U.S. Looks to Put Inspectors in Bahamas

[Eugene]

U.S. Looks to Put Inspectors in Bahamas

By TED BRIDIS
The Associated Press
Monday, March 27, 2006; 8:44 PM

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration will negotiate to station American customs inspectors
at the largest seaport in the Bahamas, where the United States is hiring a Hong Kong
conglomerate to help detect nuclear materials inside cargo, a senior customs official said Monday.

Any such agreement will require approval by the Bahamian government. Diplomatic talks are expected
to begin soon to give agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection a presence at the sprawling
Freeport Container Port, just 65 miles from Florida's coast.

<snip>

A story last week by the AP described the no-bid, $6 million contract the administration
is finalizing with Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. in the Bahamas, and generated criticism of the contract
from some U.S. lawmakers and security experts.

<snip>

Under the contract, no U.S. officials would be stationed permanently in the Bahamas with the
radiation scanner. Separately, there are no U.S. customs agents checking cargo containers in Freeport
under the U.S. customs port-security program.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/27/AR2006032701424.html

Previous LBN Thread: U.S. Hiring (Hong Kong) Co. to Check Cargo for Nukes

[Poiuyt]

1. The Bahamas? Man, I'll volunteer!

[Coastie for Truth]

2. Me Too

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