bahamiangoddess
06-29-06, - 06:34 PM
By BARBARA WALKIN
Senior FN Reporter
barbara@nasguard.com
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell affirmed yesterday that no immediate steps are being taken to close the U.S. pre-clearance facilities in Grand Bahama.
Mitchell, who was in Grand Bahama for several meetings, spoke on the matter during a press briefing in the Office of the Prime Minister.
He was addressing concerns of Bahamians who frequently travel to the United States regarding the closure of the U. S. pre-clearance facilities at the local airport and harbour.
Mitchell explained that the United States government conducts a review every year which is channeled through its Embassy in The Bahamas, as it does with all its embassies around the world.
The review also applies to the pre-clearance in Nassau and Freeport, he added.
Mitchell also noted that the U. S. Ambassador to The Bahamas is required to report annually to his government, as to whether or not the facilities are serving the purpose for which they were sent to The Bahamas.
"This includes an analysis of the cost effectiveness of the agencies and their work. So one of the factors they looked at is what they saw as a drop in the volumes of tourists passing through the facilities here in Freeport," said Mitchell. "We have not been told by any means that the facilities will be closed."
He noted that the U. S. government believes there maybe a more cost effective way of dealing with it, given that all of the destinations – flights to the United States from Freeport – have Customs clearance at those destinations, with the exception of Myrtle Beach.
"And that is not a large proportion in their view of the volume of traffic. I think significantly, that the traffic has probably fallen off as a result of the Royal Oasis closure and the junkets coming in from the States through the airport," he said.
"Although the Government has not been told that the facilities will be closed, it should be made clear that these facilities do not exist in a vacuum, they exist in a context.
"And one context is the cost effectiveness of it and that of course that has to do with the general foreign policy aims of the United States government."
He explained that the U. S. government made it quite clear that one of their foreign policy aims is to ensure that a viable economy exist in The Bahamas.
"Because in their view, there is no point in having an impoverished country on their doorstep because it only leads to other issues," said Mitchell, noting that is not the only factor that goes into deciding whether the facilities continue here or not.
"They have stated that the review is on going. The Ambassador has just returned from the United States where he's had talks with leaders in both the Senate and Congress, and there is a lot of sympathy for the facility to remain."
From the Government's point, Mitchell said it was indicated how important the facility is to the economy of Grand Bahama and the larger Bahamas.
"We've said that the drop in volumes is really due to the hurricanes and that the hotel was closed. We expect within short order for the hotel to be back online and we expect in short order the West End facilities to be up and running," he said.
"So with these projects coming on stream it is viable that the pre-clearance facility should remain here," said Mitchell, revealing that the Grand Bahama Port Authority has made the seem case.
The second issue by the U. S. government regarded security, said Mitchell.
"But our Government has committed to work with the US government in all these matters, he added.
However, added Mitchell, "the discussions are good, I am expected to meet with the Secretary of State to discuss this and other issues sometime in July."
CLEARING UP THE MATTER — Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell said that no immediate steps are being taken to close the U. S. pre-clearance facilities in Grand Bahama. However, the U. S. government is reviewing the case and arguments for the facility to remain in Freeport.(Staff photo by BRADLEY Rutherford)
Senior FN Reporter
barbara@nasguard.com
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell affirmed yesterday that no immediate steps are being taken to close the U.S. pre-clearance facilities in Grand Bahama.
Mitchell, who was in Grand Bahama for several meetings, spoke on the matter during a press briefing in the Office of the Prime Minister.
He was addressing concerns of Bahamians who frequently travel to the United States regarding the closure of the U. S. pre-clearance facilities at the local airport and harbour.
Mitchell explained that the United States government conducts a review every year which is channeled through its Embassy in The Bahamas, as it does with all its embassies around the world.
The review also applies to the pre-clearance in Nassau and Freeport, he added.
Mitchell also noted that the U. S. Ambassador to The Bahamas is required to report annually to his government, as to whether or not the facilities are serving the purpose for which they were sent to The Bahamas.
"This includes an analysis of the cost effectiveness of the agencies and their work. So one of the factors they looked at is what they saw as a drop in the volumes of tourists passing through the facilities here in Freeport," said Mitchell. "We have not been told by any means that the facilities will be closed."
He noted that the U. S. government believes there maybe a more cost effective way of dealing with it, given that all of the destinations – flights to the United States from Freeport – have Customs clearance at those destinations, with the exception of Myrtle Beach.
"And that is not a large proportion in their view of the volume of traffic. I think significantly, that the traffic has probably fallen off as a result of the Royal Oasis closure and the junkets coming in from the States through the airport," he said.
"Although the Government has not been told that the facilities will be closed, it should be made clear that these facilities do not exist in a vacuum, they exist in a context.
"And one context is the cost effectiveness of it and that of course that has to do with the general foreign policy aims of the United States government."
He explained that the U. S. government made it quite clear that one of their foreign policy aims is to ensure that a viable economy exist in The Bahamas.
"Because in their view, there is no point in having an impoverished country on their doorstep because it only leads to other issues," said Mitchell, noting that is not the only factor that goes into deciding whether the facilities continue here or not.
"They have stated that the review is on going. The Ambassador has just returned from the United States where he's had talks with leaders in both the Senate and Congress, and there is a lot of sympathy for the facility to remain."
From the Government's point, Mitchell said it was indicated how important the facility is to the economy of Grand Bahama and the larger Bahamas.
"We've said that the drop in volumes is really due to the hurricanes and that the hotel was closed. We expect within short order for the hotel to be back online and we expect in short order the West End facilities to be up and running," he said.
"So with these projects coming on stream it is viable that the pre-clearance facility should remain here," said Mitchell, revealing that the Grand Bahama Port Authority has made the seem case.
The second issue by the U. S. government regarded security, said Mitchell.
"But our Government has committed to work with the US government in all these matters, he added.
However, added Mitchell, "the discussions are good, I am expected to meet with the Secretary of State to discuss this and other issues sometime in July."
CLEARING UP THE MATTER — Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell said that no immediate steps are being taken to close the U. S. pre-clearance facilities in Grand Bahama. However, the U. S. government is reviewing the case and arguments for the facility to remain in Freeport.(Staff photo by BRADLEY Rutherford)