Above: Dr Bernard Nottage, Minister of National Security; Liliana Ayalde, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State; Prime Minister Perry Christie; John Dinkelman, Charge’ d’ Affaires, United States Embassy, Nassau (BIS Photo)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
The Bahamas and the United States held their first partnership dialogue Monday on the issue of transnational crime.
The talks, which came as a result of a request by Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, began at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre, Police Headquarters in Nassau.
The talks focused on narcotics smuggling, firearms control, illegal migration, human trafficking, maritime domain awareness, crime prevention and community security.
“Our meeting today underscores the close ties between our nations and the commitment to build upon our strong and historic foundations,” said Liliana Ayalde, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. “The United States and the Bahamas enjoy a strong bilateral relationship built on shared interest in security, strengthening democracy and promoting cultural exchanges.”
Bahamas National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage thanked the US government for “adding value” to the Bahamas’ national security initiatives, including $2.135 million to assist in areas like law enforcement and counternarcotics.
Among those presenting at the talks were Nottage, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis; Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell and Cynthia Pratt, co-chair of the Bahamas’ Urban Renewal Commission, among others.