By LISA S. KING
FN Asst. Editor
lisa@nasguard.com
Prime Minister Perry Christie declared yesterday that just as the United States of America view protective measures for security as top priority, so does the government of The Bahamas.
The Prime Minister was speaking during an official ceremony launching the Container Security Initiative (CSI) program at the Freeport Container Port.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the government had previously signed an agreement to participate in CIS to ensure that all maritime cargo destined for the U.S. through the Port of Freeport be pre-screened for terrorists and terrorist weapons.
The ceremony was especially used as an opportunity to introduce a mobile scanner (Mobile Cargo Inspection System) valued at nearly $3 million.
Prime Minister Christie said in recent times, there has been much talk about whether or not The Bahamas government has been lax in its responsibility to Bahamians and its commitment to protective measures for security in the country.
"Just as the American Government sees it as a priority so does The Bahamas government as it must," he said. "International trade drives our economy whether it is this container port or tourism.
"For us to have the slightest threat on our own country's ability to export our services whether in tourism or to attract investments to our country, we must make doubly sure that we are doing the right thing all of the time."
The Prime Minister noted that the quality of life for Bahamians is inextricably tied to the extent which the country is committed to protecting its borders and committed to ensuring the integrity of its processes.
He said whether some like it or not, every Bahamian must know that the world changed after 9/11 and in the world's changing, every country like The Bahamas has been required to spend more of its national budget to ensure protection for itself and its trading interest against terrorism, drug smuggling, alien smuggling, all of which impact our country .
"As you listen to the political debate in this country, never lose sight of the fact that your government of the day or whomever may be that government and comprise it, has a sacred responsibility to protect the national integrity of this country. Likewise its responsibility is even stronger to its citizenry and I don't believe any government recognising that we have a quality of life that is the envy of this region will put that way of life in jeopardy."
Addressing Bahamian and U.S. Customs officials as well as other dignitaries present, U.S. Ambassador John D. Rood said encouraging global commerce and protecting this commerce from the threats of terrorism are among President Bush's highest priorities.
He said nearly 90 percent of the world's manufactured goods move via ocean-going cargo containers. Protecting this flow of commerce from terrorists is the goal of the Container Security Initiative (CSI).
Ambassador Rood pointed out that CSI represents a joint effort of our two governments to ensure that the Freeport Container Port is never used to transport weapons of mass destruction. He added that it is one of a series of cooperative initiatives that enhances our mutual security and contributes to our mutual security and contributes to our mutual economic well-being.
"CSI provides a security regime to ensure that all containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism are identified and screened. A sophisticated automated system identifies high-risk containers," Rood said. "These containers are then scanned for weapons of mass destruction by a Mobile Cargo Scanner. If questions about the container's contents remain, the container is opened and physically inspected by Bahamian Customs officials."
Ambassador Rood said he is convinced that the implementation of CSI provides benefits to both the United States and The Bahamas. The United States receives assurances that containers passing through CSI ports are screened for weapons of mass destruction prior to entering the U.S. The Bahamas benefits as CSI provides a competitive advantage to the Freeport Container Port by allowing containers shipped to quickly enter into commerce in the United States.
"Together with the Megaports Initiative, a U.S. Department of Energy programme that today screens more than 90 percent of the cargo containers at the Freeport Container Port, CSI makes this container port one of the most secure and efficient ports in the world for the transshipment of containers to the United States," he said.
According to Ambassador Rood, the scanner drives by a cargo container that has been identified as suspicious and examines the contents using x-rays. The scanner is designed to pass rapidly by the container to be scanned so as not to disrupt operations in the port.
While not specifically designed as a law enforcement tool, CSI scans allow officials to see if weapons or other contraband are being transported in cargo containers.
The U.S. Ambassador was proud to reveal that Bahamian Customs officials have been fully trained in the CSI program and are responsible for all aspects of the program other than driving the scanner.
These officials he said, are also involved in reviewing container manifests, identifying suspicious containers, interpreting the results of the scan and determining whether or not a physical inspection of a container is required.
SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION – Prime Minister Perry Christie and U.S. Ambassador John Rood along with other dignitaries are seen walking after getting a first hand demonstration of how the new Mobile Cargo Inspection System works during a special unveiling ceremony at the Freeport Container Port (FCP) yesterday. The event was part of a joint effort between the U.S. Border Protection (CBP) and The Bahamas government to participate in the Container Security Initiative(CSI) program. Also pictured in the front is Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell. (Photos by DEREK CARROLL)
