Honorary Consular Corps Luncheon

13th December, 2006

As always it is an honour for me to be here at the annual Consular Corps Luncheon.  With the closing of the year, it is our tradition now to review all that has taken place diplomatically in The Bahamas.  By understanding what has happened in 2006, we can better plan for the road ahead in terms of security and economic development nationally; which in turn contributes to the same for all Countries within this Hemisphere.

Overall, the context for the conduct of the international affairs and diplomacy of The Bahamas has been favourable both nationally and externally.  Nationally, The Bahamas has witnessed an unprecedented investment boom, even in comparison with all other states in our sub-region.  The Government is aware that, if managed properly, this boom can sustain national development for generations to come and is therefore, positioning itself for a focused strategic transformation.

Two landmark pieces of legislation have been achieved in the areas of comprehensive child protection, and, national health insurance.  These will go a long way towards dealing with some of the root causes of social ills in our Nation.  We have also developed and expanded on the Urban Renewal Programme as a means to achieve one of the Millennium Development Goals; that of cutting poverty in half by the year 2015.
 
Externally, The Bahamas has benefited from growth with resultant economic and technical assistance opportunities, because of our international relations with old and new Partner States, such as the United States, CARICOM Sister States, the People’s Republic of China and India.

Our relations with other very close neighbours, such as Haiti and Cuba, continue to deepen in areas of co-operation for mutual benefit.  The recent visit, during the second week of this month, to the Republic of Haiti of a delegation headed by the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, will see The Bahamas directly assisting the restoration and institutionalizing of security in Haiti through the training of Haitian Police Cadets by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, as well as the serious exploration of economic investment gains in Haiti, in several mutually advantageous sectors such as Agriculture, Trade and Construction.

In the case of Cuba, as of July, this year, The Bahamas joined nine other Member States of CARICOM in opening an Embassy in Cuba.  Its presence has been a boon to Bahamians visiting Cuba; students, and patients of the Miracle Plan Medical Programme for corrective ophthalmology.  The Embassy also hosted, since its opening, a Bahamian soccer team, students from the College of The Bahamas’ School of Hospitality, and The Bahamas National Childrens’ Choir.

As a sign of deepening relations, or perhaps of things to come, at the Collegiate Baseball Tournament, the team from The Bahamas beat the Cuban team by a score of 2 to 1, which was a pleasant surprise for us given the reputation of Cuban baseball.

Despite what has been reported in the media, as indicated, The Bahamas has not only sought interaction with our neighbours to the south, we have also maintained good relations with the United States of America, our closest neighbour to the north.  Our two Countries have sustained amicable relations for the last 33 years and I am confident that this will continue into the foreseeable future.

On the 4th of August, our two countries signed the Container Security Initiative (CSI).  Designed to pre-screen cargo destined for the United States, the CSI has an element of reciprocity which will allow Bahamian Customs Officials to inspect containers leaving the U.S. and bound for The Bahamas.  It is hoped that through this measure, both the United States, and The Bahamas will share the benefits of enhanced security while closing one more door of opportunity for any who might use violence against society.

We are also part of the Mega Ports Initiative which screens cargo leaving the Freeport Container Port for U.S. Ports for radioactive material.

You will also remember that during the year, the U.S. confirmed its commitment to the Passenger U.S. Customs & Immigration facility at Freeport despite the downturn Grand Bahamas’ tourism.

In these and other multiple bilateral initiatives, old and new, with the United States not least the Primary School Reading Programme, Ambassador John Darrold Rood, despite his abbreviated tenure, has distinguished himself.  I am certain our mutual history will record that not only has he been one of the most able Representatives of the President of the United States, but one whom, doubtless, the next generation of leaders of The Bahamas will recall.  As we, therefore, bid him a reluctant farewell, he should know that he has left a positive legacy.

The Bahamas has also extended her formal international contacts by the establishment of diplomatic relations with two other Countries during 2006, namely Botswana in May and Sierra Leone in October.

We expect to conclude formal diplomatic matters shortly with Ireland and New Zealand.
 
I want to thank Philip Miller the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy in Beijing who has been soldiering alone in China, pioneering the way of that office.  I have noted recent complaints about the issuance of visas to Chinese tourists and businessmen.  I identify with the complaints and pledge to take steps to progress this matter shortly.

In February 2006, Foreign Trade came within the Ministry.  It is working as a division and is being re-structured and strengthened in order to administer effectively the work which relevant overseas missions will be called upon to undertake.  Ambassador Leonard Archer heads the Division.  It is envisaged that the Cabinet will shortly approve the creation of a Department of Foreign Trade and the staff complement will be increased.  I believe that over the next five years international trade decisions will be most important with The Bahamas having to decide whether and if so to what extent it will integrate itself into the world economy.  Right now the Ministry is involved in discussions on the way forward in trade matters with the United States and Europe through the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery.  The age of one way preferential access to markets for CARICOM goods is ending and there must now be reciprocal access.
 
I would also like to highlight achievements over the past year in terms of the effective participation which the ministry has had through concrete proposals to move forward decisions in regional and multilateral fora such as: the Sixty- First United Nations General Assembly; the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); the Fourteenth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement; the Commonwealth, in relation to issues concerning Small Island Developing States covered by our High Commission in London and the hosting, in Nassau, with protocol assistance of the ministry, of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting and the Commonwealth Nurses Conference; the Commonwealth Education Ministers;  the Thirty-Sixth Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States;  and, in the Conference and Councils of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).  In this last instance, I wish to refer, especially, to the March hosting in The Bahamas, spearheaded by the ministry, of the Ministerial Meeting of CARICOM Foreign Ministers with U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice.  I thank Dr. Rice for her particular interest in The Bahamas.

Returning to the multilateral or international context, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is the third largest Flag Registry in the world.  Needless to say, as one of the leading Countries for ship registration, we take a very active interest in maritime affairs.  Accordingly, we submitted a paper to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), on the reform of its Council, addressing, in particular, the lack of equitable geographical distribution within the Council.  We are fully aware that all reform tends to be arduous, but we are committed to doing our part in this process.

Our country is in the process of acceding to the New York Convention 1958 on International Arbitration and the ILO Seafarer’s Convention.  These two conventions are expected to enhance the competitiveness of The Bahamas as a Ship Registry.  We have tried to integrate the Ministry’s work with the Ministry of Transport in international maritime matters as part of the mission to promote Bahamian trade abroad.  In that connection, I paid an official visit to Turkey to launch a ship that is in the Bahamian registry.  I held talks with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.  We are pledged to work together in various international matters.

I conclude this review by informing of the completion of the preparatory process for machine readable passports.  The operational aspect for phased, technical implementation, starting with certificates of identity, for issuance of an e-passport, commences January 2007.  Additionally, while we are still challenged by the need for Bahamians to obtain visas for travel to European Schengen Countries, there is now a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.  I thank those European Union Representatives who have assisted us in this matter and would urge them to continue their efforts until this situation is successfully resolved.

I also wish to project, lastly, that, irrespective of whomever is at the helm of Foreign Affairs after the General Elections, new goals, dictated by some of the developments and challenges to which I have referred, include: recruitment of the best qualified and/or experienced personnel who are also willing to be further trained; improved strategic consultation and co-ordination among Headquarters and Overseas Missions and the Public and Private Sectors to ensure The Bahamas reaps anticipated results from exponential economic growth; and, a new Chancery for improved physical and technical working conditions, given the even higher levels of quality output expected and required of the Foreign Service.  I am committed to Foreign Service Orders establishing a separate career path for the Foreign Service before demitting office.

Finally, I would like to thank the able staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas at Headquarters and Overseas, under the dedicated and experienced leadership of the permanent secretary, Dr. Patricia Rodgers, without whom much of my work would be impossible.  I would also like to thank the resident Diplomatic Corps, in particular, and the Honorary Consuls for their work in The Bahamas on behalf of your respective Nations.

On behalf of the People and Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and myself, I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, and, peace and prosperity for you and the Nations you represent during the New Year. Sentiments which I also ask that you convey to your respective Capitols.