The Tribune

MILITARY forces in The Bahamas have to talk to their counterparts in the Dominican Republic if the high seas are to be better policed.

That was the verdict after a four-day visit to the country led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell.

He said the government there was receptive about the Bahamian delegation’s concerns over fishing.

“There has been a lot of carping and complaining about it; but a mission has never been held,” Minister Mitchell said.

“That caused the antennae of the people of the Dominican Republic and its Government to be raised and they were welcoming, thought it was long overdue and agreed that we ought to agreed upon a raft of issues, not only to deal with illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing, but also in the wider area of trade and commerce.”

The meeting resulted in preliminary agreements on information-sharing, plans for tracking methods of Dominican Republic boats that may be illegally poaching in Bahamian waters, proposed stiffer penalties for those captured poaching and new ways to fight drug smuggling on the open waters.

“We are cautiously-optimistic that there will be some change on the high seas with regards to this poaching issue,” Mitchell said.

“We have to now move onto the more operational side, which is that the military forces in both countries – which are responsible for policing the seas – have to get to know each other and their experiences,” he added.

“We can expect greater enforcement over the next few weeks,” he said. “There will be a follow-up visit within the next 14 days by the Dominican navy to the Bahamas.”

Bilateral talks ended officially with meetings with El Presidente Danilo Medina on October 31. Minister Mitchell, V. Alfred Gray and Bernard Nottage met with the President and discussed issues such as the fight against drug smuggling and poaching and continued diplomatic friendship.

The meeting also resulted in private talks with Dominican Republic Minister of the Armed Forces Admiral Sigfrido A. Pared Perez and the nation’s “Drug Czar” Dr Marino Vinicio Catillo R. There they discussed the possible linkage between fish poaching and drug dealing and high-level strategies to combat both issues.