the shiprider program, an outgrowth of the Comprehensive Maritime Agreement signed in 2004, which allows RBDF members to make arrests in Bahamian waters from onboard U.S. Coast Guard vessels, remains a model for the region.  In addition, the State Partnership Program between Rhode Island and the Bahamas is providing the Bahamas with expertise in disaster preparation, prison management and fire fighting among other areas.  
Bahamian law enforcement cooperation played a key role in the Department of Defense’s decision to include the Bahamas in the “Enduring Friendship” program.  This program will provide millions of dollars in assets and training to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, including two go-fast vessels with state of the art radar and communications equipment.  

  All of these programs came about because of the success of our law enforcement relationship embodied by Operations Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT). 
I know that the decision by the U.S. Army to end its participation in OPBAT caused some to question the U.S. commitment to OPBAT.  I assure you that the U.S. government remains firmly committed to OPBAT.   An inter-agency group that has been tasked with developing an acceptable alternative to U.S. Army support for the mission has come up with a series of options that could ensure OPBAT retains its current capabilities or, in some areas, could even strengthen them.  I expect a final decision on the way ahead will be made early in 2007. 
  

  There is a broad agreement within the United States government, including among members of Congress, that OPBAT remains vital to our common effort to combat drug trafficking and that the mission's capabilities must be maintained or strengthened.  I applaud the Bahamian government’s initiative to provide training at the Police College for members of the Haitian National Police.  We have seen in the past few years how Haiti has become a preferred destination for cocaine from South America.  Our experts estimate that sixty metric tons of cocaine entered Haiti last year.  Common sense and seizure statistics tell us that Haiti is not the ultimate destination for this contraband. 
  

  The Bahamas corridor provides the shortest and quickest path for cocaine coming from Haiti to reach the United States.  Anything our governments can do to strengthen the law enforcement capacity of the Haitian government will directly benefit our efforts to fight narcotics trafficking in the Bahamas and in the United States.  The Bahamian government’s decision to have a vetted member of the Haitian National Police work with the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Bahamian Customs and Immigration officials in Great Inagua recognizes and reflects the important role that a strengthened Haitian National Police Force can play in fighting narcotics trafficking and illegal migration through the Bahamas.    

  A Haitian police officer working with his Bahamian counterparts will help gather information on sloops and their crews that travel from Haiti into the Bahamas.  Information gathered will in turn help us to identify suspicious activities and serve as a deterrent to those who would use these sloops to transport narcotics and illegal migrants into the Bahamas and on to the United States.  While progress has been made, much work remains to be done.  We must be as nimble and flexible in our response to narcotics and migrant traffickers as they are in adjusting their tactics to our pressure. 
  

  We live in challenging budgetary times, so must be ready to justify our budget requests with concrete facts that demonstrate that our efforts are producing results.
We have seen a steady flow of illegal migrants into the Bahamas, not only from Haiti and Cuba, the usual sources of illegal migrants into the Bahamas, but recently, from Brazil.  This is most likely a response to changes in Mexican law requiring Brazilian travelers to Mexico have a visa.  
   

  Our seizure statistics tell us that the Bahamas is being overrun with marijuana, both home grown and trafficked from Jamaica.  We must continually impress upon our young people the dangers of marijuana and battle the popular perception that marijuana use is harmless.   I am heartened by the fact that much of the information about marijuana fields in the Family Island came from local residents concerned that the drug trade would bring crime to their communities.   

  The United States understands that there are three components to fighting the drug trade successfully:  disrupting the supply of drugs, eliminating the demand for illegal drugs, and treating those whose dependence on illegal drugs fuel the drug trade.  We take our obligations to reduce demand and treat addicts seriously.  The United States government spent nearly $5 billion in fiscal year 2006 on demand reduction and treatment programs alone and state and federal governments spend similar amounts.  These expenditures represent a serious commitment on the part of the United States government to reduce the market for illegal drugs.  Combined with a vigorous effort to go after drug traffickers, I am confident this will lead to success in this fight.
    

  I hope that one of the things we can do today is designate specific representatives from each side to follow-up on the issues we will discuss today.  While we have made progress in implementing items agreed to in previous meetings, I believe that all sides need to establish more direct responsibility for follow up and implementation of our agreements today. 
  

  Thank you once again Mr. Minister for the commitment you and the Bahamian government bring to our mutual efforts to fight trafficking in drugs and illegal immigration.  And thank you Superintendent Adams for your steadfast support of OPBAT.