BY KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, Guardian Senior Reporter, kdl@nasguard.com

A new security initiative that will give American law enforcement personnel the authority to board and search Bahamian-registered vessels, suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction, is expected to come on stream soon.

Addressing the press at a round table discussion, United States Ambassador Ned Siegel disclosed recently that his government is looking forward to signing with the Bahamian government the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which is presently in the Cabinet.

He explained that the initiative will facilitate international cooperation to search vessels which are suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction or WMD components.

"We all know and read that keeping commercial air travelers safe is a high priority, and we will continue to work with the security at the airports and seaports to make sure that the Bahamian authorities that are working those transit points are strengthened," iegel said. "This initiative gives us the ability - with protocol - to board Bahamian-registered ships around the world [where there is] information or intelligence [to suggest] that there may be weapons of mass destruction or materials to prevent them from even getting to port."

The Bahamas has the third largest ship registry in the world.

Siegel explained that the Proliferation Security Initiative is an agreement that has been signed by many countries. Siegel insisted that both Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette have assured that the document is in the process of " being finalized and very shortly we look forward to that signing".

Another item ranking high on Seigel's agenda was security at the airport. Although he preferred not to talk about specifics, the American envoy said the safety of the four million Americans that visit The Bahamas is of utmost importance.

"Whether they are coming in through cruise lines or the airport is something that is continuing to be looked at from an inter-agency aspect. We work very closely with all of the law enforcement agencies of The Bahamas and that is something that will always continue to be of high priority as the new airport ultimately gets underway," he said. Siegel stated that he was satisfied that the pre-clearance process was an asset that needs to remain in The Bahamas.

Additionally, he noted that he looks forward to continued meetings with government in a bid to understand its priorities. "We look forward to working with the government on the challenges ahead... I have indicated in my early meetings with the governor general, the prime minister and deputy prime minister, the United States' desire to continue the very close and productive relationship we have had with The Bahamas," the ambassador said.

"I sense and I feel that because we have those shared values that the interest has been reciprocated from the government of The Bahamas. I have no doubt that in my short time here that our governments and people share a very deep, long and abiding commitment to the values of democracy, respect for rule of law and most importantly a deep commitment for human rights."

The Bahamas and the United States have long shared areas of mutual concern like protecting their citizens from drug trafficking, securing borders, supporting human rights, dealing with migrant smuggling as well as other criminal multi-transnational organizations and potential terrorists' threats.

"Unfortunately, in these times, we cannot put our heads in the sand. We need to think through where exposures are. We cannot allow ourselves to be a soft target," Mr. Siegel said. "We have to understand that terrorism is a real problem and that we have to close the ways criminals exploit these smuggling routes."