A former United States ambassador to the Bahamas has written to six high-ranking senators advising them that it is a mistake to allow Hong Kong firm Hutchinson Whampoa to take over radiation detection operations in Freeport – a port which he said suffers from “problematic security” issues.
Former US Ambassador to the Bahamas J Richard Blankenship said in his letter that it would be a mistake for the US to outsource one of its “most important aspects of homeland defence” – the detection of radio active material – to the Freeport office of Hutchinson Whampoa.
Senators
The former ambassador told the senators that in his experience, assistance from the Bahamas in relation to US security matters is “nonexistent.”
“The Grand Bahama Port Authority operates the port under special powers conferred by the government. The authority is the largest private investment in the Bahamas owned by investors whose relationship with the current government has been rocked recently by evens unrelated to operations within the port,” the letter said.
It said that “it is not uncommon for key personnel decisions to be decided without regard to qualifications or experience but upon the wishes of the government.”
Hutchinson Whampoa, a Hong Kong conglomerate, is in the final stages of being awarded a no-bid, $6- million contract for screening at the Freeport Container Terminal in the Bahamas, just 65 miles from the US shoreline.
The Bahamas has agreed to participate in a bilateral initiative, the Mega Ports Initiative.
It is planned that the Bahamas will provide the equipment and training necessary to screen containers going through the ports for radioactive material.
This week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell refuted claims that the Bahamas had refused to let US Customs officials help screen containers destined for the United States at the Freeport Container Port.
Mr Mitchell said that this accusation was completely untrue.
“In connection with one aspect of this project, the question of US Customs officials being involved did not arise. That is the part which has to do with Hutchinson Whampoa,” he said.
Minister Mitchell made it clear that there was no question at that time about US Customs officials being stationed at the port for the purpose of helping with the detection of radioactive materials.
“It is inaccurate for anyone to assert that the Bahamas Government prevented US Customs officials from being at the port for that purpose,” he said.
Letter
In his letter, Mr Blankenship said that security around and in the container facility is problematic. Law enforcement actions within the facility have generally relied upon intelligence gained locally by authorities operating without the cooperation or knowledge of Hutchinson Whampoa officials, he said.
Additionally, Mr Blankenship said, no significant actions have been initiated at the port with most law enforcement successes occurring in ports of the United States where significant numbers of law enforcement officials are stationed.
“While not wishing to judge what course future requests may take the security of the Unites States cannot be contingent upon cooperation of any government. I faced just such a situation during my representation of our county and found assistance to be nonexistent,” Mr Blankenship said.
Another point for major consideration, he said, is the lack of co-operation the US has seen from the Bahamas when the extradition of individuals charged with major felony crimes has been requested.
No Bahamian facing serious criminal charges has been extradited to the US to stand trial, he said.
“There is no doubt Homeland Security demands we expand our vision to include threats which may have their origins in other countries. But I hope we do so in a thoughtful manner, giving consideration to all factors which may affect the success of our efforts and not giving Americans a false sense of security,” the former ambassador said.
By RUPERT MISSICK Jr Chief Reporter
