NASSAU, Bahamas — The Bahamas has entered into an official agreement with the United States for search and rescue missions. A contract signing ceremony marked the occasion at the Ministry of Tourism’s headquarters on Thursday, December 10, with Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar signing on behalf of The Bahamas and US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John McNamara signing for the United States, The Tribune, one of The Bahamas’ leading newspapers, reported on Friday, December 11.
Calling it a groundbreaking event, Mr D’Aguilar said he was excited that the two countries have formalised this process as thousands of persons have found themselves in distress in Bahamian waters.
“A requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO) is that all member states should have an effective search and rescue (SAR) regime or engage the services of a service provider or another state to provide the SAR services,” he said. “While the United States of America (USA) Coast Guard frequently assists The Bahamas with search and rescue missions for downed or missing aircraft, there is no formal arrangement that governs such assistance.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, assisted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority, held a series of meetings with USA officials to negotiate the framework for cooperation between the two states for carrying out activities related to search and rescue within the aeronautical and maritime environment of The Bahamas.”
The agreement, he explained, constitutes permission by the government to the Rescue Coordination Centre, Rescue Sub Centre and search and rescue facilities of the USA to coordinate and conduct search and rescue operations in the territorial sea and archipelagic waters of The Bahamas; and gives permission for the USA to enter, overfly and land as appropriate, in Bahamian territory, in the conduct of SAR operations. See full story in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/dec/11/deal-signed-over-search-and-rescue/?news
