The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas wishes to clarify for the record, the incident involving Their Excellencies Dame Ivy Dumont, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Mr. Reginald Dumont during a transit stop at Miami International Airport.

Upon receiving notification from Government House that Their Excellencies would be transiting Miami on Sunday, 5 October 2003, en route to St. Kitts via St. Maarten, the Ministry, in accordance with established procedures, so advised the relevant US authorities and our Consul General in Miami, Mrs. Alma Adams.

On arrival in Miami, Their Excellencies were met by Consul General Adams, Vice Consul Nestor Sands, a Protocol Officer from the Consulate General, a Protocol Officer from Miami International Airport and an American Airlines Special Agent.

After spending some time in the preclearance lounge, the group proceeded to Gate D from where American Airlines flight 667 was departing for St. Maarten. Both Dame Ivy and Mr. Dumont were in possession of their Diplomatic passports at this time.  At this point, Their Excellencies were ushered into one lane to pass through the magni-monitor and the other members of the group were ushered through another.

Consul General Adams perceived that there appeared to be a problem with Their Excellencies.  She was advised by the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) representative that as a beeper had gone off when they had passed the monitor, they would be required to undergo a secondary screening.

This decision was protested by Consul General Adams, the Miami International Airport Protocol Officer and the American Airlines Special Services Officer, all of whom made it very clear that Dame Ivy was the titular Head of State of The Bahamas and that Mr. Dumont was her spouse.  Their protests were to no avail.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service, on hearing of this unfortunate incident, lodged a strong protest with the US Embassy in Nassau and the State Department, Washington, D.C. The Ministry has also formally requested the US authorities to accord the Governor-General and her spouse the same courtesies extended to Heads of Government upon their arrival and departure from the United States.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
16 October 2003