U.S. Ambassador Talks Hospital Deal, Jet Ski Safety, and “Politician 1”

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – The Bahamas has enjoyed close ties with the United States for decades.

It’s a bond that has brought benefits to both nations, and like any relationship, there have been bumps along the way.

The same can be said for The Bahamas’ relationship with China.

China has assisted with a number of major projects, including road construction, sporting facilities, multi-billion-dollar resort developments, and, most recently, funding for the new specialty hospital.

The United States has not been shy about criticizing that agreement.

U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker recently told our Jerome Sawyer the core of his concern was transparency.

Herschel Walker – U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas

“I wanted more transparency. I wanted more understanding, and I didn’t get the understanding that I wanted. Like I said, The Bahamas and the United States are partners. If that’s what you wanted, it wasn’t an opportunity to see what happened. That’s in the past now. They selected China to do it, and I’ve said this before: China has a right to be here. I have nothing against China. They have every right to be here because the United States believes in free trade, and The Bahamas believes in free trade.”

Then there’s the criminal case involving convicted drug trafficker Eric Gardiner, who is imprisoned in the United States.

The story has dominated headlines for weeks.

Gardiner was among the 11 survivors of an Election Day plane crash. A day after the incident, he was detained by U.S. authorities in connection with an international drug trafficking scheme and was allegedly carrying $30,000 with a politician’s name written on it.

Since then, questions have swirled about the identity of “Politician 1.”

Walker says he cannot comment on the matter because it remains under investigation.

Herschel Walker – U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas

“When something is under investigation, you have to be careful. The scales of justice should be blind, and you don’t want to say anything that could help or become part of an investigation. You can’t speak about something that’s under investigation, and I won’t do that. My thing is, if someone knows something, say something, because these two countries—we’re family.”

Then there’s the issue of water sports safety.

The U.S. Embassy has warned American visitors to exercise extreme caution when dealing with jet ski operators and, if possible, avoid them altogether.

With concerns that the advisory could hurt The Bahamas’ tourism product, Walker says the focus is on protecting visitors while strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Herschel Walker – U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas

“We’re supposed to be partners, working together. We engage together.”

“We need a good task force that’s committed to holding people accountable.”