Bahamas registry uncertain about PSI policy

Bahamas registry uncertain about PSI policy Officials from the Bahamas are reportedly uncertain about whether or not to sign on to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which would give the U.S. the right to search Bahamas-flagged ships for nuclear material or weapons of mass destruction at any location worldwide.
   The Bahamas has the world's third largest ship registry, and reports from the Caribbean Shipping Association and the newspaper The Bahama Journal say officials have not decided on what to do about the security search program.
   The U.S. is urging the Bahamas to sign on to the program, but Bahamas Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell told the Bahama Journal he is concerned because many Bahamas registry ships do not come through the Bahamas, but are involved in trade lanes around the world.
   He said the Ministry of Transport and the Bahamas Maritime Authority would continue to review the issue and the impact of the PSI on relevant stakeholders.