The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

AROUND 700 pounds of cocaine, 4,000 pounds of marijuana and 26,000 marijuana plants were recovered by law enforcement officers since September 2011, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced yesterday.

He was speaking at Police Headquarters’ Paul Farquharson Centre, where he also revealed 60 per cent of violent crimes are directly related to illegal firearms and 99 per cent of the 405 firearms recovered by police this year can be traced back to the United States – most often Florida.

Mr Christie also noted the government spent nearly $1 million last year for the repatriation of more than 3,000 foreign nationals.

Illegal immigration and its resulting economic and social consequences are a “financial burden” for the government, he said.

He gave the statistics during his welcoming remarks to Liliana Ayalde, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, who arrived for discussions on the two countries’ commitment to citizen security and reducing human, drug and firearm trafficking.

Yesterday morning was the opening ceremony of the Partnership Dialogue between the Bahamas and the USA.

“Our participation here today truly exemplifies the critical importance with which the Bahamas and the United States governments attach to problems of common concern that plague our region, particularly national and regional security challenges which pose a serious threat to the economy, social fabric and stability of our two countries,” Mr Christie said.

“Given the archipelagic nature of the Bahamas and her close geographic proximity to the United States, vulnerabilities to illegal, criminal activity, including that of transnational organised crime, have for many years impacted the very core of Bahamian society. In particular we have trouble with human trafficking, illegal migration, drug and firearm trafficking.”

After revealing the repatriation statistics, Mr Christie noted the role of human trafficking in illegal migration and said the government is “intent on changing” the country’s ranking in the annual Trafficking In Persons report.

The Prime Minister also spoke about long-term plans for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to “develop bases of operations at strategic locations” throughout remote areas in the northern, central, and southern Bahamas.

“At present, the government is negotiating to acquire 11 new medium to long-range vessels for the detection, deterrence and interdiction of threats to the country’s national security,” he said. “Further, the Bahamas government will increase the manpower of the Defence Force by 40 per cent within the next five years, through targeted and aggressive recruitment efforts.”

Mr Christie said yesterday’s dialogue served as “a critical forum for collaboration” against the threats to national security.

“I wish to encourage my government and the United States government to continue to work cohesively, exchanging information and exploring new ideas as we must remain dedicated partners in the fight against crime to ensure national and regional sustainability and development,” he said.

“In particular, I am keen that we develop clear strategies to combat human trafficking and drug and firearm trafficking. I would like to see both governments emerge from this dialogue invigorated, possessing fresh ideas that can be transformed into effective strategies to impede these problems in our region.”

He expressed “sincere appreciation” to the USA for its continued support and assistance in combating trafficking, and for additional funding of $2.41 million as outlined in the Letter of Agreement signed by both governments for the fiscal year 2012/2013.

One example of that support is the collaborative efforts of Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), Mr Christie explained, which concluded 12 successful operations in the Bahamas between September 2011 and 2012 – leading to the seizure of 686 pounds of cocaine, 3,269 pounds of marijuana and 26,000 marijuana plants.