By LINDSAY THOMPSON,Guardian Business Editor lthompson@nasguard.com

The Bahamas can no longer make decisions independent of the United States Department of Homeland Security, as it relates to the safety of Americans travelling to this country, Prime Minister Perry Christie said Tuesday.

"When aircraft are taking off from The Bahamas enroute to the U.S. they have indeed a tremendous interest in what we're doing and how we're doing it," said the Prime Minister during the signing of a Heads of Agreement for a $40 million resort in Eleuthera.

"The Bahamas is no longer in a position to make decisions independent of the United States of America if it impacts their security," Mr Christie told his audience.

Addressing criticisms that the Progressive Liberal Party administration is taking too long to realise any investment, the Prime Minister said he was motivated by such remarks and newspaper editorials.

He said that often proposals are delayed because of the "very necessary intervention", not only from Bahamian experts but international environmental firms, which all add up to helping the country agree to an investment that will not bring about damage that will have a negative impact on future generations.

"When developers are asking for the right to build runways to allow themselves and their guests permission to land in the immediate vicinity of their properties and to create new ports of entry with the placement of immigration and customs officers and fuel farms for airlines, the Government of The Bahamas has to rely on advice which goes to the very root of the proposal," the prime minister said.

Regrettably, he added, delays are occasioned by the need for The Bahamas to take the extra steps and exercise the degree of sensitivity to ensure not only that a developer is able to have his intention fulfilled, but that the Bahamian people and their future are protected by the government's collaboration and cooperation with the U.S. and by the government's commitment to strategies to protect and preserve the environment.

"It is in that context that I am confident that Eleuthera would take advantage of these new economic activities, both in the area of employment and entreprenership which would ensure not only the development of viable resorts but also integration with local communities," the prime minister said.

He then declared, "This government, through the Ministry of Financial Services and Investments, would be to show this country, in this term, one of the most incredible political commitments that we have made of being able to anchor the economy of local islands."

The United States Department of Homeland Security is responsible for protecting the movement of international trade across U.S. borders, maximising the security of the international supply chain, and engaging foreign governments and trading partners in programmes designed to identify and eliminate security threats before they arrive at U.S. ports and borders, the department states.

It further states that approximately 730 million people travel on commercial aircraft each year and more than 700 million pieces of baggage are being screened for explosives each year.

Additionally, there are 11.2 million trucks and 2.2 million rail cars that cross into the U.S. each year. Additionally, 7,500 foreign flagships make 51,000 calls at U.S. ports annually.