AMBASSADOR'S SPEECHES

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter LEGARE Press Event (24 August 09)

Honorable Minister of State, Office of the Vice President

Honorable Minister of Defense

Commodore Thebauld, Director of the Africa Partnership Station,

Commanding Officer of the Legare, Commander Bauby

Commander Kanu of the Maritime Wing

Members of the RSLAF,

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.  Many thanks for joining us to welcome the United States Coast Guard Cutter Legare, along with her captain and crew.  The United States Embassy, through our Defense Attaché Office, is pleased to have partnered with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Joint Maritime Commission in maritime and law enforcement capacity building.

Over the past week, members of the Maritime Wing, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the Sierra Leone Police and Office of National Security have been aboard the Legare at sea working on boarding, safety and security techniques, to help strengthen Sierra Leone’s maritime capacity.  As you are probably now aware, Sierra Leonean officials have learned how to safely board a suspicious vessel, how to inspect it for contraband, and how best to implement Sierra Leone’s maritime laws.  Effective implementation of the law is essential to Sierra Leone’s economic growth as is the elimination of corruption at all levels.

In that regard, the U.S. Coast Guard worked closely with Sierra Leonean personnel to conduct actual enforcement activities, including stopping ships for illegal fishing, over fishing, drug trafficking, commodities smuggling, and human trafficking between 75 and 200 nautical miles from shore. We have already seen the dramatic impact of this cooperation in the seizure of an illegal vessel pirating the natural marine resources. The opportunity to work together in such an operation was mutually beneficial – Sierra Leone benefited from American experience and the U.S. Coast Guard officers learned firsthand the challenges Sierra Leone faces in its waters.  This knowledge will help us adapt future interactions to local training and equipment needs.

We have recognized that with more global interactions come increasing threats from terrorists, drug traffickers and other criminals, and that countries must understand their borders and ensure their security for the good of the nation. Only through strong enforcement activities and strong investigative and judicial systems can a country become unattractive to criminals.

One of the most valuable tools the United States military possesses to achieve worldwide maritime security is the Africa Partnership Station (APS).  The APS serves as a platform for education and cooperation with African navies in maritime operations.  More importantly, though, the APS helps develop relationships and networks for confronting maritime challenges including piracy, illegal fishing, commodity smuggling and trafficking in drugs.

We are happy to have had a Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Maritime Wing member, Commander Sallieu Kanu aboard one of the 2009 Africa Partnership Station vessels, the USS Nashville, for a 150-day cruise around the West African coast. We also hosted 12 Maritime Wing officers and enlisted personnel for three weeks, during which time they studied seamanship, interdiction, and operational techniques and strategies. Maritime Wing members also attended a Boarding Officer Course and participated in a Small Motor Repair Course aboard the Nashville while it was underway.

All these programs are in an effort to help Sierra Leone build the capability for strong rapid reaction to illegal activities. We believe this experience has provided the Maritime Wing with a better understanding of the missions, structures and organization of the United States Navy and has begun to build the lasting relationships that will enable us to work together for years to come, building a stronger Sierra Leone.

We have committed to this program because we see the Maritime Wing as extremely capable. Its members have repeatedly shown they have the commitment to take action, even without full access to critical assets such as gas or suitable platforms.

The United States Government is deeply committed to continuing to build the capabilities of the Maritime Wing and anticipates a similar level of effort on the part of the Government of Sierra Leone as demonstrated in this most recent cooperative effort.

We know that enforcement of commercial fishing regulations could be a major source of direly needed income for the Government and people of Sierra Leone.  While many officials work hard to ensure that Sierra Leonean resources benefit Sierra Leone, there are a powerful few who put their own interests ahead of the national interest.  Corruption at every level is completely intolerable, and the United States strongly supports President Koroma’s zero tolerance policy.  Sierra Leoneans should benefit from the nation’s valuable marine and other resources, and it is up to the nation’s leaders to make that happen.

Knowing who and what is on your international waters is critical to enforcement of maritime law, as are the procedures and systems to enforce and prosecute illegal activities.  Recently, the United States Navy provided the Port Authority and Maritime Wing with an Automated Information System, which allows them to observe large vessels entering and leaving Sierra Leone’s coastal waters and conducting business in the port via an internet system. It also provides a ninety degree picture of maritime commercial traffic in Sierra Leone.

In conclusion, Sierra Leone is progressing, but much work remains to ensure that the entire nation benefits from all natural resources.  The United States will seek to provide the support and assistance Sierra Leone requires to eradicate corruption, to ensure national security, and most importantly, to put the nation’s natural resources to work for the people and for the future of the country.

Thank you.