The Tribune

US Chargé d'Affaires, John Dinkelman, and US State Department specialists met Bahamian officials yesterday to launch talks on counter-piracy cooperation in cases involving Bahamian flagged vessels. 


Mr Dinkelman praised the Bahamas’ government for hosting the meetings that provided US and Bahamian officials with an opportunity to share information on a critical security issue, given the role that the Bahamas plays as a maritime nation with the fifth largest ship registry in the world.

“The Bahamas is acutely aware of the risks and costs of piracy, and has a vested interest in joining global efforts to stop piracy wherever it occurs”, the US Charg� said.

“In fact, the Bahamas was active early on in international counter-piracy efforts, including being one of the first members of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia”. 
 The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, known as the CGPCS, was created to coordinate and expand international counter-piracy efforts, and is actively working with other international organisations, such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to support efforts to develop regional maritime security capacity.

Mr Dinkelman reiterated that the US will continue to work with partner nations like the Bahamas to connect law enforcement communities, intelligence agencies, financial experts and international partners to promote information sharing, and develop information that can be used to prosecute pirates and disrupt their operations.