Mr. Bush did, however, certify that The Bahamas “fully cooperates” with the United States in the war on drugs.
A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau explained that, “Inclusion on the ‘majors list’ does not reflect the success of a countryﾒs efforts to fight drug trafficking; rather it is based on a factual assessment of whether a country produces or is a transit point for illegal narcotics entering the United States.”
Bahamian and U.S. authorities have long explained that the geographic location of The Bahamas means that it would take a long time ﾖ if ever ﾖ for the country to come off the majors list.
It’s a point the Americans made again on Monday.
“In the case of The Bahamas, its location between South American suppliers and North American consumers of marijuana and cocaine accounts for its annual inclusion on the majors list,” the statement said.
It added that the most important aspect of the certification process is the presidentﾒs determination of a countryﾒs degree of cooperation in counter-drug efforts.
“In the case of The Bahamas, President Bush certified to Congress that The Bahamas fully cooperates with U.S. counter-drug efforts,” the statement said.
“The United States appreciates the close law enforcement partnership we enjoy with The Bahamas as we seek to strengthen international efforts to reduce the flow of illegal narcotics to our shores.”
In his report to Congress, the president identified as major drug-transit or major illicit drug-producing countries: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
President Bush removed China and Vietnam from the list of major drug-transit or major illicit drug-producing countries.
A press statement from the White House said the president also reported to Congress his determination that Burma and Venezuela have “failed demonstrably”, during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counter-narcotics agreements and take the measures set forth in U.S. law.
However, that statement pointed out, the president also determined to maintain U.S. programs that aid Venezuelaﾒs democratic institutions, establish selected community development projects, and strengthen Venezuelaﾒs political party system.
The White House explained that the certification determinations required the president to consider each countryﾒs performance in areas such as reducing illicit cultivation, interdiction, law enforcement cooperation, extraditing drug traffickers, and taking legal steps and law enforcement measures to prevent and punish public corruption that facilitates drug trafficking or impedes prosecution of drug-related crimes.
The president also considered efforts taken by these countries to stop production and export of, and reduce the domestic demand for illegal drugs, the White House said.
In making his determinations, the president reportedly considered the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report released in March.
The report said, “The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas cooperates closely with the [US government] to stop the flow of illegal drugs through its territory, to target Bahamian drug trafficking organizations, and to reduce the domestic demand for drugs within the Bahamian population.”
That report noted that the extradition of Samuel “Ninety” Knowles remained pending.
The 2007 report is likely to point to his recent extradition as an accomplishment in the war against illegal drugs.
During 2005, the DEU seized 1.01 metric tons of cocaine and 13 metric tons of marijuana, according to the report. It said the DEU arrested 1,382 persons on drug-related offenses and seized drug-related assets, including five boats and five vehicles.
The report added that cocaine seizures decreased compared to 2004 levels.
“This decrease is the result of the continued vigilance and precise targeting actions by law enforcement agencies and the 2005 hurricane season,” the report said.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
