NASSAU, The Bahamas – The United States Government remains committed to Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) – joint counter-narcotics operation in The Bahamas – confirmed Dr. Brent Hardt, Chargé d’ Affaires at the US Embassy.
He made the statement at the semi-annual U.S.-Bahamas Counter-Narcotics Joint Task Force meeting on Friday, June 16 at the Office of the Attorney General. The meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Mark Wilson.
Dr. Hardt’s statement came in the wake of local reaction to news suggesting that the US might remove black hawks from the support of OPBAT, an instrumental asset in the fight against drug trafficking through The Bahamas to the U.S.
“Pressures on the Army to meet worldwide counter-terrorism missions have promoted a close review of OPBAT’s resource needs and how best to meet them,” Dr. Hardt said in a joint communiqué issued at the end of the meeting. “There should be no doubt, however, that we remain committed to OPBAT and are working with senior officials in Washington to identify other agencies to fill the gap should the Army not be able to continue its present level of involvement with OPBAT.”
Mr Wilson said that the meeting was timely, against the background of local reaction to news that suggested that the U.S. might remove air assets from the support of OPBAT.
“The level and intensity of public comments are comforting to note, that there is significant concern over illegal drugs smuggling in the Bahamian population and this concern greatly supports the work of OPBAT,” Mr. Wilson said.
He added that “good progress” has been made since the December 2005 Joint Task Force meeting, to realise the objectives set by that gathering.
Mr. Wilson deemed the June 16 meeting as constructive and productive.
“During the meeting, both sides engaged in a constructive and detailed discussion of their joint counter-narcotics efforts over the past year and exchanged ideas about additional steps that could be taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their bilateral efforts,” said the Communiqué.
According to OPBAT statistics, for the year so far 868 kilos of cocaine and 99,553 pounds of marijuana have been seized, 78 persons have been arrested for drug related offenses, 674 illegal migrants have been seized at sea, and 91 lives assisted through search and rescue missions.
“This success speaks to the continued importance to the United States, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands of OPBAT,” the US Chargé d’ Affaires concluded.
He added, “We remain fully committed to building upon our unique law enforcement partnership in the year ahead to keep drugs away from our shores and strengthen security and the rule of law among all OPBAT partners.”
The next Joint Task Force meeting would be held in December.
The Joint Task Force, which has been meeting regularly since 1987, is a forum for senior United States and Bahamian officials to review ongoing counter-drug operations and examine ways to strengthen the partnership between the United States and The Bahamas, through OPBAT.
Representatives from US and The Bahamas pose for a picture on the steps of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (BIS Photo: Derek Smith)
