My Travels: June 2001

Thursday, June 21, 2001

Nassau, Bahamas

Overview:

An archipelago of 700 islands and islets, the Bahamas attracts millions of tourists each year. The visitors come to enjoy its mild climate, fine beaches and beautiful forests. A former British colony and now a Commonwealth member, the country is a major center for offshore finance and has one of the world's largest open-registry shipping fleets. The Bahamas enjoys a high per capita income. The huge growth in the services sector of the economy has prompted people to leave fishing and farming villages for the commercial centers in New Providence Island, Grand Bahama and Great Abaco. As with other Caribbean countries, The Bahamas faces the challenge of tackling drugs trafficking and illegal immigration. It has taken steps to clean up its offshore banking system. Dr Hubert Minnis was elected prime minister on 10 May 2017, when his Free National Movement (FNM) soundly defeated the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).

Source: BBC Country Profile

American Embassy Nassau:

We only had ten days in Nassau from June 19-29 so we were really pressed for time to complete our interviews and draft the report. The embassy staff included over 150 U.S. direct-hire Americans but half were with DOJ/DEA/INS and Coast Guard given immigration and customs inspections in Nassau and Freeport and drug trafficking. The Management Officer was Andrew “Drew” Oltyan who is still around working with INL at the Department. The embassy building was purchased in 1995, had no setback needed serious renovations, fire and security enhancements. I understand that a new site had been purchased for a new embassy compound and construction started in 2019.

Findings:

A real property concern was the status of the government-owned vacant Great Inagua Aerostat site, OIG recommended the Office of Overseas Buildings Operations, resolve the disposal. The post needed to establish a comprehensive maintenance program covering all facilities in accordance with the Office of Overseas Buildings Operations Facilities Maintenance Handbook.

The embassy needed to implement the electronic funds transfer of local employees' net pay to individual bank accounts. There were issues with processing official residence expense vouchers that should be borne by the representational appropriation. Embassy Nassau had serious issues with the former cashier's account and OIG recommended that the issue be submitted to the committee on fiscal irregularities for a decision on whether to close out the former cashier's accountability. The embassy also needed to establish a centralized system for maintaining accounts receivable records and institute a procedure for following up on outstanding bills. The embassy should clear the remaining funds in its suspense deposit abroad account and review prior-year travel advance accounts and proceed with collection action for those advances that are still outstanding. The FMO should establish procedures to review and verify the monthly summary of daily accounting sheets of consular receipts from the accountable consular officer.

After returning home and reviewing the final drafts of our inspection report I had contact with WHA/EX and a former colleague, Wayne Logsden, who was with me in Kuwait following the gulf war when we reopened the embassy there. We also sorted out the recommendation regarding a bi-lateral work agreement with the bureau.

Highlights:

Straw Market

Fish Fry Restaurants

Atlantis on Paradise Island

Cracked Conch, fritters, chowder and salad

Holiday Inn downtown where we stayed

Cruise ships at the port

The Atlantis, Paradise Island

Downtown Nassau

Straw Market

Seafood restaurant famous for Cracked Conch (Fritters) or Conch Salad

Sunday, June 10, 2001

Barbados

Overview:

Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Political, economic and social stability have given it a relatively high standard of living. Known for its beaches and cricket - its national sport - the former British colony has a dual heritage: English - evident in its stone-built Anglican churches and Saturday race meetings - and African, reflected in its music and dance. Barbados was in the past heavily dependent on the export of sugar as its main revenue earner, but in recent decades the economy has diversified into tourism and finance. It also has offshore reserves of oil and natural gas. Outgoing Governor-General Sandra Mason, the last representative of the British Crown, became the first president of Barbados in November 2021. She was chosen by parliament the previous month. Despite deciding to become a republic in 2020, Barbados will remain a member of the
Commonwealth.
Source: BBC Country Profile

American Embassy Bridgetown:

The inspection took place May 31 – June 18, 2001. Management Officer, Paul Carpenter, was an experienced FSO. The FMO was Susan Page, a management generalist, but finance was not her strength. The GSO was Constance Dierman who became the Consul General at Hamilton, Bermuda and in 2020 ended up being inspected by OIG. There were 33 formal recommendations made in this inspection. Like other inspections to date, myself as a management type was saddled with making logistical arrangements for the team. This meant making sure everybody applied for visas, schedule flights, made hotel reservations and was the main liaison with the embassy for administrative support for the team. Well on this inspection my colleagues were not pleased that we had to back through Miami to get to our next stop, Nassau instead of flying direct from Bridgetown. Anyway, the Fly America policy required us to use an American carrier and, if I remember correctly, we were able to connect direst instead of having to overnight in Miami.

Findings:

The priority for the embassy was to identify a suitable property for a new embassy. OIG recommended that the Office of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) finalize the decision memorandum to continue to start the construction or to look for a new office building site. The department finally identified a 3.2 acre site, renovated an existing five-story building as well as an addition of similar scale that was completed in 2006. OIG also recommended Office of Office Buildings Operations should assess the regional assignments of facilities maintenance specialist positions in the Caribbean to provide adequate support to Bridgetown.

There were issues with other agencies not using the embassy contracting officer to commit the embassy to the purchase of goods or services. OIG emphasized that the Department of State will not ratify the unauthorized commitments of other agencies. The embassy needed to prepare a written comprehensive vehicle usage policy in accordance with Foreign Affairs Manual.

In financial management prior year unliquidated obligations needed to be reviewed to verified and de-obligate funds if obligations are no longer valid. Also, review prior year outstanding travel advance accounts and proceed with collection action for those that are still not cleared. The OIG also cited the Cashier for not reconciling the outstanding deposits from 1998-99 and differences in local currency and U.S. dollars to balance her accountability. We ended up suggesting that FSC/Charleston establish a new separate cashier code for Barbados. OIG also reminded the Cashier to review and verify the daily accounting sheets for Consular collections.

In terms of Human Resources OIG recommended that the responsibility for paying the employer contributions to the National Insurance Scheme and the American Life Insurance Company should be transferred to the Charleston Financial Service Center. HR should establish procedures to terminate post differential payments when employees travel to the U.S. Also, HR should publish and disseminate its policy on hiring American citizens and eligible family members. In the area of refunds made to employees for sick leave from the government of Barbados National Insurance Scheme procedures were needed to record reimbursements through an automated accounts receivable system. OIG recommended that a policy be established on overtime and issue an administrative instruction stressing that regulations require all overtime to be approved in advance.

With respect to the other embassies accredited to Barbados (Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua/Barbuda, St. Kitts/Nevis, and St. Vincent/Grenadines) OIG recommended that a mechanism be established to charge the administrative support costs for Embassy Grenada directly through International Cooperative Administrative Support Services. The Bureau of Financial Management and Policy should consider Embassy Bridgetown’s request to change the designation of the sub cashier at Embassy Grenada to principal cashier the accountable consular officer each month.

Highlights: