Following high-leveled meetings on Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt told reporters that because The Bahamas is a major destination for American travelers, the government is obliged to increase security measures.
She said the tightened security measures were especially important at the main ports of entry – the Nassau International Airport, the Grand Bahama International Airport and the Prince George Dock.
Orange is the second highest alert on the Homeland Security Advisory color-coded system, lower only than red and severe. Yellow is midlevel of the five-color system, which was put into place after the September 11 attacks, launched by Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist network.
U.S Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Sunday that the move was the result of a “substantial increase” in the volume of intelligence pointing to “near-term attacks that could either rival or exceed what we experienced on September 11.”
Mr. Ridge urged the public to be patient with stricter security measures “in the coming days and weeks” and to proceed with holiday plans despite the threat.
Minister Pratt advised the same, saying, “Travelers are therefore advised to arrive at airports at least three hours before scheduled departure in order to comply with the enhanced security measures.
“Bahamians are asked to be aware of these increased security measures and to exercise calm and patience as these are all meant to provide greater security for all persons.”
Reminding that The Bahamas is still a soft target for terrorism, Minister Pratt said that the last time the U.S security alert was upgraded to orange was in May.
“It involved security checks of all cars parked near to the international airports and screening of all vehicles coming within a certain radius of the airports,” she said.
Mark Wilson, permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security, added that due to the proximity of The Bahamas to the United States and the number of U.S citizens visiting the country, the government has a “moral obligation” to ensure that these visitors are safe here.
“Hence the security agencies and all the allied agencies have met to ensure that the measures we put in place are well coordinated and that they would also be effective,” Mr. Wilson said.
Without going into details, Mr. Wilson said U.S officials have indicated that the security threats are likely to come from the use of aircraft, in a similar fashion as the 9/11 incident.
He said the security measures being implemented address that possibility.
Agencies involved in the heightened security include, the Ministry of National Security, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Airport Authority, the Department of Civil Aviation, the Port Authority, Customs and Immigration and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
Acting General Manager of the Airport Authority Idris Reid disclosed that authorities are particularly concerned about cargo. Therefore, he said, measures are being increased with regard to monitoring their movement.
“We are consulting with the Controller of Customs in this regard and fuller inspection will take place,” Mr. Reid said.
He pointed out that there already exists a measure of other screening points throughout the major airports and all passengers entering the facilities will be fully screened and checked.
“The first one you would find is that there will be a screening point to the entrance of the United States inspection areas,” Mr. Reid said. “All hand baggage will be put through electronic screeners and checked baggage will be taken to the other counter where they are hand searched as required by the Transportation and Security Administration.”
Attention is also being placed on beefed up security at Family Island airports.
According to Cyril Saunders, director of Civil Aviation with responsibility for Family Island Airports, airline operators are assisting in this upgrade.
Meantime, security measures at the seaports are also being increased, according to Port Controller Captain Anthony Allens.
“It means that the assistance from the Defence Force and police will be improved, including checking of passengers going onboard cruise ships,” he said. “They have to produce identification. Persons who do not have any legitimate reason for entering the port of Prince George Dock, would not be allowed to enter.”
Captain Allens added that the surveillance of vehicles will be carried out on a more random basis.
Hotels and ground tour operators and airlines have also been alerted and tighter security measures are being implemented at those operations.
Deputy Director of Tourism, Vernice Walkine, noted that with more than 80 percent of tourists to the Bahamas coming from the United States, hotels have an interest in ensuring that guests feel and remain safe while on property.
“One of the issues we’re faced with is how do we get people through our airport who are arriving and to our airport who are departing, so the hotels are obviously involved deeply because they have an interest in getting their guests in and out in sufficient time to make their flights,” Ms. Walkine said.
She pointed out that the terror alert was issued at a time when hotels are expected to be full over the next few days.
“All of the hotels are being alerted about their particular responsibilities, given this increased alert status, so they are able to manage the check out and check in process in as efficient a manner as possible without creating a sense of panic,” Ms. Walkine said.
“That’s obviously not what we want. We want to make the process as painless as
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
