Treasury chief to
attend bank meet

The Secret Service and other
federal agencies are enlisting
extra aid for security

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By Rod Antone
Star Bulletin

Secret Service agents in Honolulu have confirmed that U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Paul H. O'Neill will be attending the Asian Development Bank conference scheduled next week.

O'Neill was sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of the Treasury on Jan. 20 and was former chairman and chief executive officer of Alcoa Inc., a worldwide aluminum processing, mining and distribution company.

Secret Service special agent Al Joaquin said his department's primary function would be to provide "a secure environment" for O'Neill, who is expected to arrive on May 8.

Joaquin said that while President George W. Bush is not expected to attend the conference, Bush would be doing a "video welcoming address" May 9.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill at a news
conference last Friday in Washington.

Joaquin said Secret Service agents would also be working with other federal, state and county law enforcement agencies in "intelligence" work and monitoring protester activity.

"Our biggest concern is the safety of the protectee," said Joaquin.

Joaquin said so far he is not aware of any threats made against O'Neill. He also confirmed that local Secret Service will be enlisting aid from other Secret Service field agencies outside of Hawaii, although he would not say how many extra agents would be needed.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is also calling in extra agents to help with providing security for O'Neill.

ATF's Resident Agent in Charge Tracy Elder said his agents would probably do a sweep for any bombs at the Hawaii Convention Center before O'Neill arrives.

"The convention center is larger than your average building -- about 19 acres," Elder said. "It does pose a problem."

Elder said the reason federal agencies are calling in extra agents now is not because they expect a problem during the ADB conference, but because if there is a problem, Hawaii's geographical location would make hard to get the resources they need in time to handle a situation.

"Our major role is a reactive stance," Elder said. "It's hard to be proactive when you've got this large of a venue."

Another federal agency involved in ADB security is the FBI, which according to spokesman John Gillies is the "lead federal agency for crisis management and counter-terrorism preparedness."

The U.S. Marshals Service is also involved but limited in its participation because of its regular duties here, according to Marshals Service head Howard Tagamori.

Tagamori said three marshals will be paired up with Honolulu police officers to assist them with "intelligence gathering."

Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Thomas Kelly said the agency's helicopter will be available for use as a platform for law enforcement to monitor activities from the air.