Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure to welcome to The Bahamas all participants in this second Caribbean-United States Security Cooperation Dialogue. We are particularly pleased to be the first Caribbean host of the Dialogue.

I am especially pleased to welcome Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, the Hon. Janet Napolitano and Ministers of National Security from around our region.

The Bahamas, much like other Caribbean States, has a long history of cooperation on law enforcement and security matters with the United States of America. Indeed, our proximity to the North American Homeland has meant that The Bahamas-USA relationship is often first familial, social and economic which has greatly enabled our official relationship. On the official front, it would be remiss of me if I were not to acknowledge with much appreciation a time-honoured relationship between my country and the US Coast Guard in the area of search and rescue; a relationship which long predates the excellent cooperation which now exists between that Agency and our own Royal Bahamas Defence Force with a view to countering the transshipment and trade in illegal substances, weapons and of humans.

Just last night a mail and passenger boat, the M/V Legacy, ran aground and was taking on water just off the coast of Abaco, my home island. There were 18 souls including one child on board. Emergency calls for assistance were placed to our Defence Force base, to the volunteer Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) and to US Forces based at AUTEC in Andros, another of our islands. It was soon determined that conditions would not permit a rescue by boat. Only the US Coast Guard helicopter, dispatched from Andros, was able to rescue the 9 crew and the 9 passengers from the Legacy and transport them all to safety in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.

Madam Secretary,

It is impossible to adequately express the appreciation of the Bahamian people for this kind of assistance and support which we have been fortunate enough to benefit from and continue to enjoy today. Rescue operations like that of the M/V Legacy last night are not unusual in an island chain. Similar stories of US Coast Guard rescues can be recounted from experiences had over many years in our country. Indeed, we have come to almost expect, that in times of disasters of this kind, we can always count on the assistance of the United States of America. Many of our citizens similarly believe they have almost a birth right to a US visitors visa to facilitate their frequent visits to Florida.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The theme for this Dialogue is “Fostering Greater Regional Coordination and Ensuring Long-Term Sustainment”. Critical though it is, CBSI is not a quick fix for the many security challenges facing the countries of the Caribbean and the United States. Rather, CBSI is grounded in the region’s realities and reflects the traditional cooperative relationship with the United States.

It is an important opportunity for us to act together to counter our region’s continued vulnerability to transnational criminal activity, including drugs and arms trafficking, human smuggling, illegal immigration and money laundering.

At the national level, in the broadest sense, such crimes unleash the forces that undermine law and order, social stability and retard our economic and social development. Crime and violence, and particularly gun violence too often shatter the peace and the welfare of our societies.

Too many of our young people are at risk of falling victims to drug abuse. Guns fuel deadly drug feuds. As a result our criminal justice systems are heavily over-burdened and prisons over- crowded.

The costs of the security measures we are required to take are daunting. This is further complicated by the economic challenges generally faced by the region and now by the slow recovery from the global economic and financial crisis which continues to impact our own economies.

I acknowledge and express appreciation for the generous donation of assets by the United States Government, adding value to our region’s security initiatives, cooperative operations and arrangements.

Here in The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, targeted bilateral cooperation initiatives such as OPBAT add value to the CBSI. We draw on support through cooperation with a number of United States agencies, including US-SOUTHCOM and now US-NORTHCOM, and from international organizations including CICAD and UNODC.

It should also be acknowledged that the countries of the Caribbean have also stepped up action, including through CARICOM and other regional organizations, to address the region’s crime and security objectives.

Our CBSI partnership will strengthen such initiatives. Important strides are being taken towards improving continuous training for the judiciary and related professionals, on accessing improved equipment, better communications and technology. We are confident that CBSI cooperation will measurably reduce transnational trafficking of all kinds.

The matters coming before this Dialogue highlight the priorities to which our partnership will turn its attention in the year ahead: firearms controls, prison reform, juvenile justice and greater public and private sector and civil society cooperation. At the core of all our endeavours must be our commitment to the mutually supportive cooperative partnership we have established that will foster greater regional coordination and ensure long-term sustainment of Caribbean-United States efforts.

The test of effectiveness of our CBSI efforts will be the cumulative effect of what each of our countries achieve nationally, and what we accomplish as the mutually beneficial partnership into which the Caribbean and the United States have entered. I give my assurance, The Bahamas is a willing and committed partner in CBSI. And we will actively participate and contribute towards ensuring that the CBSI can and does improve the common security challenges and the safety and security of the region and of the United States.

Thank you.