US embassy cable - 05NASSAU1799

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 001799 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BRIDGETOWN FOR LEGATT 
 
E.O. 12958, N/A 
TAGS: CASC, ASEC, PGOV, BF, Tourism 
SUBJECT: Bahamas Gets Serious about Tourist Safety 
 
 
1. SUMMARY: In an effort to better protect tourists, the 
Bahamian Government organized a major, high-level conference 
to establish a public/private advisory board on visitor 
safety.  Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and the Royal 
Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the meeting included frank talk 
about safety concerns and specific suggestions for 
improvement.  The conference's goal was to establish a 
permanent Visitor Safety and Security Board made up of both 
public and private stakeholders that will make 
recommendations regarding visitor safety and oversee 
implementation of these changes.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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A Sobering Start 
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2.  The conference began dramatically with the showing of a 
British news segment on the death of a two-year-old child on 
the beach in the Bahamas in a commercial boating accident. 
The video was harshly critical of the Bahamian government, 
blaming it for poor regulation of the water sports industry. 
The video ended with the reporter recommending that visitors 
not come to the Bahamas.  This self-critical opening set the 
tone for the rest of the conference. 
 
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Embassy Speakers 
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3. The Ambassador, the ARSO, the Asst. LEGATT and the ACS 
CONOFF all addressed the conference.  The Ambassador 
emphasized that visitors are becoming more concerned about 
security and are choosing destinations based upon their 
reputation for safety.  The ARSO discussed the high level of 
cooperation between the Bahamian Government and the USG, 
including a variety of training and support programs under 
Diplomatic Security's Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA). 
Asst. LEGATT explained that the best way to prevent 
terrorism is to prevent crime, and talked about the success 
of New York's community-based policing program.  CONOFF 
described embassy activities for prevention of crime and 
victim's assistance and highlighted the importance of 
Bahamian efforts to build capacity on both fronts. 
 
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Specific Suggestions 
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4. During workshop sessions, the emphasis was on realistic, 
high-impact programs. Major ideas discussed included: 
 
-- Establishing a separate tourist police/patrol division to 
prevent crime and enforce safety laws in tourist areas; 
 
-- Establishing a tourist court, or creating a system to 
give expedited handling and special processing to tourist 
cases; 
 
-- Establishing an "Amber Alert" program in the Bahamas; 
 
-- Installing security cameras in all public tourist areas; 
 
-- Distributing safety tips and other information in hotels 
and with immigration cards on arrival; 
 
-- Improving signage throughout the islands to delineate 
tourist areas and keep tourists out of dangerous areas; and 
 
-- Establishing victim assistance caseworkers in the MOT to 
serve as a single point of contact and to monitor cases 
 
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Summary 
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5.  The Bahamian Government must next decide the exact 
composition of the advisory board.  The board will then take 
all of the ideas from the conference and develop specific 
plans with schedules and price estimates for implementation. 
The date set for the first meeting is November 1. 
 
6. COMMENT:  The conference had over 100 attendees from the 
public and private sector and attracted high level speakers, 
including the Minister of Tourism, the Acting Permanent 
Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, and the 
 
SIPDIS 
Deputy Police Commissioner.  The overall tone was an 
unflinching willingness to address the hard issues, with few 
speakers being defensive or spinning the discussions.  While 
the agenda was impressive, implementing the many good ideas 
will present many legal, policy, and resource challenges. 
After its establishment, the advisory board will most likely 
start with the most easily implemented ideas, and look to 
build upon some early successes to gradually expand their 
scope of action.   From the outset, the Bahamian authorities 
solicited Embassy input and participation, and have made 
clear they are willing to work closely with us to enhance 
the safety of American visitors to the Bahamas.  The 
Government's willingness to reach out to and engage the 
private sector was also a welcome departure, reflecting the 
recognition of the importance of this issue to the Bahamas 
major economic sector.  END COMMENT. 
 
HARDT