U.S. Ambassador Ned L. Siegel undertook a familiarization tour of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) facilities in Matthew Town, Great Inagua, and George Town, Exuma, on Friday, May 2nd, accompanied by senior Embassy law enforcement staff. The goal of his trip was to review available air and sea assets and to learn about ways to improve joint, U.S.-Bahamian capacity to counter illegal drug and migrant smuggling.
Ambassador Siegel toured the Coast Guard facilities on Great Inagua in the morning. He was briefed on current counter-narcotics and counter-migrant trafficking operations targeting the Windward Passage and greeted U.S. personnel at the base. Ambassador Siegel met RBPF and RBDF members and visited the harbor, where he examined two wooden-hulled Haitian sloops. He also discussed current operations and future needs with the command of Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant, which was anchored nearby.
The Ambassador took a brief tour of Matthew Town, viewing the electrical power station and the lighthouse, before proceeding to Georgetown, Exuma.
The Ambassador continued his operational tour in the afternoon with a review of the facilities and air assets at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) air base at Hawk’s Nest. Staff briefed the Ambassador on recent counter-narcotics operations and plans to improve future operations. Finally, the Ambassador and his staff joined an air patrol and received an in-flight briefing before returning to Nassau late in the day.
The Ambassador’s hands-on review showed the continuing U.S. commitment to OPBAT’s mission and joint U.S.-Bahamian commitment to face the challenges of drug and migrant smuggling in the region.
